I've been working as an ER tech during my last semester of school, graduated in December and passed NCLEX. I've been lucky enough to have been offered an RN position in the ER. My choices are 7p-7a or 3p-3a. I'm not thrilled to be working nights, but I'll take what I can get.
I would love some insight as to whether either shift would be better than the other. I figure if I'm working nights anyway, I might as well do the 7-7 in order to get the higher shift diff for the entire shift. But, since I'm not much of a night person, leaving at 3 might be better.
In my ER I was hired for 3-3 it's their busiest shift. For my orientation I have to work my preceptors shift. My first preceptor worked 1-1. It wasn't bad at all. I worked 7p-7:30 at my previous job. My second and last preceptor is 7a-7p. I HATE mornings, I am not a morning person at all, I don't get differentials and so on, outside of that I haven't minded the shift at all. It seems to really fly by more so then mid-shift or even night shift.
You would think that 3-3 would fly by since it's so busy but because it is busy and the beds are all often filled with 9 deep in waiting, I find we are often in holding patterns. Waiting for admissions and discharges and waiting for results and so on. So a lot of times we are just stuck. In the day shift we usually always have open beds so the flow is a lot better and the shift seems to go quickly, by about 3 am things start slowing down again and dying off so there is a lot of down time. (things don't always work this way of course, but at least in my ER it's often been this way)
I look forward to working to working my mid shift though. I don't have to wake up super early, I will get to see tons of stuff, and I will have a more human and natural schedule. I normally stay up until 2-3 in the morning anyway. So on my days off I am far more functional and I will still get differentials.
Oh and another thing I love about mid shift is I get to work with everyone. Now that I am strictly a day shifter for the rest of my orientation I really miss working with my night shift peoples. I only see them during shift change now. (our shifts actually start 15 min prior to 15 after) So that will be another plus when I am off orientation and back on my mid shift. I will get to see everyone.
I've only worked days in the ER (as a tech), so I can't really compare, but one of the things I love is that the time seems to fly by, as you mentioned. I actually find myself thinking "wow, it's time to go already?" I also like that it's a little slower when I get there and then it builds up as the day goes on. In our ER, patients tend to flood in at about 1100 until it's time to leave. From what others have told me, things stay busy until about 0100-0200. I would imagine time moves pretty slow from 0200-0700.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
That's how it is in our ER too, things start picking up around 11 and don't slow down until late. Of course their are always exceptions, but this seems to be the norm. When I come on at 6:45 their is usually 1-2 patients if that. We have 17 beds and 4 hall beds. By afternoon ever one is usually filled and we are deep in the waiting room. We are getting a new ER built though that is going to double the size. I can't wait.
I did my senior practicum in nursing school on 7p-7a and now i work in a Level 2 trauma center on 3p-3a. I HATED 7p because around 4am I would be a zombie, and after driving home in bright sunlight, no matter how tired I was, I couldn't fall asleep. Yes 3p is the busiest shift because things begin to pick up as soon as you get there and die down right when ur leaving. otherwise its a great shift. I'm asleep by 5am, and i bought myself some blackout curtains so i don't wake up when the sun rises. At my hospital the difference in pay between 3p and 7p is about $2K per year. For good sleep and sanity, that $2k isn't that much money. You have to consider all your responsibilities though, if money is a real issue with student loans you might nned the extra $2k, also if you have children and other early morning obligations you might lose the 3p benefit of waking up at noon. Good luck either way.
Depends on what hours you enjoy for yourself and to get that needed sleep.....dont forget your body clock will be messed up totally so watch those extra snacks you may tend to eat late at night instead of a good meal.
Sorry, I hated 12 hour shifts, did that and wont anymore......just get too tired and bored when the sun starts creeping up and then the doors open up like all hell breaks loose and you are ready for bed......not for me.....think about it carefully before you decide.
Thanks again for all your input and advice. I ended up going with the 3p-3a shift. My preceptor works days so it looks like it will be a while before I will actually work that shift.
Specializes in Surgical Specialty Clinic - Ambulatory Care.
VICEDRN brings up a good point...however it is the opposite in my hospital. I work swing 1p-1a. When I come in during the middle of the 7a-7p shift they ALWAYS turn over the trauma bays to me. I ALWAYS get stuck with the heaviest patients during the busiest time of both shifts and it kinda sucks because there are MANY times I never get to eat. I'm not talking about taking 30 minutes....I'm just talking about having enough time to shove some food down your throat at go and I don't have time for that. I'm not a new RN, but I am new to the ER. I would agree that you would learn a lot more about ER nursing working 7p-7a because there will be some down time and people will be more able to help you, but I also hate working nights. Nights mess up my body really bad. The great thing about working until 3am will be that it should still be dark when you get home and that might make it a lot easier for you to get good sleep.
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~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN
5,259 Posts
I loved working night shift, I could never fall asleep right after. I'm just loving the mid-shift night shift more. LOL