Need opinions: pro's & con's of 2nd shift

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Specializes in Home Health; Family Practice Clinic.

So here's my situation:

New LPN, just passed state boards on Aug. 12! Today, after a month of waiting for a call back, and 15 applications out there, I was FINALLY offered a job at a local SNF. At first, the woman told me I could choose between 1st or 2nd shift. I obviously picked first because what new nurse would turn that down!? How great, even if I have to work a holiday, I'll still be home early in the day! And on regular days, I'll be home to have dinner with my fiancee, see my friends, etc.

Well...I knew it was too good to be true. A couple of hours later, I got a call saying someone from the inside was interested and it's their policy that the employees who are already there have first pick. (The hiring woman apparently didn't know this other nurse was really interested until after she & I had talked.)

So now, after that tease of a 1st shift lifestyle (being home early, having the same schedule as all my friends/family), I have to switch my mentality to being a 2nd shift-er, and I'd like opinions from you guys out there!

Here are some of the pro's & con's that I'm able to think of, and I'd like to hear more if you can think of some!

PRO'S:

+ shift diff. of $1 more per hour

+ never having to set a 6 a.m alarm

+ still being able to enjoy my weekends even if I have to work (work on Saturday at 3pm means I can still go out Friday night if I wanted to!)

+ residents will be going to bed by the end of my shift so perhaps I'll have time to chart, etc

+ ability to transfer to a 1st shift position once I have my foot in the door

+ F/T job with benefits, tuition reimbursement, $300/year clothing allowance, employer matches your 401K contribution

CON'S:

- opposite schedule than everyone else I know

- getting in at 11:30pm & having my fiancee probably already asleep, or close to it!

- not being able to go rent a movie, grab a bite to eat, get a coffee with my friends or fiancee (I know this sounds silly, but I enjoy those little things!)

- working on a holiday 3-11pm pretty much takes your entire day away (who wants Thanksgiving dinner at noon ...or midnight?)

- not being able to unwind/fall asleep after work until probably 1 a.m

Thanks for your comments & feedback! :nurse:

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Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.

I work at a LTC/SNF and have to work half of my schedule at 2nd shift and the other half on 3rd.

Besides the things you mentioned...

2nd shift has dinner, at my facility the Nurse has to be in the dining room 100% of the time the residents are eating. REALLY kills your day. Everything rotates around the meal, pass all the meds you can before and get out as fast as possible to start meds and treatments all over again.

Another thing to consider are the admissions. At my facility 90% of the admissions are on 2nd shift. It seems that most discharges from hospitals, Sx centers etc happen in the afternoon...after rounds so you tend to get a lot of admissions. Same thing with discharges, patients go home after Dr rounds so the patients are not usually ready to leave until 2nd shift.

Family tends to come in during the 2nd shift because everyone is getting off of work, picked up the kids etc. Really slows down the day having to talk to 10,000 family members all asking "how is she/he doing today"

There is also a big rush to get all your orders straightened out because god forbid you have to call the Doc/NP after business hours.

Personally I prefer 3rd shift the most. I get time to chart, the residents are sleeping..sometimes and there is generally less going on.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I love 3p-11:30. I'm able to sleep in, do chores and run errands during the week before work. No rush hour traffic. When I get there AM care is done. The residents, nursing students, housekeepers, social workers, physicians and secretarys aren't cluttering my nurses station and relocating my charts! It is rare that my patients are taken off the unit for tests. If all the sudden I'm worth another dollar an hour, sign me up. :D You can meet your friends for dinner on your days off. Congratulations on the new job and good luck.

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Specializes in Home Health; Family Practice Clinic.

Thanks! It's nice to hear that 3-11pm can be an enjoyable shift, and that you can still manage a social life. I needed some pro's to think about, so thanks again!

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Specializes in ICU, Psych.

I work night shift and here's the thing about working holidays: the holiday is whenever you and your family celebrate it. If it's Thanksgiving the night before, then that's when Thanksgiving is. If you have to do family dinner and presents on Christmas Eve or late Christmas Day because you worked the night before - then that's when Christmas is.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

i love 3-11 shift. no management breathing down my neck and no people at the nurses' station. i do get most of the admissions on my shift so be prepared to leave 1am or later. and i never leave exactly 11:30 due to things like incidents, charting, etc...you'll find out. plus i do get more pay (2.50/hr) than 7-3 due to shift differential.

anyway, good luck with the job and welcome to the world of nursing.

cheers,

angel

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
thanks! it's nice to hear that 3-11pm can be an enjoyable shift, and that you can still manage a social life. i needed some pro's to think about, so thanks again!

there's really nothing to think about. you will have to try the shift and see if it fits you. then afterwards, you can look for a better shift, within the company or elsewhere. i caution you though many new grads are having a tough time looking for a job. so you're lucky it didn't take you that long to acquire one. good luck to you and let us know how you like the 3-11 shift.

cheers,

angel

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Specializes in Wound care.

I work 2pm-10pm (at a nursing home) and I love it. When they hired me I thought I wanted 6am-2pm but I personally think 2-10 is the best shift. There is only one meal to worry about and most of the calls to the doctor, trips out to doctors appointments, physician orders, treatments and stuff like that have been done. There is more time to focus on the residents and not sit on the phone all day. And nevermind the 3rd shift which I hate. Your up all night your internal clock gets all messed up plus you talk about boring! The only physical thing that is done is passing 6am meds and I hate that. These are just my opinions.

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Specializes in Home Health; Family Practice Clinic.

Wow, very true. I guess you just need to be flexible and go with the flow. I'm not the first, or last, person who has to work holidays, so it's feasible if you make it fit your life/schedule. Thanks!

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Hi,

I work nights (1900-0700). A bit different, but here's my take on it anyway.

Pros:

Less family members

Less administrative nonsense

Better cohesiveness with the staff (at least at the hospital where I work)

Slower pace (generally)- affords you more time to look at charts, learn new things, etc.

Pts are sleeping (hopefully)

Fewer docs writing orders

Cons

REALLY messes up your circadian rythyms

Having to call/page docs in the middle of the noc

More down time (can be a pro or a con)

"hitting the wall" at 0400 r/t lack of sleep

trying to sleep during the day.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Diane, RN

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Sarah-

Very creative username.. Nice :yeah:

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Specializes in Wound care.

Yeah you will probably have to work holidays being the new person but I look at it this way, it's time and a half!!

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