What shift do you work? Why?

Nurses General Nursing

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My hat is off to all of you great nurses that can get up at the crack of dawn and be ready for anything!!! I have always worked 2nd shift, either 2-10p or 3-11p, mostly because I'm a night person. I like to sleep late and go to bed, probably when many of you are getting up to hit 1st shift. My brain is scrambled until noon but keeps on going till the early morning light. How about everyone else?

G'day! I work either 0645 - 1515 or 1430 - 2300. I have to say that I do not mind working either shift as I am licky enough to live fairly (5mins drive) from my place of work. However, nightduty is not my favourite shift as it takes me a few days to get over it as I do not sleep very well during the day. I suppose it depends on the lifestyle we all lead. thanks ann

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i work them all...but the one i like best is 3-11..least is 11-7..unless i get a good stretch of em...too taxing on the sleep cycle for me to just do one or two nites here and there

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I WAS A SINGLE MOM DURING MOST OF MY 18 YEARS ON NOCS. I NEEDED THE SHIFT DIFF. MONEY AND IT HELPED WITH CHILDCARE. FINALLY IT AFFECTED MY HEALTH AND I GLADLY STOPPED. I HAVE MORE OPTIONS NOW AND WORK AGENCY WHENEVER TO KEEP UP MY SKILLS UP. I STILL LIKE NOCS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE FIT MY PERSONALITY BETTER. HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SHIFT ATTITUDES?

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I'm very surprised the number of people that replied that work evenings and actually like it. I worked it for 2 years and hated every minute of it. It always seemed like I was woking when everything was going on (ex. school functions, parties and gatherings). I take my hat off to those who can work that shift. I am very lucky that now I am in administration and can basically work any hours that I want to. I usually go in at 6:00 a.m. just so that i can get the staff off to a good start by addressing problems including staffing ones. I do however work the "off shifts", as we call them where i work, I don't mind as long as its when i can arrange it around my schedule. I salute those people who can work the evening shift that had children in school. I'm just not an 3-11 person. Love my day shift!

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I have worked 3-11 for the past 4 months. I worked 7p-7a for the first year I was a nurse. I am a night person. I have worked 3rd at every job I've ever had. I'm on 2nd now because 3rd got really boring for me. All the rt's were asleep and what's there to do but clean. I cleaned windows, the fridge, cabinets, closets, etc. I got tired of cleaning. I'm a nurse not housekeeping. 2nd shift lost all of its nurses so I went to 2nd. Not a dull moment there. Sundowners setting in, rt's refusing to take showers and arguing with them, getting them to go to bed and stay in bed without wandering everywhere, and it seems that evening is when they all get sick: upset stomach, headache, can't sleep, back ache, etc. What a different pace from 3rd. I get to sit for 5 minutes, maybe, to grab a bite to eat. I have ran down the hall while chewing my food many times, but the time goes by a lot faster.

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I love the night shift 7p-7a. I can't function in the day time. I can go to class but not do patient care. When I apply for a job it seems to never be a problem because no one likes the night shift. :-)

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I work 7a-7p and love it! Believe me, I am not a morning person, but once I am at work, I am ready for almost anything! I enjoy having 4 days off a week. I did work 7p-7a for about 7 months and just lost too much sleep.

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I have worked all 3 shifts for extended periods of time...

Nights: Hate them with a passion, it doesn't matter how much sleep I get I am always tired and within a few months of starting I am pale and sickly all of the time-the headache and nausea never goes away (plus I gain a lot of weight). But they did work best when my kids were younger and in school, I came home and got them off to school and slept all day while they were gone, they went to bed before I went to work so I was *always* home to them.

Eves: My bodies favorite! Going to bed at 3am and getting up at noon suits my internal clock just fine, unfortunately if you have school age kids of any age you never see them, was really bad when I was a single parent and my daughter was 13-15 and had to babysit her little brothers who were bigger than her and wouldn't mind. I also never got any housework or errands done as I slept until a couple of hours before I had to be at work.

Days: My favorite as far as having a life goes, I get to eat dinner with my family and generally stay in touch with the world. Unfortunately I am a night owl and have a really hard time getting out of bed in the morning and dont wake up until noon.

I work 8:30-5:00 3-4 days a week and pick up what ever I need in the way of 3-5 hour shifts to round out to 40 hours/week. I also prefer to work weekends and have weekdays off...it is impossible to get any 'business hours' personal errands and appointments done when you work 8-5 M-F.

Basicly I'm a biological evening shifter in a day shift life.

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I absolutely love the PM shift. Have worked the PM shift almost all of my career - 25 years worth. My husband worked days and I worked PMs and the kids had very little day care. They are grown up now so the day care worries are over, but the evening shift is still my preference. My best sleeping time is in the late morning after everyone is gone for the day. ( I do get up to send the high schooler off to school and the husband off

to work, but then the bed is mine! )

Jane Ann

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Specializes in ED staff.

For 15 years I have worked nights, with the exception of 2 months last year when I worked day shift and I hated it so much I gladly went back to nights!!

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Specializes in Psych, hospice, family practice.

No shift work at my job, thank goodness. I am blessed to have a schedule of 8-4:30 Mon-Fri. All holidays off. Never have to work Christmas. This is a blessing for me. I'm not a night person. And love that my schedule fits in with my family's.

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Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Care, Family NP.

I've worked all three shifts,

Nights is out for me! I worked it for 16 years and my body just refuses to do it anymore.

Mostly I work days, (I hate getting up in the morning) but prefer 3-11. I feel my best on this shift, get my errands run and housework done, go to the gym, etc and make it to work without the feeling of being rushed.

PS....My kids are raised FINALLY!!! :)

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