11-7? or 7-3? or 3-11? Which ones the best shift for you?

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · May 22, 2012

I like first shift because I'm a morning person. I also like it because the pace is pretty fast all day so it goes by quickly. As soon as my alarm goes off in the morning I get up and get it over with. When I worked second shift I would sit around all day moping because I knew I had to go to work later. Plus you would have an insane amount of residents to get ready for bed and then once you got them in all of a sudden the night would drag by slowly. And I like getting people dressed up, doing their hair, making beds, etc. better than doing HS care. Also there is more staff on first shift so it's easier to team up with a coworker you like and combine your assignments. On second shift it is more every man for himself.

Sparrowhawk · May 22, 2012

I like 2nd...or 1st. depends completely on the facility....my current one I actually like first better.

IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN · May 22, 2012

Regular hours? At an LTC? Good golly, Ms. Molly! :banghead:

Sorry - if I hadn't made at least one Little Richard reference, I'd have popped!

Anyway - I'm working on call at an LTC; regular hours don't exist for me. Worked all three shifts at least once. My favorite:

"From the early early morning

To the early, early night..." :madface: :banghead:

Long day...back to the subject at hand. Ahem. I prefer working the 3-11 shift myself, and here's why:

1) I get to do pretty much anything that the day shift people do;

2) Less managerial interference;

3) Fewer family members;

4) Get to put people to bed instead of having to wake them up (MAJOR + for me);

5) "Sundowning" patients don't bother me - much;

6) Bit slower paced than days;

7) Doesn't upset my circadian rhythms as much;

8) Can get up early to do my shopping;

9) Still get to see sunlight occasionally;

10) Get to call the cops on the taggers on my way home!

----- Dave

RN1485, BSN · May 22, 2012

I prefer 3rd! I am pretty nocturnal so it works best for me. You also don't have as many tasks to do (at least for me that was the case). You don't have to do showers or feeding. No higher ups are in the building. You do rounds every 2 hours. The only thing that was difficult is the amount of residents we had to get up in the morning. There were only 2 aids with 40 residents. Our busiest time was between 4am-7am. I found it to be a slower pace than 1st and 2nd. Now I work in an assisted living facility and I work 1st and 2nd, but unlike LTC there is a lot more down time.

MzLopez4real · May 22, 2012

I prefer 3rd! I am pretty nocturnal so it works best for me. You also don't have as many tasks to do (at least for me that was the case). You don't have to do showers or feeding. No higher ups are in the building. You do rounds every 2 hours. The only thing that was difficult is the amount of residents we had to get up in the morning. There were only 2 aids with 40 residents. Our busiest time was between 4am-7am. I found it to be a slower pace than 1st and 2nd. Now I work in an assisted living facility and I work 1st and 2nd, but unlike LTC there is a lot more down time.

See, that's how I am! I'm a night person! I'm pushing towards 3rd shift more, but was going to do 1st because I keep hearing how the "days go so fast"! But I also know there will me "more higher ups", and more "issues". I just can't decide between 1st or 3rd!

Great replies by the way!! i really needed the insight! Thank you all so much!

Kitsey · May 23, 2012

2nd shift for me! I am *not* a morning person, so 1st would be torture for me. And I feel like I need to be at home at night so 3rd is out! I to didn't want to sit around all day waiting to go to work at 2:45, so I have a really odd sleep schedule. I go to bed around 4am and sleep till noon or so. I'm single with no kids so it works for me. :)

yousoldtheworld · May 23, 2012

I prefer 2nd and 3rd shifts. I am NOT a morning person, so days is just miserable for me.

I like the work of 2nds better, but I love 3rd shift's hours. I'm a night owl, and I really enjoy the quieter atmosphere with fewer managers and people around to bug me, lol. I'm actually about to switch back to 3rd shift on MOnday, after working 2nds for the last year. I'm looking forward to it!

I like that, on 3rd shift, I actually have some time once in a while to chat with a resident or play with them when they're awake (I work at a children's home, so yeah, i do play with them :) ) It's more laid back but I am still busy the whole time, between rounds and all the cleaning tasks I have, I'm not sitting around twiddling my thumbs or anything.

CNA1991, CNA · May 23, 2012

I am sort of the same boat as you, I started in homecare and am now working at a LTC. I Prefer the night shift because it's a slower paced shift, I am not a morning person and I HATE waking up early, there's less activites and more time to do them at night. It really depends on what type of worker you are, if you get bored easily then maybe you should be a morning person. If you can stay awake and want thhe day to yourself do the night shift.

cally527, RN · May 23, 2012

I am only a pre-nursing student (anxiously awaiting a response to my application to the Fall 2012 RN program) I am also unemployed.

However OP, you mentioned that you start nursing school in the fall. I would suggest taking the shift that will work the best with your school schedule (unless you plan to not work at all during school)

Personally, I have been looking for jobs that have a 3-11pm schedule because if I get in, my nursing program is in the day so i could wake up and study before school. after class/ lab I would have a little study time before work. After work, I would study a bit more before bed ( I tend to be a night person and usually don't fall asleep until 1am)

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · May 23, 2012

I know this thread is about LTC suggestions, but you mentioned that you are starting school. Honestly, I would stay in home health since it is low stress & you possibly could study while there. Just my 2 cents

tyvin, BSN, RN · May 23, 2012

Regular hours? At an LTC? Good golly, Ms. Molly!
Sorry - if I hadn't made at least one Little Richard reference, I'd have popped!
Anyway - I'm working on call at an LTC; regular hours don't exist for me. Worked all three shifts at least once. My favorite:
"From the early early morning
To the early, early night..."
Long day...back to the subject at hand. Ahem. I prefer working the 3-11 shift myself, and here's why:
1) I get to do pretty much anything that the day shift people do;
2) Less managerial interference;
3) Fewer family members;
4) Get to put people to bed instead of having to wake them up (MAJOR + for me);
5) "Sundowning" patients don't bother me - much;
6) Bit slower paced than days;
7) Doesn't upset my circadian rhythms as much;
8) Can get up early to do my shopping;
9) Still get to see sunlight occasionally;
10) Get to call the cops on the taggers on my way home!
----- Dave

What's a tagger?