Evening shift versus nights

Fiona59 · Aug 30, 2017

I'd love 14-2200! I work 15-2300. I've done nights.

Evenings are better on your body. I work part time and rotate between days and evenings. I have coworkers who work fulltime rotating d/e and they love it. They just schedule around their shift pattern.

2200? You have time to go out after work.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 30, 2017

I currently am working 2-10 pm and am having difficulty having a life. I rarely can date because when most people get off work I am working!! I am considering going to 3-12 hour night shifts. I feel I would be able to have more of a life and would be able to see people when they get off work and on the weekends when I am not working.
Anyone have experience they can share? Opinions?
Thank you!!

Getting off at 2200, you CAN go out after work, but probably most people with "normal" jobs would be getting ready for bed rather than looking to start the evening. Working three 12 hour night shifts, you'd have four evenings a week free to date. Having done both, I'd whole-heartedly vote for the 12-hour night shifts. I did date working evening shifts, but I dated a fellow nurse who was also working evenings. If you haven't met the person you want to spend time with, give yourself more of an opportunity to date until you do find someone by working the night shift.

That's not to say that night shift is easy -- but the differential is easy to take!

morganm_0819 · Aug 30, 2017

I think it would depend on how the 3 12s are done. I do 12 hour nights now and honestly I spend more time sleeping and trying to tidy up my apartment than anything. In saying this, I miss my 3-11 shift or I wish I could do my 3 12s in a row so I can get my days off in a row so I can perhaps get stuff done.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Aug 30, 2017

Getting off at 2200, you CAN go out after work, but probably most people with "normal" jobs would be getting ready for bed rather than looking to start the evening. Working three 12 hour night shifts, you'd have four evenings a week free to date. Having done both, I'd whole-heartedly vote for the 12-hour night shifts. I did date working evening shifts, but I dated a fellow nurse who was also working evenings. If you haven't met the person you want to spend time with, give yourself more of an opportunity to date until you do find someone by working the night shift.
That's not to say that night shift is easy -- but the differential is easy to take!

"Working three 12 hour night shifts, you'd have four evenings a week free to date".

Not true. You would have to sleep the day before the shift, and in the daytime after the last night shift. Equals 2 days off.

caliotter3 · Aug 30, 2017

My 2200 activity, if not working night shift, is bed, so I would be easy to please. I see swing shift as a good compromise, allowing me some time for personal business during the day.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 31, 2017

"Working three 12 hour night shifts, you'd have four evenings a week free to date".
Not true. You would have to sleep the day before the shift, and in the daytime after the last night shift. Equals 2 days off.

The OP was talking about having evenings free to date. If you work three twelves a week and stay on the same sleep schedule on your days off, you do indeed have four evenings off to date. Or see friends. You sleep during the day every day, but you have four evenings off.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2017

When I worked evenings I felt like I lived at the hospital and I couldn't find a good sleep pattern. I'd end up awake until 4 of 5 AM usually, so I went back to 12 hour midnights and did that almost exclusively for years...but not everyone can do midnights. Have you worked any midnight shifts?

numba1spot · Sep 1, 2017

So it seems that the general consensus is that nights would allow me more of a life versus evenings?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 1, 2017

So it seems that the general consensus is that nights would allow me more of a life versus evenings?

Having worked evening shift for the majority of my single years and 12 hour night shift since 1983, that would be my opinion. But your milage may vary.

Cactus Nurse · Sep 2, 2017

well I personally love NOCs. When my ex and I lived together and I did my 3-12 1800-0630, it was perfect for us!

My off days we spent together, I dranks lots of coffee and we got to do anything we wanted. As for after we broke up and I dated someone, it was great, because I got to see him at night when he was off his work 8-5 kinda job, or have lunch before I went to work.

I like nights at 3-12's, working 5 8 hour shift, really does limit you, I did that for years, in a non nursing field.

Plus getting off at 2200 and going out? Do you guys not feel the need to shower after? Wash your face, put on fresh makeup? Unless you work 5 minutes from home, that isn't the easiest idea, unless you're going to Dennys or a 24hr gym....

Cactus Nurse · Sep 2, 2017

I sacrifice sleep in order to have a social life. We all don't need 8 hours of sleep a night/day. I do have days where I sleep on and off, but I make the most of my days off, because I feel I work 3 days for a reason, to enjoy 4 days off. You just have to make a plan and do it. I set my alarm and I do what I want to do... took me time however to adjust to this, about a year to actually adjust to less sleep.