Two hospitals in Tallinn no longer allow 24-hour shifts. They say it's safer for patients.
Nurse Katre says that 24-hour work is difficult. People get tired and make mistakes. A caregiver says the new schedule is not good. Now they have to commute to work 4-5 times a week.
One nurse says 12-hour shifts make family life difficult. The kindergarten is not open in the evening.
The head of the nurses' union Kätlin says shorter shifts are better. But 12-hour shifts are also difficult. Buses don't run home in the evening anymore.
Kätlin says shorter work days make other nurses' jobs harder. Smaller hospitals can't find enough workers.
One hospital continues with 24-hour shifts. Nurses there are interested in it. Kätlin says 24-hour shifts are not new. There are too few workers.