Aim <p>To investigate nurses’ perceptions of the effects of late-early shifts on their overall wellbeing including physical and mental health.</p> Background <p>Nurses work long hour shifts with short breaks in between to provide 24-hour care in a healthcare setting. Little is known about nurses’ perception of counterclockwise (CCW) rotating shifts, mainly the late-early shift. This study delves into nurses’ views on late-early shifts in three South Australian private hospitals.</p> Design <p>An exploratory, qualitative design.</p> Methods <p>Four focus group interviews, each with five nurses from three private hospitals in South Australia, were conducted post-ethical approval. Qualitative data underwent manual thematic analysis using an inductive approach.</p> Results <p>Participants reported impacts on physical and mental health, unhealthy food habits, and social and work environment challenges associated with late-early shifts. These effects may be mitigated through interventions like extended breaks between shifts, reduced workload, and additional support.</p> Conclusions <p>The late-early shift has detrimental effects on nurses’ wellbeing. This led nurses to opt for casual work, practice “quiet quitting,” or pursue nursing roles that accommodate their preferred shift schedules.</p> Implications for nursing management <p>Research indicates that well-rested nurses provide quality patient care and improve health outcomes. Optimal scheduling and incentives play a vital role in enhancing nurses’ health and retention of the nursing workforce.</p> No patient or public contribution <p>This paper explicitly explores the experience of nurses working late-early shifts in private hospitals in South Australia.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p>