Hello everybody. Hope everyone is having a great end to the summer. Since I became a Nurse about 7 months ago, I worked 3pm-11pm in a busy rural nursing home. We'll as of 3 weeks ago I made the best decision of my life, I voluntary switched to the 11pm-7am shift full time. I am finding this shift 100 times easier. No admits, rarely communicate with docs. Rarely deal with family members. Only 1 small med pass which begins around 3am. Residents get small amount of medications like synthroid , PPIs, spiriva LASIx. What I love about it is the fact that when I get to work, I have time to chart, start signing Computer MARS, do my night nurse qa checks, and chores and have time to get a lot done without getting consumed by evening rushes and med passes running into each other. It's like nursing heaven. Plus believe it or not 11pm-7am is much much better for a social life than is 3p-11p. I'm loving it so far I'm 100 percent less stressed and overwhelmee and I never stay past 7:30am. So new grads, if you have a choice between 2nd shift and 3rd shift, definently go 3rd shift. I would defenently recommend times 100 for a new Nurse In LTC.
My biggest problem with the night shift is that in the winter, you may not see the sun for many days. Anyone affected by SAD should take this into account when deciding on night shift. I worked nights as a CNA. I went evenings as a nurse. While it may be busy, it has it's advantages too.
currently work the 11-7 am shift (per diem) as well and i find that it works in my familiar...only thing is it messes up my sleeping pattern since i also have a full-time day job.
Yeah being a new nurse it would be scary with no help but that's what orientation is for, an you'll have a supervisor there to call if you absolutely need something
downsouthlaff, LPN
1 Article; 319 Posts
Definent night shift 3-11 may burn you out