I asked my wife about this, she said in her experience that’s true. I actually just asked her why they work 12 instead of 8 and that’s the answer she gave too.

I also mentioned it in another comment but most of her coworkers prefer the 12 hour shifts as they get a lot more days off. She said it’s busy enough that 12 in the hospital feels like 8 elsewhere so it doesn’t feel like she’s working super long shifts.

Doctors often have longer shifts too. My cousin is an anesthesiologist and works 24 hour shifts. He likes it for all the same reasons.