Best shift for a new grad lpn without experience in LTC

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Hello everyone!

What is the best shift for a new grad lpn like me? My hiring manager ask me if I want to work PM shift (3pm to 11pm), but I originally ask for a NOC shift. Now I am debating between PM and NOC shift.

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I think PM shift is better. On noc shift you rarely see management. On PM shift (generally) there may be more resources available (therapy, MDs, nursing leadership, etc.). I worry about new grads on noc shift being pretty much alone and having to make decisions alone.

Plus, you get the bonus of sleeping at night!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

This ^^^^^^

Also, on the PM shift, you won't feel so guilty having to call up someone on the nsg chain-of-command for advice (yes, you should take advantage of them for the important stuff).

,

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.

On LTC, 3-11 is definitely easier than days for sure.

Unless of course you have other family obligations that requires you to be at home during the evening hours. I didn't, so I traded away all my dayshifts with others who had kids at home or other obligations.

Some staff were beating my door down to trade away my day shifts for their evening shifts with me lol.

PM shift means no docs are running around aimlessly in the hallways, no admin hall monitors are patrolling the floor, all the x-rays or other tests requiring a hoyer lift and a trip off the floor on a stretcher were all done for the day, and no shower chairs are rolling up and down the halls.

Yeah sure, we had to put some non ambulatory pt's who were placed in Geri chairs on dayshift back to bed, but it wasn't anything like the zoo experience on dayshift.

While we all had our own pt's assignment as far as any charting goes, on 3-11 we all just worked together as a team for things like "poop patrol" so we all did the entire floor together as a six person strike force team. ? It was just way easier to do everything quickly and more efficiently that way. That would never happen on day shift. It was more like everyone was working for themselves.

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Hello everyone,

Thank you for all your advises and opinions. ? I now feel confident on taking the PM shift (3-11pm). I will do my very best to learn and improve as a nurse. Best of luck to all of us, nurses! ?

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3-11 for sure - nights you won’t learn much to be honest. You can always go to nights when you feel you’ve gained some knowledge in the field ?

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