what is the 11-7 shift like(new grad wondering)

Here's what I typically do on a 11-7:30 shift:

Get to work, get report, count narcs, give my CNAs a quick report and all the usual change of shift stuff.

Look through the MARs and tx books and make note of what I have to do. There aren't very many scheduled meds during the noc, but some night I run around like crazy giving PRN. Check if there are any labs to be drawn in the AM and if there are fill out the lab slips and fax them to the lab at the hospital.

Near the beginning of my shift I try to take a quick walk through of the floor and make sure residents with O2 have it on, keep tab alarms are on, mats are on the floor, beds are down, etc.

There is usually a few assessments to do. No routine assessments, but on anyone who is sick or has a change of condition. There also aren't a lot of tx, just a few dressing changes that are TID and some creams/lotions for people that noc shift gets up in the am.

Then there are the little piddly things that I do whenever I get a chance, calibrate the accucheck machines, fill out the midnight census, clean nebulizers masks, check and record the fridge temp, make a list for dietary of what we need from them in the morning (e.g. applesauce, prune pudding, nutrition shakes), clean and stock med carts, cycle charting. Once a week noc shift changes all the O2 tubing.

Around 4 am I fill the portable O2 tanks.

I start my med pass around 5. Sometimes I have to do a skin check on residents who take their bath early before day shift arrives. Usually I do my med pass on one hallway, tape report, and then do the med pass on the other hallway. Once day shift arrives I ask if they have any questions about report, count narcs, make sure I have everything done, and go home and go to sleep.

I like noc shift. There are crazy nights, but most nights I feel like there's enough to do that I stay busy but not so much that I feel overwhelmed. I worked full time noc shift as a CNA for 2 years while I was in nursing school. I would work noc shift still, but I have a 7 month old and it is too hard to take care of the baby after being up all night and I hate to be away from her all night and then send her to daycare all day, so I only work nocs occasionally now.