What shift is most short-staffed?

[hoolahan]

I have been reading the want ads regularly for the last 5 years at least, and it seems to me that 3-11 is the shortest staffed shift. Is this true where you are? I thought most places went to 12-hr shifts, and 3-11 was obsolete.

I got a postcard in the mail the other day, for a hospital about 45 minutes away...check this out...

Base pay $65,000

PLUS Sign-on bonus $5000

PLUS Retention bonus $5000

PLUS 7, yes, SEVEN weeks paid time off!!!

Guys, I almost went for it, but it was 3-11 shift, and that just doesn't work for my family life.

So, what seems to be the neediest areas, and what kinds of bonuses have you seen? This is the best offer that I have seen by far! God forbid hubby ever lost his job, I'd be there an hour after I got the news.

[ceecel.dee, MSN, RN]

Oh....and weekends always suck!

[Teshiee]

I can't stand 3-11 it is like you have no life everything passes you by. Currently where I work. night shift seems to be always short. I have been on overtime so far because of staffing. I love nights I can't work any other shift.

[Tookie]

Not quite the topic but relevant - the area understaffed completely here is aged care- all shifts and its getting harder to get staffed particualrly qualified - why wouldnt you go to the acute section when you get paid so much more there and there are higher staff levels - it is getting so hard and so sad. - the light at the tunnekl is getting dimmer at the moment

[ERNurse752, RN]

Where I work, nights seem to be the most short-staffed. You know, b/c pts just stop coming in to the ER at 2300...especially the drunk/belligerant ones!

Weekends aren't usually too bad b/c of all the people who want to work weekend option (work 2 12's on the weekend, get paid for 40 hours.)