Night shift question!

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I am not a nurse yet, but I just want to know what to expect for when I do graduate as far as scheduling goes. I have come to terms with the fact that I will have to work some nights (depending on what I do), but I just want to know if the night shifts all have the same hours no matter what. I hear so many people talking about 7p-7a, but for me, 11p-11am sounds SO much more appealing because those are the times that I wouldn't miss seeing my significant other as much. He would be asleep and at work during those times, so it wouldn't bother me to work night shifts.

Does it depend on the hospital or area that you work in? Or do you actually have a choice in the matter?

what do you think of CRNA's. I posted this somewhere else as well. my goal is to be RN but my long term goal is to be a CRNA. Are they not like in the RN world or what do you think?

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Im sorry...i meant not liked. Im not the best on a computer!

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Specializes in oncology, transplant, OB.

Raindreamer,

I'm just curious about why you feel that "they couldn't pay you enough to work day shift." I'm graduating in May and my dream would be to find a day position (although I don't know how realistic that is because I would be a new grad.) I could see the advantage of working nights if you have kids, but I'm in my early 20s and single so I would like to stay on the same schedule as my friends. I guess depending on what unit you work on it may be slower, but I also heard to make up for that there are less nurses on the floor (but I don't know if that's true.) So whats so great about night shift? Just curious! Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in NICU.
Raindreamer,

I'm just curious about why you feel that "they couldn't pay you enough to work day shift." I'm graduating in May and my dream would be to find a day position (although I don't know how realistic that is because I would be a new grad.) I could see the advantage of working nights if you have kids, but I'm in my early 20s and single so I would like to stay on the same schedule as my friends. I guess depending on what unit you work on it may be slower, but I also heard to make up for that there are less nurses on the floor (but I don't know if that's true.) So whats so great about night shift? Just curious! Thanks in advance!

I'm in my 20's, single, and have no kids either. I'm a total nightowl so night shift works for me.

I work in a NICU, it's plenty busy at night, and there's just as many nurses day or night ..... we keep busy, babies are born day and night :)

Of course my schedule is completely different than most of my friends, but even if I worked days, I wouldn't get home until 8 pm, then I'd have to be up by 5 am the next day (gotta get up earlier for day shift because there's more traffic!). So regardless of which shift I work, 12 hour shifts (day or night) only allow me to have time to eat, sleep, and work on my work days. If you can still go out after working 12 hours and then be up by 5 am, more props too you .... I think I'm too old for that! But I only work 3 days a week ..... I get my work week done and then I have the whole weekend to do whatever I want to do. It works great for me, but everyone is different. There are people that can only work day shift, which is great for me because then I don't have to!

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Specializes in acute, med/surg/ER/geri/CPR instructor.

our hospital has 7p-7a shifts in all nursing depts. we generally all work 4-12hr shifts a week. nursing shortage hitting us hard, so i have been working at least 4- 12 hour shifts a week for over 2 years now.:o

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, OR, OB, instructor.

I work 7p-7a, but have tried the 11p-11a shift. I prefer 7-7, just because of sleep. I couldn't ever get used to staying past 7a, no matter what time I'd go in, or how much I would sleep. Good luck in whatever you decide!

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