Hate the evening shift

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Specializes in Trauma & Emergency.

I work in a sub-acute rehab unit as an LPN. I only recently graduated and obtained my license. When accepting the position that I currently have I agreed to work as a per diem nurse--but quickly became a "regular". I'm going back to school for my RN and working the 3-11 shift has really gotten to me.

I feel like no matter what I do working 3-11 makes me more and more depressed every time I have to work it. I've missed numerous family events & trips due to my work schedule that consumes almost all of my time. I just can't seem to figure out how anyone can lead a semi normal life with such a shift unless your spouse/significant other works along the same hours. I've actually began to feel guilty about my missing such important events & feeling depressed about going to work. When I went into nursing this was obviously not how I expected to feel.

At this point I've been at my current position for less than 6 months and I'm burnt out on 3-11. I don't think I can put up with it much longer..especially as a freshman college student. I don't want to miss everything at college because I had to work the 3-11. My question to you is since I am going to school all week during the day & working weekends & Fridays--do you all think it would be better to work 7-3 or do the overnight 11-7? Are employers usually supportive about changing shifts if they have anything open or do they have problems changing your shift?

Thanks in advance for all your advice & help.

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I know what you mean. Some people LOVE the PM shift, I personally hate it. I missed to much......dinner time with my family, helping my son with homework, taking my daughter to dance class, doing evening stuff, etc. I LOVE my 2300-0700 shift. I do work part-time so finding time to sleep is not such an issue for me. My family is safe and sound asleep at home while I am up at work. The other night I left for work while hubby was reading the kids a bedtime story (and feeding them ice cream) I will pick up a PM shift once in awhile...it is just to crazy for me at the moment. Family, tons of people in the halls, dinner (ac/hs accuchecks), charts disappearing. The good part is there is someone for every shift. Midnights is mine.:)

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Specializes in ER.

I love 3-11 shift. Unfortunately, I work day shift about 75% of the time so I am stuck getting up at 5AM which I hate. That said, I have a boyfriend who lives a distance away and no kids so I don't miss out on much. It is usually hard to land a straight day position so why not give 11-7 a go. I have heard that night shift isn't as hectic as day or evenings. Maybe try it out for a shift and see if you like it. Like the previous poster said there is a shift for everyone.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I started on the 3-11pm shift as a new grad in early 2006, and quickly decided that the evening shift was not suitable for me unless I was about to go homeless. For some reason, those hours consume my entire day.

I have been working weekend doubles for the past 3 years, and love it. I have Monday through Friday off so I can attend school full time during the week, then I work two 16 hour shifts every Saturday and Sunday. I'm basically receiving a full paycheck for working 2 long days per week.

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Specializes in Trauma & Emergency.

Thank you for all the replies and advice. I like the idea of maybe working a double 2 days/week. I think I am just afraid because jobs are so minimal around here right now that I don't want to "open a can of worms" persay and ruin the job that I have.

Hopefully everything will work out for the best. I'll keep my eyes peeled for openings just in case. Thanks again guys!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I don't get to do it as much as I'd like but I loved doing straight 3-11. I could sleep in and had time in the morning to run errands etc. I'm always looking for an excuse to dodge those ever present baby showers and tupperware parties anyway, lol.

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I can relate....when I was hired as a new RN on med/surg I did 3-11 & 7p-7a shifts. There were times when I would have 3-11's mon.-fri and I would only see my husband & kids for an hour in the morning, after two or three days it got very depressing. That on top of the stress of being a new RN made me feel like getting out of nursing! I was lucky enough to have a nurse manager that I could talk to. She wasn't able to give me different shifts right away, but she said she'd let me know when something opened up and in the mean time gave me suggestions to help with the transition from LPN to RN. About a month later, a position opened that was 3 - 12 hour night shifts a week. I love my night shifts, they are still busy, but in a different way than days or evenings. We have bigger pt loads, less staff to call on for help, one maybe two CNA's for all the pt's, a little different charting, double noting orders and paperwork to print & file in the AM. Throw in a confused pt &/or unstable pt and it becomes very interesting. The good side.....I get to see my family more, have more days off in the week and I think the night shift is more of a "close knit group" because we have to be there for each other when the going gets tough.

I don't know if 7p-7a's would work with your school schedule, but I don't feel it would hurt to let your NM know that the 3-11's aren't working for you. They've seen how you work and since you became more of a regular instead of per deim, it seems like they must like your work.

School can be depressing & stressful on it's own........I hope you can get something worked out with your NM.:hgu:

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