Disadvantages of 2nd shift?

vashtee, RN · May 3, 2008

Once your kids start school, I would think the second shift will be even worse than what you have now, because you will have to get them up for school, right? And then you'll be gone after school.

Sarah Bellum · May 3, 2008

Once your kids start school, I would think the second shift will be even worse than what you have now, because you will have to get them up for school, right? And then you'll be gone after school.

Ah, good point. However I would be done with nursing school by the time all 3 are school age and likely will be on nights at that point.

One of my 3 is in school right now and he gets up about 8 am, bus comes @ 8:45. So even if I took a bit to unwind after work I could still get a good 7 hours of sleep in.

I should also say that I work part time, 5 shifts every 2 weeks, so I have a lot of off days. I just got off work as I sit here and type this and it's a beautiful day and my kids want to go outside with me and play and all I can think about is my pillow....

wabisabi · May 3, 2008

For a person with school-age children, evening shift is the absolute worst shift you could work. You will literally never see your children. If your children are infants or toddlers, evenings can be workable if you have a spouse or other good caregiver to be in your home and care for them and tuck them into bed. They tend to go to bed early so would be asleep for half of your shift. Still, I would only recommend it if you plan to be with them in the mornings until you go to work at 2-3 pm.

stdntograd06, BSN, RN · May 3, 2008

I was on 3-11 shift for 8 months and it was HORRIBLE for me. I never saw my 12 yr. old daughter, or my husband. It definitely was NOT the shift for me. My daughter got on the bus at 7:30, which I was able to be home for, then I had to leave for work at 2:00 to be at work by 2:45. I didn't see her after school, or at bedtime. I wouldn't see her again until she was up for school the next morning :cry: . My husband, who is in school for nursing, would leave the house by 7:30 and again I would leave for work before he would get home from school. I would see him when I got home because he would try to wait up for me, but we went right to sleep because we were soo tired. My daughter's in dance class and I was missing every one of her classes, which we both hated. I have since switched over to 3 12's a week and I love it so far :yeah: . I am home every morning to see them both off and am home every day when they get home. I leave my house at 6:15 to be at work by 7P, and get home at 7:30AM to see them leave. It is a MUCH BETTER shift and I think that 3-11 is NOT the shift to work if you have a family you want to see.

Just my :twocents: , but if you have 3 little ones, I would SERIOUSLY think about what shift is best for you :confused: . It's something that has to work for everyone involved.

Good luck. Let us know what shift you take and how things are going.

K.

RNperdiem, RN · May 3, 2008

Since this sounds like a temporary move for you, give it a try.

I worked evening shift while I was in nursing school. It worked well for the short term.

The biggest disadvantage I found was that I was always looking at my watch counting down the time until it was time to go to work.

I would ration my energy to save some for the job.

I would decide if the time before work would leave me enough time to run errands while still having time left over to go to work.

Anticipating going to work hung like a cloud over what was supposed to be free time.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · May 3, 2008

I worked a lot of 2nd shifts while in school and I absolutely LOVED 2nd. Hands down my favorite shift. Why? I can sleep in (or study) before work, since everyone's been bathed it's a little easier to manage a 20pt assignment, after supper things start winding down, again making it easier to handle being understaffed. I didn't have kids, so I don't know how it'd be like with kids, but with school it was nice, because I would get out of class around noon, and be at work at 2. BTW: I worked full-time, 4 8 hr 2nd shifts a week.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · May 4, 2008

I used to work as a CNA from 3-11pm and I loved that shift. All the patient's were bathed and had oral care. I only had dinner to worry about. It was an easier shift with more pay. I got to sleep in all I wanted.

I just worked part time but it was great. I didn't do it on a day when I would have to get up the next day for school.

Having little ones means they go to bed early anyway so being with them during the day really works out.

I didn't get much done during the day but I worked out regularly. :)

me_daffy · May 4, 2008

I have worked 2nd shift for about 3 months now. I also have a 4 year old. I know its bad, but he has picked up on my sleep schedule and I see him all the time. We spend a couple hours together before work and a little while after work. He isn't in school, so I don't know how it would work then, but for now it is great! I have thought about switching to nights, but why fix it if it isn't broken...

Ms Kylee · May 4, 2008

I LOVE second! Hate the stuffing out of daylight.. too busy...

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · May 4, 2008

karen-

is there any way you could do a day/evening rotating schedule for a bit? i think that way you will be able to compare the shifts, and you might find you like one more than the other. also, it can be difficult to transition all at once.

i wish you the best

jess

maryloufu · May 4, 2008

anticipating going to work hung like a cloud over what was supposed to be free time.

that is a major problem for me no matter what shift i am on. also when i worked 3-11 i could count on never being able to do things like birthday parties or get togethers with extended family. noone waits until 11 for this stuff.