Why so many 3-11 jobs at nursing homes?

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jun 16, 2015

I worked 3-11 (not in LTC) for 7 years and hated everything about it. It's very hard to have a social life on that shift when all your friends work 8-5. You never see them. I'd work night shift before I would work that shift again.

SWM2009 · Jun 16, 2015

Admissions and sundowning are my two top reasons for hating that shift.

heron, ASN, RN · Jun 16, 2015

Bingo! I was just going to mention those.

But, I bet if we took a serious look at the question, it would be family issues. For one thing, child care is huge issue for any working parent, on any shift. You either have to pay very large money or get free/lower cost help from your partner, friends, family or the school system. I think 3-11 and 11-7 are particularly hard on family life.

Sundowning and admits become a burden. There are usually fewer CNAs scheduled, too. Demented, sundowning residents often need immediate intervention to help them calm down so they can get back into the swing of things ... and you can finish the 1700 med pass, including all those BID CBGs and sliding scale insulins. If the upset resident happens to be a new admit, watch out! Tag! You're it!!

Still - I wouldn't work days on a bet! Our day nurses start their shift at the same time as first breakfast. I have to have count done by 10 past seven and the ADON gives report to their backs as they crush meds for residents who need them crushed in food. Furthermore, you're not supposed to just leave the "fortified" food for the CNA to give as a normal part of the meal. You either feed it yourself or watch as the CNA does it.

And the suits. OMG! The suits, the providers, the families ... they crawl around like silverfish. Some of them spend more time critiquing your job than doing their own.

Nuh uh! Personally, I'm grateful for the relative plethora of evening/night shift jobs. More job security for me

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2015

You know what? I actually wrote a piece about the 3-11pm shift several years ago. Click on the link below if you have time to burn and wish to read it.

That Dreaded 3-11 Shift

dream'n, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2015

I'm a weirdo and liked 3-11, but couldn't do it because of my children. They would be at school all day and asleep when I got off. Now they are grown I would do it again in a heartbeat, but with all the 12 hour shifts being so popular I just haven't had the chance to find an 8 hour 3-11 job.

And I'm not willing to go back to LTC again just for the shift.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 16, 2015

I worked 3-11 for YEARS, but that was when we had a charge nurse, ward clerk, med nurse (me), and sufficient # of aides....ie plenty of staffing. Way different from now-a-days.

verene, MSN · Jun 16, 2015

I guess I'm weird because I work the 3-11 shift and like it. I might like it less if I worked full-time, but working half-time it fits very well with my schedule in that I can go to school in the mornings and still have an 8 hour shift afterwards. When I'm off in the evenings I'm off until the next morning - I can go home and unwind I don't have to try to stop by the store on the way home or anything like that because it's probably closed anyway. Even though the shift can start very busy, I like the fact that by the last hour or two of my shift residents are winding down or already in bed.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Jun 16, 2015

If you have kids, they get home from school after you leave and are in bed before you get home. You don't see you're kids 5 days a week. Could be ok for smaller kids who are at home during the day.

In the world of 9-5, all of your friends and family have get togethers while you are at work.

f1j1nurse · Jun 17, 2015

I worked that shift for three years..you never see your family, miss all school events for the kids and are always eating till 1am in the morning (at least I was). It's a great shift if oyu are single and no kids but sucks when you have a family...IMHO

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2015

It's a great shift if oyu are single and no kids but sucks when you have a family...IMHO

I'm single, without children, and still dislike the 3-11 shift. The reason many facilities in the US converted to 12-hour shifts was to address chronic difficulties with keeping the 3-11 shift fully staffed.

NursesRmofun, ASN, RN · Jun 17, 2015

You know what? I actually wrote a piece about the 3-11pm shift several years ago. Click on the link below if you have time to burn and wish to read it.
That Dreaded 3-11 Shift

I have worked in facilities/hospitals that did actually have both 8 and 12 hr. shifts. So, the employee could apply for either or switch over to the other, eventually. I did once enjoy 3-11 when my guy at that time worked in the same place, the same unit, at the same time. We went to work together and came home together 90% of the time. We had no young kids. It worked out okay for a while.

P.S. The admissions were heavy on 3-11, as others have said.

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jun 17, 2015

I worked that shift for three years..you never see your family, miss all school events for the kids and are always eating till 1am in the morning (at least I was). It's a great shift if oyu are single and no kids but sucks when you have a family...IMHO

Why is it a great shift if you are single? I'm single and don't have kids and hated everything about that shift. I guess I forgot that singles don't have any type of family.