Shift work and dating

Nurses General Nursing

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I like being a nurse but the hours make it so hard to meet somebody. I work every other weekend, nights and holidays. It seems as though every nurse I know who is married or in a relationship met their spouses prior to becoming a nurse or on the job (not possible for me). I am not super social and between my ft and prn hospital jobs, I just don't feel like I have time to meet someone especially with night shift.

I really want to have kids someday too.

Anyone else have this problem? Any tips?

Purple_roses

1,763 Posts

Have you tried online dating? I know online dating sounds drab, but I can think of three people I'm close to off the top of my head who found their spouses via online dating (and they actually are good matches).

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP

1 Article; 2,594 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

I have tried okcupid but that is it. I met a boyfriend on another one but that was a long time ago before nursing school.

What websites did they use?

NICU Guy, BSN, RN

4,161 Posts

Specializes in NICU.

I worked night shift and had few opportunities to date. I went the online route (Match and Eharmony). I didn't care for EHarmony because they chose the matches and since I lived in a smaller city, all of their matches were at least an hour away. Match.com allwed me to do my own search. I found my girlfriend through match.com.

NightNerd, MSN, RN

1,130 Posts

Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

I can agree with Match.com. I ended up meeting my SO offline, but while I was on Match I met some really wonderful men (and basically no creepers!). It's a great way to see who can deal with the night shift thing too; I had one dude message one night during a three night stretch, and then the NEXT night I got a rant about how insensitive I was for not responding to his first missive, which he had put time and effort into composing just for me. Safe to say that bro wasn't going to fit into my life well.

Do you have time and energy for other hobbies right now? It sounds like you are pretty busy with work, but I always think it's good to make time to nurture all the other stuff that makes you unique. If you're a geek like me, I find taking different classes and stuff is just a great way to shake the stink off from work, feel refreshed, and meet interesting people.

Lastly, if you can go into it with the thought of, "This is gonna be hilarious," it can be fun to have friends hook you up with people. Some of the best dating stories I have come from that scenario (plus, it is very enlightening to see who your friends think are good potential mates).

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
What websites did they use?
My friend, also a nurse, met her future husband on Match.com in late 2011. They married in late 2013 and had their first child together last year.

NightNerd, MSN, RN

1,130 Posts

Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Ooh! Website-wise, the concept of HowAboutWe.com had always intrigued me! I don't know anyone who has done it, but it sounded pretty fun and not intimidating. I wanna know if you try that one!

Meetup is a good way to meet people with similar interests.

Purple_roses

1,763 Posts

I have tried okcupid but that is it. I met a boyfriend on another one but that was a long time ago before nursing school.

What websites did they use?

Plenty of Fish (surprisingly) and I *think* Match.com, though I'm not entirely sure.

Sites like POF are like the casinos to me. You go in and you might have a good time, might find something nice. Or you might find someone who crawled out from under the biggest, dirtiest rock. So if you try that, go in knowing that you'll be doing quite a bit of searching before you find someone worth a date. But, my friend who is actually getting married this weekend found her fiancé on POF. And they're adorable together.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP

1 Article; 2,594 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

I met my ex on pof, lol.

NICU Guy, BSN, RN

4,161 Posts

Specializes in NICU.

Bootycall.com (is it still in business?)and Ashley Madison :cheeky:

Farawyn

12,646 Posts

Bootycall.com (is it still in business?)and Ashley Madison :cheeky:

Hahhahahahaaaa! No. Not for our Princess.

Waiting for NOADLS to weigh in with his choices, too.

My friends met through Match and Zoosk. Match seems to be the most "long term friendly."

I'm married. I met hubs at in a grocery store.

Don't people go out anymore? When I worked nights and evenings we went out, nurses, residents, UC, etc. every Friday night. There were hookups galore, a few serious.

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