Does anyone like working 7p-7a?

SarasotaRN2b · Mar 9, 2006

This is a shift I am definitely going to be working. I'm currently a health unit coordinator working from 7 to 0330 (only because they don't need a unit clerk until 7 am). What I have found is that it is actually less chaotic during the day (which I have worked and seen firsthand). There are less doctors around, less supervisors around, and more time to chart. It could be quite busy from start of shift until about midnight or so (this is on a busy med surg respiratory floor), but usually after midnight the nurses can get down to charting. During the day, it may very well be chaotic all the time. I've noticed that many of the newer nurses are staying later on days, some as late as 9 pm. I've also found that at night there is more teammenship (a word?). Most nurses are willing to help out if you are having a problem.

Just my 2 cents, but if you have an opportunity, definitely do so. There is also the added benefit of extra compensation for working nights, and more time for OT, as it is harder to find RNs willing to work nights.

melpn · Mar 9, 2006

Yes! I work in a ~160 bed inpatient rehab (PT,OT,ST,cardiac,vent) facility. I wouldn't touch days; meals, PT,OT,ST have to stick with their schedules to get it all done, but God forbid the patient isn't ready for whatever reason. Visitors after you with a thousand questions and "Mom needs this right now!". Admin running around nosing into things. MDs and consultants of every ilk (dietary, psych, pharmacy, even our own Social Services) make charts disappear when you need them. Too much chaos for this cave dweller. Yeah, they pile more BS work on us because even though there is less staff and we're still busy, we do have more uninterrupted time to look at MDSs, recaps and other stuff that would be nearly impossible to do on days because of constant interruptions. Four more hours is nothing; you'll wonder how you got anything done in eight. A three day workweek is much nicer than five, You can pick up an OT shift and still have three days off. Try it. If you hate it you can always go back. Good luck!

hoppermom3 · Mar 9, 2006

I work a weekend pkg (med surg in a critical access hospital)...7p-7a Fri and Sat, get paid for 32 hrs with full benefits. I LOVE it. I have more time for my family. At our facility, days is a bunch of back-stabbing, fighting, and other BS. We stay busy on nights, but we all work together.

zacarias, ASN, RN · Mar 9, 2006

I work this shift on a tele floor. I like it because it's generally somewhat quieter (not so much family, docs, PT, etc) and usually night shift staff really get along great. Don't get me wrong, it's busy as patients don't sleep and admits come and there's work to be done!

I always go back to a regular schedule on my days off if I have like three days off in a row. I'm a night owl since birth so this schedule works for me right now in my life.

nursing 101 · Mar 9, 2006

As much as like the slower pace of nights. I still find that I leave as late as 8:30 AM . These patients don't sleep! God forbid you started the night off with one patient goin bad and you still get admits! I try to stay awake at nights but it's a killer for me. I really can't stand nights. I can't sleep when I get home either so I end up getting for a total of 3 nights 11 hours asleep instead of getting 24 (cause I can go by on 7hours of sleep). I was never a night person to begin with. I still wake up early even on my days off.

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Mar 9, 2006

I worked that shift for 13 years and loved it. no bosses less hectic and that made it great I changed to day 6 mos ago (husband's health) and I really miss it and oh yeah more days off

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2006

I rotate, and not liking that much. But I like the freedom of night shift for the reasons that the others have shared. Its the same crew rotating with me so there are no "day shift vs. night shift" issues- its the same team.

It takes me a few days to adjust either way, but its easier for me to go to nights than it is to readjust to days. With a family, it isn't easy either - but my husband's support goes a very long way.

But I'd take a job that orients on day shift as well because then you get a complete picture and an understanding either way of why x, y or z "didn't get done by day shift/night shift".

Good luck with the job!

Blee

Thinking about taking a job on surgical floor, 7p-7a. Does anyone like this shift? How long does it take to get use to? Any problems on days off? Are the 12's harder to work? Thanks to all who reply

aznhoney · Mar 9, 2006

I work 7p-7a, and I like it. I never have a bed time, and the night shift can be somewhat less hectic than days. Nights, though, has a different type of business to it. On days, the nurses have to deal with management, doctors, families, trips to CT scan, etc...and these things keep them busy. I work in critical care, so our busy-ness on nights are codes, completing what dayshift could not finish (and sometimes a lot of things are passed on), patient care, checking orders, drawing labs, etc. So days and nights can both be busy but in different ways.

I do like nights, though. The main reason why I like nights is that at my hospital, the night shift crew works as a team while the dayshift nurses do not. I'm not sure how it is at other hospitals, though.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Mar 9, 2006

I like 7p-7a. I also work all weekends, so I'm often with the same crew every week. We have a camaraderie I don't see as much of on days, not that the day people are bad. I did some days on orientation, and it just seems like you are so busy with your own stuff that you get a sort of tunnel vision.

That isn't to say nights are anything like easy, but there are fewer distractions from family, docs, management, etc, and patients don't go for testing nearly as much. I think nightshift is a great place for a new nurse for that reason.

That said, I've had the flu twice this winter, and I suspect it has something to do with not always being able to sleep as much as I need to. I'm seriously considering looking for a dayshift position, epsecially if I can still do 3-12's and weekends (weekend positions pay $4/hr more, which is nothing to sneeze at).

I sure would miss the other nightowls, though.

hppygrndma · Mar 9, 2006

I love the 7p-7a shift. I work in ICU. Although it is busy, it is a different kind of busy, you have more autonomy and the nurses and staff on nights tend to be a different breed than the day shift. We all work together and get done what needs to get done. There is the reconciliation of MARS, chart checks, bathing, but aside from that I wouldnt work days in ICU. It is quieter (to a point on nights) and you dont have to deal with meals, as many family members, and you can just do your thing. I have worked the 7a-7p, and much prefer the nights.

It does take some getting use to if you havent done it before, but after a while it works wonderful especially if you have kids at home. I am home to pick them up from school and most times take them to school. I found it easier to work all my shifts in a row then have 3-4 days off. But in time you find what works best for you.

Good luck and happy nursing.

rosie

beautifulb · Mar 9, 2006

I worked nocs right out of school (10 yrs ago) and I absolutely loved it. I felt that everything was done at a slower pace which made it easier to learn and there was time to look things up if you had questions. Usually at night the teamwork is great which makes any job easier. Lately however, I have been working a few nights and I am having a hard time with it. Mainly sleep which unfortunately effects everything else. Good luck with what you decide to do.