What's your favorite shift to work?

BSNMommyof4 · Apr 29, 2011

I loved nights because it was slower but with a baby at home and my body not being able to adjust, it was hard to do the 2 week days/2 week nights rotation.

I just took a position to do 4 week days/ 4 week nights and I think I'll still like nights and hopefully my body will be able to adjust easier with 4 weeks vs. 2 weeks.

DreamyEyes · Apr 29, 2011

I've worked all 3 shifts, and I love nights (11p-7a) which is what I work now. I like days too, because of the normal schedule- I just hate how it seems impossible to get everything done on that shift.

I HATE working 3-11. Never again. I felt like I had no life and it started to get depressing. There's also no real teamwork on that shift at my job.

NurseB_, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2011

For the people that like to work night shifts how do you get your body adjusted to that? I'm interested in doing nights when I finish nursing school but I'm NOT a night owl and I really can't see myself staying up ALL NIGHT. I just have a feeling that I will start to crash around 4 am and that would be dangerous to my patients. I will be living at home with my parents and brother and I don't have any responsibilities but myself that's why I think nights would be okay for me at this point in my life. I just don't know how my body would adjust to that. What do you do on your days off? Is it hard to switch back and forth between your off days and on days?

Any advice would be GREAT!!

SamRNmedic · Jun 20, 2011

I have worked everything. I've done 8 hour shifts and 12 hour shifts across the board. My person preference is 7a-7p, or 3p-3a. I LOVE having 4 days off and being able to pick up an extra shift here and there and still have 3 days off. When I worked 8's I LOVED afternoons. Days were nice too, but I like them much better now that I do 12s.

When I used to work 3-11, I'd come home and wind down til about 1am, and wake up at 9 and had some time to get stuff done. Working 11p-7a was ok but I could never get used to it. When I had to work 12 hour nights I was a crazy person. The shift went by sooooo slow and I was always sooooo tired!!!! I could never get used to it at all. Happy to be on days for a while now and will continue on them in my new role.

diva rn, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2011

Always and forever...7p-7a! Three in a row with those four days off....yes!!!!

Unfortunetly, I now do case management and actually work (ick) days-not only days, but 5 of them...in a row...from 9am to

5:30pm.

Now, I don't really want to do anything 5 days in a row, especially work...but well, there you have it.

Lots of people keep asking me, "aren't you happy now you have regular hours"..."NO"....regular for who?????

I want my 12 hour nights back.... :crying2:

NurseB_, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2011

Always and forever...7p-7a! Three in a row with those four days off....yes!!!!
Unfortunetly, I now do case management and actually work (ick) days-not only days, but 5 of them...in a row...from 9am to
5:30pm.
Now, I don't really want to do anything 5 days in a row, especially work...but well, there you have it.
Lots of people keep asking me, "aren't you happy now you have regular hours"..."NO"....regular for who?????
I want my 12 hour nights back....

Why do you like 7p-7a so much? I've heard so many people say that you can never get used to working nights. Your body just want let you do it. I've also heard that it's extremely hard when you have a family. I would entertain the idea of working nights when I get done with school since I will still be fairly young and I want have a family or other responsiblites to worry about. I'm just worried that I'm not a night person and I would never get used to that shift. Any suggestions? :idea:

AngelicDarkness · Jun 20, 2011

I love my night shifts:) But I switching to 3-11pm starting in July:( I don't mind that shift, and I like all 3, but nights is just one of my favourites. The night residents that you can count on that are awake and want to see you for a visit. The confused residents who always need "tucked in". The hungry residents who come down for a 2 am snack. Sadly I also love the cleaning. On nights I have the time to massively reorder what we need from pharmacy and have it delivered the next day, the time to scrub and stock the med cart, the time to file and organize charts, etc. All depends on how busy my nights are (we have a list of things at the facility, but since working there I've added about 10 things to it). I just feel super proud when the day shift comes in and realizes they have more time to spend with a resident who needs that care then rushing to stock a med cart, or my fav. pet peeve opening a blood glucose kit to find NO alcohol swabs or BG strips. Wastes a lot of time going back to the office to grab some more.

diva rn, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

Why do you like 7p-7a so much? I've heard so many people say that you can never get used to working nights. Your body just want let you do it. I've also heard that it's extremely hard when you have a family. I would entertain the idea of working nights when I get done with school since I will still be fairly young and I want have a family or other responsiblites to worry about. I'm just worried that I'm not a night person and I would never get used to that shift. Any suggestions?

It's probably a personal thing. I have been a night owl all of my life....I mean ALL of my life. So staying up all night seems natural to me. I can get more things done at night with no interruptions--even house work. (except for vacuuming) It's quiet and I like that..I can think better.

At work, there are NO visitors or family there... a bonus! and it's not quite as hectic as days but still busy (I always worked PICU or ICU)

When my kids were little, it worked out better, I would be home around the time they went to school, wake up when they came home, and have an early dinner--they would be with their dad for the 3 nights I would work. at home.. then the other 4 nights I was home.

For a long time I worked Fri, Sat, Sun by choice. I would get off at 7:30am Mon am and not have to work again until Fri at 7pm--it never felt like I was working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could arrange my schedule occasionaly to work the 6 shifts in a row and have 8 off--and take a trip without taking any time off...did that a few times.

Working nights, I could make Dr's appointments and not have to beg to get a few hours off from work.

I HATE working 5 days in a row...and I HATE working 8 hours a day...and I HATE working DAYS....and I am never going to like it .....so there:mad:

seriously, I still stay up all night on Friday and Saturday...

NurseB_, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

It's probably a personal thing. I have been a night owl all of my life....I mean ALL of my life. So staying up all night seems natural to me. I can get more things done at night with no interruptions--even house work. (except for vacuuming) It's quiet and I like that..I can think better.
At work, there are NO visitors or family there... a bonus! and it's not quite as hectic as days but still busy (I always worked PICU or ICU)
When my kids were little, it worked out better, I would be home around the time they went to school, wake up when they came home, and have an early dinner--they would be with their dad for the 3 nights I would work. at home.. then the other 4 nights I was home.
For a long time I worked Fri, Sat, Sun by choice. I would get off at 7:30am Mon am and not have to work again until Fri at 7pm--it never felt like I was working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I could arrange my schedule occasionaly to work the 6 shifts in a row and have 8 off--and take a trip without taking any time off...did that a few times.
Working nights, I could make Dr's appointments and not have to beg to get a few hours off from work.
I HATE working 5 days in a row...and I HATE working 8 hours a day...and I HATE working DAYS....and I am never going to like it .....so there:mad:
seriously, I still stay up all night on Friday and Saturday...

lol well when you put it that way it does sound great. I guess I would just have to get my body used to it. I don't know about working EVERY weekend but I know you make extra money for working nights and weekends. Thanks for your input!:)

ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA · Jun 21, 2011

Nights! Worked 12-hour shifts from 7p-7a When I first started my current job. Now on 7a-7p an an LVN so I can function during RN clinical. Nights are by far > days. Less interruptions, less call lights, no discharges (unless AMA), no management/administration, and more free time which I think translates into better teamwork and camaraderie.

Days are crazy! I rarely get to sit. Most times everyone's too busy to talk. My med/surg unit has a HIGH patient turnover rate, so we're constantly taking admissions as well as discharging. We have a ton of direct admits, obs, neuro, and total cares.

I'm finding it really difficult to find med/surg enjoyable on day shift. Could be I'm just burned out from full-time school/full-time work. However, I found nursing more enjoyable on nights! I will totally work nights as an RN!

athena55, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

NIGHTS! I have always worked nights, either 8 or 12 hour. Did 18 months on a telemetry step-down unit on second shift (evenings) which, I feel, is the busiest shift out of all three. Even when I am deployed, I ask for nights. I am so not the day shift type person...I don't need or want coffee, give me chocolate to wake me up, smile. Stay Safe

LVN_it1995, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2011

I like to work evening shift (3-11:30 PM) when I work in skilled sub-acute. It's the winding down of the day and administrators are just leaving and when I leave most of the patients have drifted off to sleep.

When working in Home Health I like the morning shift(7-3). I am able to get the day started relatively well when I am working on a patient I am familiar with, and the good morning greetings usually just "tickle" me and the patient.