Midshift in the ER

[Nurse2k18]

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!

[OldDude]

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.

[chare]

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.

[JKL33]

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.

[Nurse2k18]

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