which shift do you prefer 3-11 or 11-7?

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Which shift do you prefer and why? What do you consider to be the advantages/disadvantages?

My husband works around my schedule so I don't need to consider the time that fits my family life (no children either). Just curious to see what your reasoning is.. also, since I've never worked in the health care setting before, I was wondering if there is a pay difference between the two as well.. thanks!

Specializes in ub-Acute/LTC, Home Health, L&D, Peds.

I have always worked 3-11 (unless against my will I have filled in on other shifts) I love 3-11 you get to sleep in and then I can catch up with my friends when I get off work on Friday and Saturday nights. I just hate getting up in the morning!!! We all have our own clocks and mine is definately set for the 3-11 shift!!!;)

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Specializes in Mental Health.

I have worked 11-7 for the last 15 years!!! I love it for now, I'm quite the nightowl. I'm looking to work 12 hour shifts once I get my RN though (more days off in a row)!!! In my facility the graveyard gets the highest differential and the swingshift(3-11) get shift diff. too.

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

i've worked all shifts and i actually prefer 3-11, 11-7 is rough on me especially since i'm still in school, and at my facility the make the day nurses (7-3) work too hard, they have to do med pass on 40 residents + dressings+ picking up m.d orders + other tasks, its just too much, so 3-11 is best for me!!

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Specializes in NICU.

Unless you've got school age kids, I think 3-11 is much better. You have the day and the night. I do think it is one of the busiest shifts, though. You still have a lot of day tasks to do and new admits seem to come in around dinner more than at other times. By the time things start to settle down, it's time to go home--not necessarily a bad thing.

If you work the 11-7 shift the downside is doing assessments just after the patients have gone to bed. I feel like I don't know the patients as well during that shift (the ones who sleep anyway. AND you have to work 5 nights to be full time as opposed to 3 19-07 shifts. Can you tell I like the 12 hour shifts better?

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Specializes in med-surg,dementia care, management, VA.

I have worked all 3 shifts in both long term and acute care. I really liked 3-11 shift the best before my children were in school. i liked that it was still busy, but the management and "office" staff left at 4pm, so there wasn't the mad rush to get everyone to appts., PT, hairdresser, etc. In acute care i prefer to work the 12 hour shifts at night, but it is still busy as you have a higher pt. load and still get admissions, codes, labs, xrays, etc. My advice is to ask if you can work a few shifts on both if you are not already assigned to a specific shift.

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Neither.

It's 12 hr + shifts for me from now on or nothing. I will never do five 8s again.

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I've tried all shifts but after 13 years don't want to do 12 hours shifts, hate nights and not a morning person so I do 3-11's. Don't want to work 5 days though so I work pool for the great payrate so I only have to work 3-4, 8 hour shifts a week. Occtasionally I will do 11a -11p for extra. The evening shift is probably the busiest but it goes by so fast. I have so much more free time, less tired on days off and am making more money working less hours. Love it. :D

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For all the moms/dads who work 11p-7a, how often are you late to get the children off to school?

I'm used to working nights, so I hope when I start working I can land a night shift job. On the other hand, I've seen posts from experienced nurses complaining about having to stay late for many reasons.

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i hope someone will answer this too. I am only doing my pre-reeqs but am already contemplating everything that entails "Nursing" as I have a family and must think way ahead of time. However, the only way I would be able to do this and get home in time to get the kids off to school is if I work in the hospital that is only 15 minutes away from where I live. Anywhere further and I wouldn't be able to do it.

I don't know but I'm leaning towards 12's, but who knows as a new grad you usually have to take whatever they're willing to give 'ya.

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I'd take 3-11. No doubt about it. I think it's less disruptive to life on the whole as you to still sleep through the night like most others. You also have the mornings and afternoons open without being exhausted because you get to sleep at a normal time. I'd never work an overnight shift.

I do 3/12s and work 7am-7pm. I love 12s and days.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

If I had to work the off shifts, I would prefer 3-11 because it really fits into my life. I am more of a night owl and can sleep a bit late, take care of a few errands in the AM.

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Specializes in EMS, ER.

If you have no children and your husband can work around your schedule I'd say go for the evenings. You get to sleep like a normal person, and you can still be up early enough in the day to get everything done that you need to do. Midnights (2300-0700) on a 5 day 40 hour week are very rough on the body, I was never able to get into a normal sleep/wake pattern on 5 eight hour nights. If given the choice I would rather do 1900-0700 12 hour shifts. Just about every place has shift differentials for evenings/nights, with a lesser diff for 1500-2300 & a greater diff for 2300-0700......

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