best shift for new nurses?

Chicklet2 · May 23, 2006

Well working on med/surg days are the best shift because u get so many more of your skills in.. though if your thinkin as in your career.. it's really preference. Nights u dont see as much, but also evenings and nights u get shift differential. Also if you are still young u might wanna do those kind of shifts so that when u have a family u can do the day shifts so i've been told . I love evenings where i work because it's slower, u still gets lots of skills in, but yes the social life has taken a killing, but u learn to work around it. Hope that helps

smileysenior · May 23, 2006

Well working on med/surg days are the best shift because u get so many more of your skills in.. though if your thinkin as in your career.. it's really preference. Nights u dont see as much, but also evenings and nights u get shift differential. Also if you are still young u might wanna do those kind of shifts so that when u have a family u can do the day shifts so i've been told . I love evenings where i work because it's slower, u still gets lots of skills in, but yes the social life has taken a killing, but u learn to work around it. Hope that helps

I was also concerned that my health my take a beating working nights......some of my girlfriends say they have gained weight and get sick more b/c they dont get enough sleep and they snack on vending machine food and takeout to stay awake.....I really want to take care of myself. I'm not overweight or in poor health but I have spent nursing school guzzling sodas and fast food, not exercising, and being sleep deprived......feeling blah. So many nurses give and give to patients yet neglect their own health.....its so easy to not take care of yourself.

RN2B07 · May 23, 2006

Hello again...I work med/surg nights 7p-7a. I chose that shift b/c I am a new grad and pace is a little slower. I do get to use a lot more of my clinical skills than I thought I would. I also wanted a social life and was not a night owl. But I adjusted rather easily. I am not tired at night and have no problem sleeping during the day. Many nurses on my floor eat constantly throughout the night. They take turns bringing food. I dont want to gain weight eating poorly at night. I will usually cook big the day before I work and bring leftovers or pack a salad. after I work 3 nights I sleep till about 3pm or 4pm and can still have a social life. But good luck with whatever shift you choose.

smileysenior · May 23, 2006

Hello again...I work med/surg nights 7p-7a. I chose that shift b/c I am a new grad and pace is a little slower. I do get to use a lot more of my clinical skills than I thought I would. I also wanted a social life and was not a night owl. But I adjusted rather easily. I am not tired at night and have no problem sleeping during the day. Many nurses on my floor eat constantly throughout the night. They take turns bringing food. I dont want to gain weight eating poorly at night. I will usually cook big the day before I work and bring leftovers or pack a salad. after I work 3 nights I sleep till about 3pm or 4pm and can still have a social life. But good luck with whatever shift you choose.

How refreshing!

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 23, 2006

days is much easier on the body, and there are all of the other diciplines to interact with. its a good time to learn. things do get a bit crazy. its nice to have a normal social life though.

I didn't like days b/c it is so hard to get your car serviced, go to the dr, etc. with out having to miss time from work. Working the other shifts makes it much easier to make appointments during non work hours. I didn't like 50 people all looking for and fighting over the same chart. I don't like needing to chart and there isn't a chair or spot at the desk available. I didn't like going in a pts room to give them meds and the pt is not in the room. They are out to pt/ot/activities/mri/testing/whatever and no one told you they were taking the pt. You just wasted 20 minutes trying to figure out where the pt is. I don't like dealing with the families. Most families visit in the early evening, and I just hate dealing with certain families. No matter what you do, its not enough. There are hardly any visitors on night shift.

Nights has its benefits too. You learn to become VERY independent, very fast since you dont have the other diciplines to lean on. It also has its convience for holidays. Who wants to work christmas day or thanksgiving eve? NOT me! But I never minded working the Christmas eve into christmas day, since I was home in time to open presents and stuff, and then go to bed around 2pm when the excitement is over. I slept thanksgiving morning, to be ready for the thanksgiving dinner. Then went to work. You can always go out fri-sat evening before work if you work 8 hr shifts. (But of course, no ETOH before work, so if you are into the bar scene that wouldn't work too well) I had insomnia pretty bad on nights. Like everyone else, I liked the extra money on nights. But staffing is really crappy on nights.

Each shift has their positives and negatives. Its all about what is more important to you.

smileysenior · May 23, 2006

days is much easier on the body, and there are all of the other diciplines to interact with. its a good time to learn. things do get a bit crazy. its nice to have a normal social life though.
I didn't like days b/c it is so hard to get your car serviced, go to the dr, etc. with out having to miss time from work. Working the other shifts makes it much easier to make appointments during non work hours. I didn't like 50 people all looking for and fighting over the same chart. I don't like needing to chart and there isn't a chair or spot at the desk available. I didn't like going in a pts room to give them meds and the pt is not in the room. They are out to pt/ot/activities/mri/testing/whatever and no one told you they were taking the pt. You just wasted 20 minutes trying to figure out where the pt is. I don't like dealing with the families. Most families visit in the early evening, and I just hate dealing with certain families. No matter what you do, its not enough. There are hardly any visitors on night shift.
Nights has its benefits too. You learn to become VERY independent, very fast since you dont have the other diciplines to lean on. It also has its convience for holidays. Who wants to work christmas day or thanksgiving eve? NOT me! But I never minded working the Christmas eve into christmas day, since I was home in time to open presents and stuff, and then go to bed around 2pm when the excitement is over. I slept thanksgiving morning, to be ready for the thanksgiving dinner. Then went to work. You can always go out fri-sat evening before work if you work 8 hr shifts. (But of course, no ETOH before work, so if you are into the bar scene that wouldn't work too well) I had insomnia pretty bad on nights. Like everyone else, I liked the extra money on nights. But staffing is really crappy on nights.
Each shift has their positives and negatives. Its all about what is more important to you.

This is a really good perspective. Thanks.

RNKPCE · May 23, 2006

I started out as a new grad on a tele unit. I was on day shift. I physically couldn't do nights. I learned a lot, procedures, organization, the docs, dealing with visitors. Also there is a tendency to have more senority on the day shift and you can learn a lot from experienced nurses. After I had kids I went part time to 3-11p. It has worked out great for our family. The evenings I work my husband and I do tag team parenting but it is only 1-2 evenings a week. I am still on tele after 15 years. Tele is a good stepping stone if you want to move to other areas such as critical care.

I respect night shift workers for working those difficult hours but I respect days for having typically the busier shift with baths, test, doc visits, 2 meals etc.

Good luck on your new job!

MIA-RN1, RN · May 24, 2006

I"m starting as a new grad on the 3p - 11:30p. I like the times because I will be able to do things before work (my daughter's allergy appts etc) and staying up til after midnight is not a big deal for me. THe downside is that its five days a week, vs the 3-12h shifts that many of my classmates have arranged. But I am a bit older and I KNOW that I detest and hate early mornings and could never do overnights. So this works for me. I also have asked that in the future perhaps we can look into 3-12's from 11a - 11p. THAT would be the dream shift for me.

smileysenior · May 25, 2006

I"m starting as a new grad on the 3p - 11:30p. I like the times because I will be able to do things before work (my daughter's allergy appts etc) and staying up til after midnight is not a big deal for me. THe downside is that its five days a week, vs the 3-12h shifts that many of my classmates have arranged. But I am a bit older and I KNOW that I detest and hate early mornings and could never do overnights. So this works for me. I also have asked that in the future perhaps we can look into 3-12's from 11a - 11p. THAT would be the dream shift for me.

I heard that 3-11 shift 5 days a week can make you burnout quick.......I have heard that from SO many nurses and friends.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 25, 2006

I always work two 16-hour weekend double shifts on Saturday and Sunday, from 6am to 10pm. I also work occasional overtime during the week, and sometimes pick up extra hours during the week at my second job as a medication nurse at a small psychiatric hospital. My preference is for evening or weekend shifts because I do not want to be bothered with management, administration, and cliques.

I don't have much of a social life. I never have and possibly never will, since I am not a social butterfly. However, I did have lunch with a friend today and went shopping with her after lunch.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 25, 2006

I heard that 3-11 shift 5 days a week can make you burnout quick.......I have heard that from SO many nurses and friends.

Unfortunately this is the shift that most inexperienced newbies get stuck with. The 3-11pm is hard on the personal life and it eats up the whole day. I'd much rather work compressed shifts. The 6-2pm or 7-3pm shift is the most desired shift.