3-11

Sailingshoes · Feb 23, 2008

I loved that shift because I could exercise and get other things accomplished before work. After work it's so much easier to be a couch potato!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2008

I am willing to work any shift other than the 3-11pm spot. I get the nagging feeling that other nurses in my area feel the same way I do, because virtually all of the advertised job positions in my local newspaper are for the 2-10pm or 3-11pm shift. It's a traditionally unpopular shift that has been plagued with atrocious employee turnover rates.

In fact, many larger healthcare facilities turned to 12 hour shifts so that they would not be plagued with the horrible employee attrition rates that are typical of 2-10pm and 3-11pm.

I never got accustomed to the 3-11pm shift, because it felt as if my whole day was spent waiting to go to work that evening. While management is not much of a problem during this shift, family members can become problematic. The vast majority of the family members and visitors come to the facility during the evening shift, so your work might be interrupted by complaints, questions, comments, etc.

whipping girl in 07, RN · Feb 23, 2008

I always enjoyed this shift, but it does throw a wrench in your family and social life. The patients had already had two meals, most of them had had their bath and AM care done, dressing changes were done, and most of the doctors and ancillary staff (PT, OT, speech, nutrition, etc.) had already made their rounds. You do have to deal with more visitors, one meal, and tucking them into bed. Not bad at all, I think.

You could meet your husband or friends for lunch before work, or go out afterward (sometimes things are just starting to pick up at midnight, you know ). It's nice to have time during the day to take care of things and shopping is not bad on a weekday. And the 8 hour shift seems like a half day compared to a 12. And not getting up at the crack of dawn is always a bonus.

So if you think you'd like it, go for it!

GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN · Feb 23, 2008

If I didn't have kids, I would definitely do 3-11. I hate getting up at 5:00 am, and now I'm too old for nocs, I loved 3-11 years ago, we would go out after for last call, or get something to eat. I like staying up til 2 or 3 am and sleeping until 11 , my husband was a nite owl, so it worked for us. Better time spent w/patients,less administration, but now with the fast pt turnover/ drive thru surgery, eve's is a lot crazier than it use to be, more discharges and lots of admissions, more demanding families, so it's definitely got its drawbacks.. no real answers, just things to ponder

sharona97, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2008

I loved this shift 3-11. But my son was in elementary school and we were able to get some time in. During the day I was a F student. I guess it's just how it works out for you. I remember getting alot of admisssions. But it was nice to put em to bed too!

Penguin67 · Feb 23, 2008

I worked 3-11 straight out of school and loved it! I wish it were an option today. I'll make no bones about the fact that I despise 12 hour shifts because of the stressful situations that we are put into at work and that feeling of never escaping the unit, as well as the fact that 12 hours is a long time to be on your feet. In today's busy healthcare system, 12 hours is an eternity for a nurse to be at work.Not to mention that research findings indicate that more mistakes are made in the last 4 hours of a 12 hour shift than during any other time period in a 12 hour shift.

Back to 3-11...I worked it 7on-7off. It was a great deal. We worked 9 hour days (2:30-11:30) and were paid for 72. We worked with basically the same nurses, so you developed great relationships. There wasn't much calling in at all, because even if you had a cold or something minor, an 8 hour shift was so much tolerable. On my "off" week, I could work some extra on my own unit, or float to another unit. As a new grad, I floated to learn more. I worked at Children's in Birmingham, AL, so flaoting to another unit often wasn't much different from your own nit, so floating wasn't a big deal at all. 3-11 allowed me to run arrands and have MD appointments in the morning and then shower and head in to work. I tended to stay up for 1-2 hours after I got home.

If you are single, 3-11 is really a good shift. You will have time off, so you can still go out and date, etc...

VegRN · Feb 24, 2008

I did not like this shift. At first it was ok but it really cuts into your social time. It always seemed that I was going to work just as everyone else on the planet is winding down and ready to leave. Plus, I am not a morning person so I would end up going to bed at 4 am and waking at 1pm. I like to stay up late and sleep in but I would rather have work getting me up in the morning because left to my own devices, I ain't gettin up if I don't have to. I got nothing done.

What I did like about it was that it is not this race to get everything done. Things were calmer and less chaotic and my co nurses seemed to be a better bunch to work with in my opinion.

I don't think I would do it again. If I did, it would definitely not be full time.

suanna · Feb 24, 2008

For the young and single it's great- go out after work, have a few drinks or whatever, get to bed at 3am and still be able to get up and go to work the next day. For us old people with kids- not so great. When I was briefly on 3-11 I felt like I went weeks without seeing my kids and despirately missed having supper with my family. It's OK if you need to work a shift opposite your SOs for child care decisions. It's easier to get a sitter from 2-6 when daddy/mommy comes home than all day.

AprilRNhere · Feb 24, 2008

What ages are your kids?

If they're school age..you will rarely see them. Also...this shift tends to hire alot of part time high schoolers...which are notorious for calling in. Therefore....(at least in my 5 years in LTC) evening shift worked short ALOT.

As far as pt care...I LOVED 3-11. Pt's are MUCH happier I felt during these hours. They're more pleased with you settling them into bed...than waking them up. Dinner seemed to be the best meal, afternoon activities, etc... Just in general they seemed to be in the best mood I thought.

Good luck to you whatever you decide!

sharlynn · Feb 26, 2008

I liked 3-11 because the Riff-Raff (my term for DON, administrator, Social worker, Dietician, etc) go home by 5 PM and even earlier on Fridays. You just have a small afternoon med pass, supper and bedtime. The last 2-3 hours are very quiet!

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2008

I started on evenings. It was a great shift, especially compared to days, the shift on which I trained. Aside from the sundowners, the residents were really mellow and pleasant. They go to bed at about 7:30 and aside from charting and stray HS meds the last 2-3 hours are really low key. I made some great friends on evenings.

I did NOT like anticipating my shift all day though. It looms over your head like an impending storm...and even though evenings are not horrible, it does ruin the day. I have young children so I had in-house child care but it got expensive. Now 3 out of 4 will be in school full days so it wouldn't be an option since I would never see them. I am going to do two doubles a week: evenings/nights. I just can't accept a full time evening position. Nights are pretty good too... I hate days.