Midshift in the ER

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi everyone!!

So I am a recent new grad and got offered a job in the ED! I am so excited.

At this time, they can offer a mid shift position and are giving me the choice between 9a-9p or 11a-11p. I am leaning towards the 9-9 because I would prefer to get home earlier, but I wanted some advise from the ED nurses on here about what times typically get more crazy/ what would suit a new grad better.

Thanks!

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Take 9-9, I worked 12-12 one time and that was a big mistake. I worked peds and generally it would start to pick up around noon and peak around 9:00 pm, run hard for about 3 to 4 hours, and start to taper off toward sunrise. So my 12 to 12 put me in the sprint the entire shift.

Both are good shifts, in my opinion, but my preference would be 11 - 23. I worked that shift for 2 years when I worked ED, and would go back to if it were available in the ICU environment. In the ED I worked in (level 2 trauma center, and the only ED in a city of ~100,000), and not counting trauma or mass casualty incidents which happen randomly, it typically started getting busy ~1400 - 1500, and remained so throughout the remainder of my shift.

Just my opinion...take the 9-9. Things will ramp up (even more) in the afternoon/evening and will be in full-swing/chaos mode all through the evening and into night. Trust me when I say you don't want to be the last one scheduled to leave (the 11-11 or the 1-1 shift); it's just too difficult to get out anywhere near on time when everyone is too strapped to take over your patients and you feel guilty leaving everyone in more of a lurch. 9pm is a great time to be walking out. :)

I agree with Old Dude too.

Thanks everyone :) I accepted the 9-9 shift!

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