What is in your opinion the best shift for new nurses to work?

[gatoraims RN]

As a student nurse it seemed the seasoned nurses all had an opinion on what was the best shift to "learn the ropes". It seemed the the majority felt that the 1st shift was maybe the least new nurse friendly.

I was just wondering what shift in LTC is best? I know it will depend. I was hired at a LTC (psych) facility and they needed help on the 3-11 shift so I took it part time. In orientation one nurse felt that 7-3 was the best shift and the other felt the 11-7 shift was the best (no twelves at this facility). I am not really happy with 3-11 only because I have young children and I am going to miss having dinner with the family and just hanging out with them after school on the days I work. I would have loved the 11-7 shift because they are sleeping and I could catch up on sleep while they are in school (I know it is easier said than done).

Then I was wondering if the 7-3 shift while they were in school would be best. I am worried that 3-11 is maybe the worse shift and not just for my selfish reasons of missing the family.

So what in your opinion aside from the family is the best shift for a new grad nurse.

Thanks everyone. :)

[Roxyann57]

honestly you won't learn as much working 11-7 as you would working 7-3 or 3-11. you have barely any resident/patient interaction on 11-7. its mostly paperwork and just being there until the AM med pass. 7-3, 3-11 you learn to deal with more doctors, labs, supervisors, family, more medications during med pass, etc. when i was a new nurse being hired 3-11 was really great and covering 7-3 was even better. when i covered 11-7 i felt like i was just there because you need a licensed person watching over everyone. this is just my opinion and experience though.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I agree with CapeCod...any shift is good..it is a job!

Each shift will have its different challenges. Days you will have more interaction with other departments, management docs and some families. You will have more meetings and you will have some admits and discharges.

Evenings..has most of the dc's and admits. Less interaction with other departments and more of those duties on the nurses (housekeeping etc leave on this shift) You will have some docs coming in, you will have interactions with the families. In my place we have more of the complex wound care scheduled for this shift.

Nights...slower paced at times, less meds per resident but more residents. More time to learn but more time to learn time management when you are the only nurse for a ton of residents.

As far as with kids...I'm blessed only work 3-11 weekends so I get to see them to school and home.