CNA's: What's your favorite shift?

[DreamyEyes]

Hello CNA's!

I will be getting certified as a nursing assistant this summer, and was just wondering: What shift do you work? 7-3, 3-11, or 11-7? Does your schedule differ or do you always stick with one shift everyday? I would really like to work 7-3, but I heard it's hard for new CNA's because it can get pretty stressful during 1st shift. My friend has been a CNA for 2 years now and she works the 2nd shift, and loves it. For those of you who work the 2nd shift, do you still find time for your significant other/friends/and family even though you get out 11 pm every shift?

P.S. - I'll be working full time when I first start, since I won't be going back to school until Fall '08. Any info about your shift would be appreciated, sorry for so many questions.

[callmekipling]

Call me pessimistic, but expect to have to cope with short staffing. Either occasionally or all the time, depending on the hiring and retention rates of the facility you're joining.

Been a bit since i worked LTC, but here's how I recall it breaking down:

Mornings: breakfast and lunch, AM care, (later) morning showers

Evenings: Dinner, evening showers, pajama time

Nights: Incontinence care and a few early morning showers.

Not only that, many facilities have shift differentials - Since 7-3 is compatible with kids' school schedules, generally, it's the most asked for shift. Thus incentives are provided for working evenings or nights.

I guess it all depends on how you like your work, your company at work and your pt routines.

[ohwerehalfwaythere]

definitely 11p-7a for me. there is no management to stress you out, a teamwork feel, and although the patients never sleep its a really great time have conversations with them and learn.

[jr3650sp]

3-11 is the best in my case you make more on that shift plus less of a hassle then 7-3 and 11-7 is great but if your facility gets a pressure sore problem it always comes back on 3rd shift.

[sonomala]

I just started 7pm to 7am, I LOVE IT! Quiet,time to talk to the residents, hang out, definately the best shift.

[mzdebi]

I am getting ready to start cna training for re-certification. I was certified in California MANY moons ago, and due to getting cancer and being sick for the last 15 years, my certification lapsed. Now I am in school doing my pre reqs to get into an RN program and part of that process is getting my CNA. But when I had my certification, I would only work nocs in the ltc facility (took an act of God back then for a cna to work in acute care), come home sleep til about 1 then had the rest of the day free to do what I needed to do, plus a short nap before work. The shift differential was nice too.

This time around, I will still prefer the noc shift, but I want an acute care facility.

[Ms. Nurse Assistant, LPN]

I LOVE the midnight shift. No families or supervisors intimidating you, or bossing you around, very peaceful and laid back. I wouldn't work any other shift

[la mama 310]

What's the best shift if your pregnant and new? What's the best place to look for jobs if you are pregnant. Seems like LTC has alot of lifting and hospitols less.

I don't care about doing other stuff if I can't lift. Can't be picky you know.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

They can just put you on light duty.

[sonomala]

I would suggest going to an ltc with a "no lift" policy like mine. Its not perfect, most of the residents hate the lifts and will scream beg ect for you to lift them by yourself and there will be time pressures ect that work against using the lifts, but stick to the rules and you'll be fine.

[sonomala]

Oh and for the record, I'm starting to hate graveyard. I want to go back to school and the hours are not working at all. For the first two weeks of sleep I was great, I guess it was the adren. but now I'm really struggling. I'm going to wait a few more weeks, build my skills and rep with the company and then tell them my school plans so they can try to work with my school schedule. I have a family and while in the short term this is working in the summer it won't with my dd out of school.

[CandAmommy]

Hi all! I have been away, but am back. Just wondering, I will be done with my CNA course at the beginning of May-Is the overall consensus is that it is easier getting a job form 11-7 am or 7-7 am? This would be preferable for me, just curious :)

[Butterfliesnroses]

I've worked all the shift. My favorite shift is 2-10. I don't know if it's because it's the shift I started on so it feels so comfortable. I do like that I can clean or go do some errands before I have to go to work. It's definitely not good for someone with kids. In fact most of the aides we have on 2-10, there kids are grown or babies. Not school age. I know I won't work 2-10 when my daughter is in school.