How is Working the 3-11 shift with small children at home

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2022

I always loved working 3-11 but didn’t have small kids at the time. We used to say we needed to sleep in and make ourselves rest so we wouldn’t be too tired for our shift. You won’t be able to do that with little kids. I can see it being exhausting getting up early with your kids and being on the go all day then having to go to work for 8 hours! It’s hard to get in bed and asleep before midnight too. If you’re able to get a good nap in with the kids before you have to leave for work it might work out for you but it’s not going to be as easy or practical as it sounds.

Guests · Mar 12, 2022

3-11 works best if you have help in your home in the evenings for dinner, bath and bedtime routines with your kids when you are working.

Bagatha · Mar 26, 2022

I worked the 3-11 shift for over 30 years and I loved it. I will not kid you, it is said it is the hardest shift to work, you do not have all the support that you have on days, plus you still have to bed patients, feed them, etc. On the other hand, you did not have all those extra people on days, LOL, not as much activity going on to distract you. With kids, was great, you had the up until two to take them to the beach, etc. in the Summer, skiing in the Winter, did not need a baby sitter for more than a couple of hours if you have an SO. If I went back to work, it is still the shift I would choose.

Danielle48 · Mar 30, 2022

This shift is much easier, for my family. I may not have been able to put my 2 kids to bed every single night but I didn't have to pay for daycare. I had my father watch them for an hour until my husband came home. Then I began as nursing educator and had to change to daylight. Although I enjoy educating the schedule is not easy with 2 children and one about to start school.

Ssss94 · Apr 10, 2022

Thank you all for your responses! Instead of working evenings I opted to work overnights. Now I’m contemplating if I should go up to 36 hrs instead of only working 24 LOL.

RNKPCE · Apr 13, 2022

My kids are adults now but I switched from day shift to 3-11 after my first child was born. I worked 24 hours a week which I think is the max I'd want to do working that shift with kids at home. When they are school age you will have days when you don't see them much but if you work every other weekend then that would likely only be 4 shifts in two weeks. I loved having the time to volunteer in their classrooms and go on field trips.When they were babies I did a daytime new moms group. A family member babysat my kids two weekdays a week from 2p-4:30p until my husband got home. The parenting responsibilities were very much shared. I'd get home from work at midnight and after showering be in bed asap because my kids got up between 6:30- 7a.

I still work 3-11. Love no traffic going to or back from work. Like that generally it starts busy but winds down as the night goes on.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2022

I think it would be good with your young kids. Not good if you would be missing their team sports, concerts, school plays, etc.

And it's only 3 eves per week.

It can be a pretty mellow shift; it can also be busy. Someone above said pass meds and put them to rest. Not always so. Still beats having the bosses and docs, therapists, social workers, dietary, etc. overrunning the place on Days or you turning your life inside out on graveyards - unless you are a natural night owl.

As with any shift, try to have at least 1 back up child care plan in place. You never know.

Best wishes.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2022

On 4/10/2022 at 9:01 AM, Ssss94 said:

Thank you all for your responses! Instead of working evenings I opted to work overnights. Now I’m contemplating if I should go up to 36 hrs instead of only working 24 LOL.

How did you decide to take Nights?