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Discussion

Shift Preferences?

Hey everyone,

i've been working in long term care for 10 months now on call. I currently only work in 1 facility and have preferred working evenings over mornings because in the morning residents have the most meds and it's just really busy compared to evenings. Also, I find that day shifts make me feel the most anxious because I live half an hour away from work, i sleep late, then have to wake up early. I feel guilty because i changed my availability today so that I wouldn't be called for morning shifts anymore. Other nurses on facebook have recommended for me to do evenings and nights because of the fact that the mornings are so busy.

Have I made the right decision by changing my availability? I know I'm not going to get a ton of hours but I plan on being oriented to another unit in the facility and have also applied to another company. I also know at the more I work the better it will be for me, which is kind of true...i've done a couple of morning shifts last month and I wasn't late for my morning meds but I just don't have the confidence working in the morning and don't feel quite ready to take on day shifts with only having 10 months of nursing experience. I'm just tired of feeling bad after working in the mornings.

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    Honestly I worked acute care 11 pm to 7 am 12 years and always felt ? knew? I just could not work days for the same reasons you mention.

    I will never forget the one day I was asked to work days on my same unit. It's been 10 years now, I still remember the feeling of being completely lost.

    Logically I, you, should face our "fears",. slay the demon, laugh in the face of adversity, etc. But nights worked out fine for me.

    But I am not a good role model :).

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    Honestly I worked acute care 11 pm to 7 am 12 years and always felt ? knew? I just could not work days for the same reasons you mention.

    I will never forget the one day I was asked to work days on my same unit. It's been 10 years now, I still remember the feeling of being completely lost.

    Logically I, you, should face our "fears",. slay the demon, laugh in the face of adversity, etc. But nights worked out fine for me.

    But I am not a good role model :).

    Yeah i just don't want to do a lot of mornings because it also feels like a lot of pressure and I just want to build my confidence up with the evening shifts

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    This--I know I'm not fast enough for day shift.

    That's why I stay on nights

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    I get $3 more an hr on eves, plus less family and management goes home at 5. Residents go to bed right after supper. I get to sleep late and lounge around before work. It's a win-win for me.

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    I get $3 more an hr on eves, plus less family and management goes home at 5. Residents go to bed right after supper. I get to sleep late and lounge around before work. It's a win-win for me.

    This is also why I like evenings! I'm lounging around right now!

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    I did 3-11 and 11-7 for most of my 20 years. It worked better for my family schedule and as the others mentioned, less family and less of the office staff.

    Honestly, I never thought I'd say this, but I now prefer 7-3. It moves so much faster and there is less to do. Yeah, am meds are horrible and there are therapy scheduled and appointmens and two meals to work around. BUT..3-11 has less staff,no one around to answer the phones, clean up a spill, etc. We get all of our admits on 3-11 and then the sundowning starts as soon as the bulding empties out at 5pm.

    I wouldn't worry about not wanting to work the other shifts...unless you signed up to work all shifts. We would love to have a nurse that prefers 3-11 or 11-7 and is awesome at it!

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    • Author
    I did 3-11 and 11-7 for most of my 20 years. It worked better for my family schedule and as the others mentioned, less family and less of the office staff.

    Honestly, I never thought I'd say this, but I now prefer 7-3. It moves so much faster and there is less to do. Yeah, am meds are horrible and there are therapy scheduled and appointmens and two meals to work around. BUT..3-11 has less staff,no one around to answer the phones, clean up a spill, etc. We get all of our admits on 3-11 and then the sundowning starts as soon as the bulding empties out at 5pm.

    I wouldn't worry about not wanting to work the other shifts...unless you signed up to work all shifts. We would love to have a nurse that prefers 3-11 or 11-7 and is awesome at it!

    When i first got hired, i gave them my availability for all shifts, thinking that I could handle working in the morning :bored: one of the cna's I worked with on one unit wanted me to apply for a part time evening position. Then I heard one of them say, "I want her!" as I was filling out a form to apply :up:

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    Work just called me in for january to work a blcok of 4 0800's-1300's :/ the other company I applied offered me an on call position so I have yet to be scheduled working there

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