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

[MzLopez4real]

Okay, I've been doing homecare for awhile now. We all know its EASIER than working at a LTC facility but at least in LTC you do get REGULAR scheduled hours. Its been awhile since I've worked in LTCF but I've decided to give it a chance because the opportunity arose, better pay, and I'm looking at this as a blessing as well because I JUST GOT accepted into nursing school this fall. So hey, i look at it like this, I need as much experience with ALL areas of nursing as I can! Hard work teaches you to be humble!

So anyway, with my interview being underway what shifts do you prefer? Which one is easiest for you? or what shift would you choose and why? I'm just curious because its been so long!!

Thanks.

[IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN]

Tagger: usually a young male with a can of spray paint who feels an incessant urge to decorate vertical surfaces (cement block walls, sides of buildings, etc.) with said spray paint, typically between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. The decoration ("tag") typically denotes some form of gang affiliation, at least around here ("here" being Southern California), but can be an obscenity or some form of artwork. Also known as "graffiti" in some circles.

----- Dave

[amoLucia]

Tagger: usually a young male with a can of spray paint who feels an incessant urge to decorate vertical surfaces (cement block walls, sides of buildings, etc.) with said spray paint, typically between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. The decoration ("tag") typically denotes some form of gang affiliation, at least around here ("here" being Southern California), but can be an obscenity or some form of artwork. Also known as "graffiti" in some circles.

----- Dave

Thanks. I wanted to know too.

[lifeisgood2012]

I am flexible with shifts - I am tending to lean towards 2nd and 3rd shift though - not just because I am

a new graduate and know its hard to find a job, much less one in 1st shift, but also because

I would want to be there long term and know that eventually I want to go back to RN school which

I have found tends to be during the day. Good luck to you! :)

[silverbat]

while I was going to school for my LPN, I worked Nights thurs, fri sat and sun. This meant on Thurs I had been in school all day, took a nap and went to work at 10pm. Off school on Friday. Sunday night I worked 10-6, then went to school at 8am to 430pm. YEP I was tired, but it worked for my family.

[MzLopez4real]

while I was going to school for my LPN, I worked Nights thurs, fri sat and sun. This meant on Thurs I had been in school all day, took a nap and went to work at 10pm. Off school on Friday. Sunday night I worked 10-6, then went to school at 8am to 430pm. YEP I was tired, but it worked for my family.

Something like that sounds perfect for me. I keep forgetting I'll be in school in Sept. so 7-3 won't be ideal then! That's a really good idea.

[MzLopez4real]

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

Yes, that's true. But I really need the pay. And I don't plan on working a 40 hour week. I'm going to be working only parttime. Maybe 24-32 hours a week at the most. And I have the convience of choosing my own days! And I really would like to get used to a LTCF again being that we'll be doing clinicals in places like those, and hospitals. I guess I'm looking at it like this is a chance for more experience!

[AJ_427]

I work all shifts and combination of them (16 hr shifts).

To me the 10-6 shift is the easiest because I have my permanent residents and even if they throw at me 20-30 residents I can still do it easily. There is no management and I usually work with the same nurse that I really like (the day nurses quit often so it can be a hassle working with them).

The 6-2 is pretty easy too because 11-7 gets up the majority of the residents and all we do is feed, change, and do activities. It goes by really fast.

The 2-10 shift is the hardest because when we are short, we have 10-12 showers each (90% of them are total care). Our residents get showered every day and you basically have 2-3 hours to do all the showers, rounds, and charting.

[Cali_Nurse_209]

When I started out, I worked the morning shift full time in LTC, but most of my pre reqs were during the morning so I went to home care because the hours were more flexible. But I needed to go back to a skilled nursing facility so my license would stay active. I now work the noc shift, 11pm- 715am on the weekends in a psych facility because I just got accepted to the BSN program for this fall. I find the night shift better because there's a lot of downtime, at least in the psych facility where I work, and I can use that time to maybe do a lil bit of studying. But I dnt know about your facilitys policy. I only work the weekends now because the nursing program is during the week and going to be very time consuming. It's the only shift that will allow me to attend nursing school full time during the day. I wouldn't recommend the night shift full time during nursing school, BUT I do understand that some people do need to work to support their families. I said I'd never work night shift but I love it. Pick the shift that will be best for u and not interfere with your studies. Sorry for the long post.