What's your favorite shift?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

Specializes in LTC.

And what do you do?

I usually prefer 1st shift, because I'm a morning person. Sleeping in consistently makes me depressed, esp in the winter, and I like to get work "over with" as soon as I wake up so I can have the rest of my day free. But I work 2nd shift right now and I'm not sure if I'm going to put myself on the waiting list for 1st.

On 2nd, we pass out linens and make sure everyone is up from their naps or back from the rec room, toileted, and sitting upright in their chairs before supper. We also take vitals, pass water pitchers, and walk people. Then supper trays come and we pass those out, feed, collect trays, etc. Once trays are picked up we can start washing people and putting them to bed. At 6 o'clock we start going to supper, and when all the aides are back on the wing we're allowed to give showers one at a time. We also have to pass out snacks. There's a ton of toileting, alarms start going off more frequently, and call bells are ringing off the hook, not to mention less people around to help you with 2-assists when other aides are on break.

We're not allowed to give showers or get people washed before supper, which is stupid, because it would take a lot of the heat off us after supper. There's a wave of people that want to get washed/showered the minute their tray is picked up, and they would love to get that part over with during 1st rounds. Instead, some of them have to wait longer than they'd like, and we have to rush!

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I would say I like 3-11pm, 2nd shift. I dont like 1st shift because they do alot of work and get the less pay. With 2nd shift you actually get to work but only have to do one feeding. I love 3-11pm !

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

I have the privledge of working for a hospital that employees techs for twelve hours, and I absolutely love working 7a to 7p. I get to do two days a week and i'm done the other five days I can use for studying and school.

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I like nights. I'm a night owl anyway and I like the pace of nights. I'm still new enough and slow at basic things like dressing and brief changing that it's great to have a time to get quicker at that without the panic of the days. I can put myself to sleep any time or place, so don't worry about wasting the rest of my day.

I also like getting to talk to the residents more at night. Many don't sleep much or lightly enough I wake them when I'm checking briefs and they sometimes like to chat. The couple alzeihmer's patients who have sundowner issues are actually fun at night. I spent one night last week trying to keep one guy's gown on and his tab alarm set up. He figured out how I had it clipped and I finally gave up when the only thing left to attach it to was his brief! He never did sleep that night. He's lots of fun anyway, usually jokes around with me but he may be going to a locked facility soon.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I work at an ALF and I love first shift. My favorite is 6-2. Yeah, I have to get up really early, but I love getting out early and having the rest of the day and night to myself.

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Specializes in Med-surg.

second shift 2p-10p. The big wigs are gone, most of the work is out of the way, midway through your sift the patients are winding down and ready to go to sleep, all the docs are gone, and all of the visitors are starting to leave I don't feel so pressured and I'm not walking around on egg shells, the doctors steal the charts when I need them all of the time on first shift, you have to deal with family members, supervisors, the doctors. First shift is just way too busy, and I am NOT a morning person. Plus you get the shift differential.

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Specializes in LTC.

My love is night shifts. I'm a night owl through and through.

I also find that the staff on nights is much more laid back. There are less worries about management, less drama, and A LOT more teamwork. When things go to hell in a hand basket on nights everyone has the others back to get through the crisis because we don't have all the resources the other shifts have.

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I've worked all three shifts now, and I think my favorite is 3rds. It's a lot more laid back, but you do still get some resident interaction. I liked 1sts, because it was busy and went by quickly, but I"m just not a morning person and my body works better at night.

I don't like 2ndshift because I feel that it takes up my entire useable day. Being able to sleep in is nice, but I never seem to accomplish much early in the morning,and by the time you get off at 10, the day is done.

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