Shift Question

[rwingen]

I am a 32 year old male looking to make a career change. I am extremely interested in pursuing a career in nursing. I am in the process of doing a lot of research on nursing as a second career and have found these forums most helpful. I have a quick question to all of you expert about night shift (which seems like will work best for my family).

1) How easy is it to get a job on night shift. Is night shift an undesirable time in general? And once on night shift.....is it possible to stay on night shift for years?

Thanks if advance for your input and I look forward to learning a lot more about nursing!

Robert

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

Night shift is usually very easy to get (and most places offer higher pay for nights). I wouldn't call it an undesirable shift per se, but then again I have been a night owl since high school - I feel sick when I get up early.

As far as being able to stay on nights for years, I know many nurses who have worked nights their entire careers, with the exception of their orientation periods.

Welcome to the board. :)

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

Normally it's quite easy to get onto night shift as it's less desirable than days - many people can't handle the stress it the body. I know of nurses that have worked nights for years.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I know lots of folks who have made nursing their second career. It's a steady job with benefits (my cousin the former construction worker) and good enough pay. It's flexible -- hospital units are staffed 24/7 and you can work pretty much any time you want to if you're flexible about which jobs you take. (So says a friend, mother of young children and married to a cop.) And night shifts are not only easy to get, but usually pay more than day shifts. Good luck and welcome to the board.

[missmercy]

Nights seems to be the shift most people avoid -- doesn't fit with "real life". I loved working nights!! When the kids were at school, I would sleep and then get up when they got home -- have time to play and help with homework, get them dinner and hubby put them to bed.

Have friends who have been on nights for years -- stilllove it!! And yes, they do often offer shift differentials that add up nicely!!

[GLDLPN]

I worked the night shift (11p-7a) when my kids were growing up ~ it worked out well for my family. I was able to attend their school things and didn't have to miss because of work. I missed some sleep, but survived it and was glad to have been able to do that. I worked that shift for almost 20 years. Now I work the 7p-7a shift ~ I like that shift too, but would not have liked that shift while the kids were growing up. For me ~ with the 12 hour shifts, there is no time for anything else ~ you sleep, eat, go to work and do it all over again ~ everything else has to wait till your days off.

Good luck Robert

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

EZ. Yes, in the eyes of many (hence, the first answer). Yes, based on the previous answer.

Best of luck!