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 Cardiac, Hospice, Float pool, Med/Peds.

Hate PM shift... I work 7p-7a and love it... I don't like being gone from 3-11 and when I work 11-7, I feel like I dont' know my patients at all... I like only working 3 nights and it works out best for me... I have two children and my hubby gets them on the bus in the AM and I am home when they get off. I can have supper with them and still feel like part of the family... You will have to find what works best for you...

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

OMG!!! 3-11. I CANNOT get up before noon. When I used to be the director of a large ED and pediatric service I had to be at work by 8 am and it almost killed me. I never actually woke up at that job until about 11 am and after A LOT of coffee.

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Specializes in ER.

3-11 for sure. I worked 11-7 briefly and it almost killed me. I was tired, nauseous, and there was less staff to boot. The 75 cents or so more an hour was sooo not worth. Plus it seemed like the 11-7 shift was just as busy but with less staff. I really think that you either love or hate 11-7. All the nurses who work 11-7 I know specifically request that shift and would quit before going to days. I would also have to fight to stay awake on the drive home. Give me 7-3 or 3-11 anytime.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

My body prefers 3-11, but I wouldn't like doing 5 8-hour-shifts per week....I LOVE my schedule, I work 11am-1130pm, 3 days per week. Did 7p-7a for 7 years to get it, though! I hope I stay on it for a long time!

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Specializes in NICU, Psych, Med/Onc,Ped Home Health.

when i graduated from school, i started out on 7a-7p, then switched to 3-11p, and finally went 7p-7a on a medical/oncology unit. i'm not a morning person, so the 7a-7p didn't work for me. i didn't like the 3-11 either, because i always got hit with the admissions and discharges, and this facility was still paper charting, so i wouldn't leave the hospital anywhere from 1-3am. i now work nights on a nicu unit and absolutely love it. i like only have to work 3-4 nights and having 3-4 days to do whatever i want. i am a avid football fan, so working nights allows me to watch the games on sat and suns. also, i don't need a full 8 hrs+ sleep to function well, so as long as i get around 5-6 hrs of sleep, i'm good. at my hospital we get $3 night differential pay. also, these hours allows me more time to do things and spend time with my family. however, nights are not for everyone. my wife tried nights for about a month, and she hated it. she could never get her body used to sleeping in the day. she tells me all the time that she doesn't know how i do it. that i'm not "normal." :D been doing nights now for 6 years, and probably will keep doing them for who knows how much longer. all i can say is the only way to know how you can handle each shift is to try them out and see which one works for you. good luck!

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Specializes in Behavioral Health, Show Biz.

gimme the night

like to get home

when the sun is bright

lets me do other things

teach, act, and write

don't want no other shift

just gimme the night!!!

:yeahthat::dancgrp::hpygrp:

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