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.

[sunshine100]

NOC shift is the best! But like above poster said, only if your body can handle it. My second choice is second shift, only 1 meal to serve and getting them all in bed. The places I work first shift is by far the worst (except that is what most want so they can be with their kids at night).

[karamarie91]

What is NOC shift????

Anyways, I'm a fairly new CNA and for the most part, I like 3-11 shift. I love how quickly the 7-3 shift goes by, but I'm working 11-7 tonight for the first time, so I'll see how that goes.

I think I should be sleeping now to get some rest...idk lol

[yousoldtheworld]

Noc = nocturnal. Usually either 10 pm - 6 am or 11 pm - 7 am. Good luck working it for the first time. I loved nightshift until my body stopped cooperating! :)

[karamarie91]

thanks, yousoldtheworld.I'll let you know how it goes!lol

[pca_85]

I love 7p-7a. One place I worked at had a sort of reward system for working it-work 12 hour shifts so you get 36 hours a week but get paid for 40! I was so green back then.........it was like Christmas came early lol.

[karamarie91]

I got off my 11-7 shift a couple of hours ago... my body didnt adjust well to it at all although I tried to take a nap a couple hours of beginning my shift. I dont like to be idle for too long, I'll fall asleep... I forgot to do a couple of things at the end of my shift, so in the future I want to work in a faster paced shift so I dont forget essential things.

[AJ_427]

I only work 2-10 and 10-6 so I can only pick from these two. I would never work in the morning because it is so chaotic and fast paced that I wouldn't be able to do it.

I do like 10-6 on vent unit because all you have to do is reposition the residents, clean wheelchairs, suction, change diapers, get few people up and that's it. Plus, we get 10 residents at most (if there is no call-off). If I'm on different unit, I get 17 residents and 8 get-ups.

But my favorite shift is 2-10 because I am the lucky one at my facility (have been told that many times) because I always work with kids so they are lighter and fight less. Yeah, I still have to deal with demanding families and more showers than the rest of my coworkers, but I like it. I also work only on weekends and that is a big plus. There is no management (HR, DON, ADON, etc.) so I don't have anyone breathing on my neck except for the supervising CNA.

Most people avoid 2-10 like fire because of showers (all the residents at my facility get showered every day). I think it's a matter of getting used to it.

[vampcna]

I work noc shift and I love it. For the most part the patients are sleeping and there

seems to be more commradery than on the other 2 shifts. No administration, no

doctors, no families. But we have way more patients, so it is a trade off. I don't think

I could work days cuz most,not all, am cnas are b*****s.

[cogath]

Eve's is the best. Day shift is so busy, plus you are running as soon as you are on the floor in order to get people ready in time for breakfast. On evenings you have some time before supper, and then the only busy part is getting people to bed; then the night (usually) quiets down a bit.