OBJECTIVE: To know job satisfaction, work-family balance, sleep quality, and burnout in nursing staff after the introduction of the 12-h rotating shift in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. METHOD: Cross-sectional observational design carried out in February 2023 for the first collection (T1) and October 2023 for the second collection (T2) in emergency nursing staff. Sociodemographic data, work and family reconciliation, job satisfaction, degree of burnout, and sleep quality were collected. RESULTS: In T1, 66.7% (74) of professionals answered, with an average age of 44.72 years (SD:10.60). 50% were on a 12-h shift. In T2, 91.9% (102) of professionals answered, with an average age of 44.75 years (SD11.07). 54.9% were on a 12-h shift. 71.2% in T1 and 66.7% in T2 were somewhat or very satisfied with the flexibility of their work schedules. 8.9% in T1 and 10.3% had a high overall burnout. In T1, the average global PSQI score was 7.66 (SD:3.82) and in T2 it was 8.46 (SD:4.05). Significant differences were found in terms of work and family reconciliation between the different rotating shifts analyzed (P<
.05), and not significant for the rest of the variables. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency nursing staff prefer 12-h shifts as they facilitate work-family reconciliation and do not negatively affect sleep, burnout, or job satisfaction.