Day shift nurses needed...WHAT??!!

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Oct 28, 2008

Evenings because there is far less drama than on the day shift...you tend to get pretty chummy with the people on your shift and it's more teamwork oriented.

Plus, I never have been a morning person-if I had to get up every day at 5:30am, it wouldn't be pretty! :lol2:

Xbox Live Addict · Oct 28, 2008

So I finally got my dream evening shift job and no matter what, I'm staying put (I told them I could also work nights in a pinch). Looking back at my interviews and all the applications I put in, only to be told that if I could just work days I could be hired at top dollar.
So I'm wondering...I know evening shifts and night shifts often get a differential, but besides that, why are so many RN's coming to the later shifts? I know to answer that question myself...I love evenings because it is fast paced but not enough that it is super stressful. Day shifts have 2 meals to get through and showers/baths too, plus all the faxes go on day shift and they get a lot of orders on days.
So, what about the rest of you...which is your favorite shift and why?
Blessings, Michelle

I was a 3-11 person myself, although I don't know if it was necessarily any easier. True, there is only one meal to get through, but generally there weren't any less baths on 3-11 (some facilities would have a bath team in the daytime.... provided all the CNAs showed up to provide adequate hall coverage), plus there was less staff to do it all, and the PM and noc shifts often had to scramble for coverage. Family problems weren't any easier, believe me... it seemed we got the more obnoxious families in the evenings, and with no administrator or DON for them to vent their wrath on. That happy little job usually fell to me.

LTC/SNF facilities in my area generally don't pay shift differentials, so that incentive for people to work late is non-existent.

The main reason I worked 3-11 is... it was the least noxious compromise to me. My best time to function is 9A-6P, or 10A-7P, and of course, unless you're lucky enough to snag an administrative job, lots of luck getting a shift like that in nursing. I worked dayshift too, but it was hard as heck to drag my big, lazy butt out of bed at 6 am to get ready for work. :rotfl:

When you saw me begging to go on 7-3, you knew the facility was short-staffed, because I figured I might be tired as hell, but at least I wouldn't be pulling my hair out from the stress of being short on CNAs on a nightly basis, or having to work 7, 8, 10 days on end myself because of a shortage of nurses.

It really sucked when one facility I worked at mandated 12-hour shifts for charge nurses (6A-6P or 6P-6A). Those of us who worked evenings, in particular, faced two unpleasant choices: either start dragging out of bed at hours we weren't used to, or start getting used to being up all night and trying to sleep during the daytime, which is miserable unless your body is used to it. Either way, us 2nd-shifters got the shaft both ways. :banghead:

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2008

I'm not a morning person. I hate getting up early. That's why I love evenings. I would get up early for the right job, but floor nursing in my unit is not that job. It's too busy with doctors, families, meals, discharges, procedures, etc. We do all of those things on eves too, but things tend to slow down after dinner. Now, a job in the OR, I would get up early for.

oramar · Oct 28, 2008

I was a 3-11 person myself, although I don't know if it was necessarily any easier. True, there is only one meal to get through, but generally there weren't any less baths on 3-11 (some facilities would have a bath team in the daytime.... provided all the CNAs showed up to provide adequate hall coverage), plus there was less staff to do it all, and the PM and noc shifts often had to scramble for coverage. Family problems weren't any easier, believe me... it seemed we got the more obnoxious families in the evenings, and with no administrator or DON for them to vent their wrath on. That happy little job usually fell to me.
LTC/SNF facilities in my area generally don't pay shift differentials, so that incentive for people to work late is non-existent.
The main reason I worked 3-11 is... it was the least noxious compromise to me. My best time to function is 9A-6P, or 10A-7P, and of course, unless you're lucky enough to snag an administrative job, lots of luck getting a shift like that in nursing. I worked dayshift too, but it was hard as heck to drag my big, lazy butt out of bed at 6 am to get ready for work. :rotfl:
When you saw me begging to go on 7-3, you knew the facility was short-staffed, because I figured I might be tired as hell, but at least I wouldn't be pulling my hair out from the stress of being short on CNAs on a nightly basis, or having to work 7, 8, 10 days on end myself because of a shortage of nurses.
It really sucked when one facility I worked at mandated 12-hour shifts for charge nurses (6A-6P or 6P-6A). Those of us who worked evenings, in particular, faced two unpleasant choices: either start dragging out of bed at hours we weren't used to, or start getting used to being up all night and trying to sleep during the daytime, which is miserable unless your body is used to it. Either way, us 2nd-shifters got the shaft both ways.

I have worked all shifts at many different facilities. Hands down evenings is the hardest. Less staff, same amount of work, 2/3 of admissions come in on evenings. Families will always be in your face all evening. Then when the admissions start to arrive their families immediately begin to harrass you about the amount of time their family member spent waiting for the bed. I am suprised to hear there are places where they have trouble covering staffing on daylight. It has never been my experience.

blueheaven · Oct 28, 2008

I'm not a day shift person at all. As I've gotten older I am no longer a night shift person. I always loved working evening shift! Now I work days 12hrs and the lugging and tugging folks to tests, not to mention the extra crap of all the attendings, sub Is, residents, fellows running around and ordering stuff at the end of the shift. Getting through 3 meals if I have feeders (vents are a snap;) PLUS the addition of ALL the administrative ppl in and out all day. I can understand why some facilities have trouble finding dayshift people!

lpnsider · Oct 28, 2008

OMG! My day shift is a nightmare. I'm ready to change to night shift. I found this position through my sister-in-law. Does anybody know the best nursing jobs boards out there? I'm looking in the Atlanta area. The ones I've checked so far are NursingPost.net and Indeed.com and allnurses.com, of course. Any others I should frequent? Thanks.

Tam

HonestRN · Oct 28, 2008

I like day shift because I have kids in school and I want to be home in the evenings with them. I think it is incredibly busy with Dr's, families, procedures, tests, discharges, consults, end of shift orders and fresh surgicals. It's busy, hectic and stressful but I am a morning person in general so I may as well get it out of the way early.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2008

1)I dont like waking up to an alarm clock.

2) I prefer to eat my 3 meals a day at home vs the hospital cafeteria

3) KIDS KIDS KIDS and more KIDS

4) I not only like to see the sun but actually have it hit my skin.

5) Mgmt is home in thier nice warm beds and I can do my work with out wondering who is looking over my shoulder and why.

If I could find a 9am to 3pm job 3 days a week I would take it, until then 7p-7a is the shift for me!!

As a side note, since I have been working nights the last 4 years, I find I sleep better when I have the bed to myself!!!

carrie13 · Oct 28, 2008

I've worked all shifts at my hospital. I started out 3p-11p and really liked the work of the shift - fast paced with lots of admissions and discharges. But I had no life outside of work - all of my friends work a normal M-F day shift and I was missing out on so many get togethers because I was always at work. I tried nights for a while but I found that I can't sleep during the day and was always dragging. Just couldn't adjust to the schedule. I still pick up a few overnights here and there but couldn't do it on a regular basis. Right now I'm working 7a-7p. The day shift is crazy busy and very fast paced. Of course it was a pay cut since I'm losing come of the 3-11 differential but I have a normal life now and can actually meet up with friends after work. I picked up a 3p-11p shift last night and walked in to 2 discharges, 1 admission and a patient who had to go monitored to a test so I had to be off the floor for 90 minutes with my patient. All at change of shift. I definitely don't miss nights like that!

SDS_RN, RN · Oct 28, 2008

I like to do day or evening shift. Working nocs I'm very crabby and emotional. I luckily don't have to do straight nocs any more only a hand full a month but I can handle that. 3-4 really tiered and crabby days a month beats tiered and crabby all month. Dealing w/ management is a downfall but it's better for my emotional & mental health.

Mulan · Oct 28, 2008

I have worked all shifts at many different facilities. Hands down evenings is the hardest. Less staff, same amount of work, 2/3 of admissions come in on eveings. Families in your face all evening not to mention the fact that when the admissions start to arrive their families immediately begin to harrass you about the amount of time their family member spent waiting for the bed.

Amen!!!!