Anyone work 3 12 hour night shifts?

[lovinpoohbear]

Hi, I am a new nurse grad and am going on an interview today for a position in a nursing home that is 36 hours per week but it is 3 nights 7 pm to 7 am. I am planning on working weeknights so that I can sleep during the day while the kids are in school.
Just wondering if anyone does this and how did it work out for them? I don't know anyone who works a night shift. I guess I am afraid I will be tired all of the time. And the reason why this shift appeals to me is to have 4 days off per week to spend with my family.
Any experiences to share? Thank you

 

[DisneyWalle]

I asked this question a couple of days ago and had several nurses reply. Not sure how to put the link on here but it it 1 or 2 pages over - OT:Night Shift Worker - Sleep?

Some good advice for sleeping ideas. Good luck!

 

[momof5boys]

Hi, I'm switching from nightshift(7p-7a) weekends to regular night shift next month. I've been doing weekends for the last 4 years and said I would switch back to regular 3 nights a week when the youngest starts 1st grade.(prior to that I worked regular nightshift for 10yrs) I too plan on sleeping while the kids are in school. I have a nice block schedule set up so I don't work more than 2 nights in a row(in case I can't sleep, I frequently have insomnia) Kind of looking forward to having every other weekend off but it will be a change.( I also want the tution reimbursement, going back for my BSN) My family is used to not calling me until later in the day, and only my family and the schools have my cellphone number, so I turn off my home phone ringer and keep my cell by the bed, that way only important calls wake me up. You will save a ton on child care and you're home if a kid gets sick. Welcome to nursing!

 

[RMulieri]

I did this for 8 yrs, and now only wor kas an oncology RN per diem, 2-3 8hr night shifts.I am not going to lie to you it is real tough at first.Eventually, you will find a rhythm that works for you.Not everybody is comfortable with what everyone else can manage with.I have been a nurse for 12yrs this summer and I have learned to flip flop back and forth and function with little sleep( I am a mom too).Welcome to the field of Nursing!

 

[barnaby1]

This is a little off your topic and please don't be offended as I don't mean it to be. It is just a little bit of advice perhaps from a senior nurse on the other side of the pond. I don't know if things are different in the USA for newly qualified nurses but unless you are planning a career in gerontology you will de-skill very quickly in a nursing home and will find it difficult to get into an acute field if you stay there for a long time. I know we all have to take work that fits in with our home life but keep it in mind for your future career as well. No flamming please - I am only offering it as advice from someone who interviews a lot of nurses!

 

[SILLYANDI]

I work shiftwork 530-530. I come home in the morning and get the kids lunches,etc ready wake them up get fed & dressed & send them off to school.
I come home and sleep until the kids get home (we carpool with the neighbor- I drive in the morning she picks up in the afternoon). Sometimes they come home and let themselves in and I get a little extra sleep. Other times they come home at 2:30 and are LOUD!

It works because I only have to do it 3 days. Sometimes I am exhausted by day 3 but then I get to go back to bed at a regular time that night so it all works out. I have worked shift work for 17+ years and you do get used to it eventually.

Make sure you have black out shades in your bedroom and earplugs for when the neighbor's gardener comes! I keep my eating the same as if I were working days-I eat dinner just before I leave for work-a light snack while I'm working and a light breakfast in the morning when I get home. Maybe a snack when I wake up.
I found that when I eat a real meal in the middle of the night while working I have trouble sleeping and I pack on the pounds.

 

[lovinpoohbear]

This is a little off your topic and please don't be offended as I don't mean it to be. It is just a little bit of advice perhaps from a senior nurse on the other side of the pond. I don't know if things are different in the USA for newly qualified nurses but unless you are planning a career in gerontology you will de-skill very quickly in a nursing home and will find it difficult to get into an acute field if you stay there for a long time. I know we all have to take work that fits in with our home life but keep it in mind for your future career as well. No flamming please - I am only offering it as advice from someone who interviews a lot of nurses!

I love Geriatrics and this position is for a rehab floor, lots of IV's, wound care, staple removal (lots of TKA) I am really excited, I really enjoy being in the nursing homes!
I am not sure what you mean exactly about "de-skill" because the nursing homes in Connecticut have IV's, NG tubes, Tracheostomy and G-tube and while the majority of patients are older there are also middle aged patients there as well. I love it and while in school, missed the nursing homes while doing the hospital rotations!!

 

[barnaby1]

I love Geriatrics and this position is for a rehab floor, lots of IV's, wound care, staple removal (lots of TKA) I am really excited, I really enjoy being in the nursing homes!
I am not sure what you mean exactly about "de-skill" because the nursing homes in Connecticut have IV's, NG tubes, Tracheostomy and G-tube and while the majority of patients are older there are also middle aged patients there as well. I love it and while in school, missed the nursing homes while doing the hospital rotations!!

As i said i didn't know if things were different but they clearly are!!! Nursing homes here are a completely different situation.
I am really pleased for you that you have found something that you love. Congratulations and good luck for the interview.

 

[lovinpoohbear]

Thank you!!! I am back from the interview and was offered the position, but the position they are looking for is 5 nights 11-7, which I think will be hard to get used to.
I am keeping my eyes open in the area, I really want to do 3 12 hour shifts, just seems more manageable.
Thank you for all of the replies.

 

[RMulieri]

This is a little off your topic and please don't be offended as I don't mean it to be. It is just a little bit of advice perhaps from a senior nurse on the other side of the pond. I don't know if things are different in the USA for newly qualified nurses but unless you are planning a career in gerontology you will de-skill very quickly in a nursing home and will find it difficult to get into an acute field if you stay there for a long time. I know we all have to take work that fits in with our home life but keep it in mind for your future career as well. No flamming please - I am only offering it as advice from someone who interviews a lot of nurses!

Not flaming you..Nursing homes here are beecoming more and more specialized.Alot now require IV skills, Ngt mgmt, Iv meds, Vents,advanced wound care( wound vacs) etc.I only work hospitals but my Mom is a DON at a nursing home and she said they are getting more and more acute pts.Nowadays ICU pts are on Intermediate floors ,Intermediate pts on reg. floors and, reg floor pts at nursing homes or rehabs.Not to sound crass but in order to go to ICU anymore, you need to basically be either dying, or on so many life sustaining drugs, that you need 1:1 nrsg care.

 

[J&J'sMOM]

It's true the hospital population is getting sicker and sicker.

My advice is to keep looking! There are plenty of nursing jobs available, and you should be choosy. If you consider a hospital gerontology floor, or rehab etc., I think you will have a better experience starting out, than in a NH environment. I work in a hospital (2 years renal, 6 years endoscopy), new grads receive alot of training and support in the beginning, not sure you would get the same at a NH. Also, around here, the nurses have alot of responsibililty at NH because they hire mostly aides and LPN's. I feel like our staffing levels are safe at my hospital and I always have another RN I can go to for help. Just some things to think about! Good Luck--you will find what fits you best.

 

[bzzymom]

I have been a nurse for 16 years. I used to work nights before I got married and had kids. The hard part I had sleeping was that I lived in an apartment complex and it did get noisy. The people who lived below me had a young boy who played video games and I could hear all of the sounds and music. I ended up buying a house, and I slept better there. Then after DH and I got married, and had infertility problems, I changed positions to work day shifts. Then, I worked 3-11 until my son went to kindergarden and now I have been working the 3 12's. My schedule is every Sat, Sun, Mon 7a-7p. I have picked up a night shift here and there to help out at work (Actually, I had a bad back injury at work 14 months ago, and just started back as a unit secretary 4 hours 3 days a week, but my position is still there if I can return to it).

One of my very best friends is a nurse that works in my department and she just turned 60, and she has been working night shift for almost 40 years. She never wanted to change because she likes it at night when there isn't as many doctors and visitors around. She is married, but they never wanted children. She takes Benadry to get her to sleep on her nights off.

A few years ago, I was a precepter in an critical care internship program. She was a young nurse, in her early twenties. I worked with her for the 3-11 shift for 6 months. When her internship was done, she took an 11-7, 5 night a week position. She had a hard time with sleeping, and about a month after she started, she looked like death warmed over. We noticed she was loosing weight (she was in good shape to begin with, and didn't need to loose anything) and she just started feeling anxious and paranoid. She hadn't had sleep in several days. We actually sent her to the ER and they sent her home with a sleeping pill, and she had to take a week off to relax. Her doctor told her she couldn't work 11-7 anymore, so she took a 3-11 position in the ER.

The wonderful things about nursing is that you can work anywhere. I love critical care, however, I did change to home health for awhile while I was trying to get pregnant. I liked it, but I really wanted to get back into ICU again, so I did. Then when I wanted a day position, I worked for some oral surgeons for awhile and learned a lot, and now I am back to ICU again. I just hope that I can do it again. I don't know what I would do if I can't.

 

[wilderness01]

It's true the hospital population is getting sicker and sicker.

My advice is to keep looking! There are plenty of nursing jobs available, and you should be choosy. If you consider a hospital gerontology floor, or rehab etc., I think you will have a better experience starting out, than in a NH environment. I work in a hospital (2 years renal, 6 years endoscopy), new grads receive alot of training and support in the beginning, not sure you would get the same at a NH. Also, around here, the nurses have alot of responsibililty at NH because they hire mostly aides and LPN's. I feel like our staffing levels are safe at my hospital and I always have another RN I can go to for help. Just some things to think about! Good Luck--you will find what fits you best.

Great post. I completely agree. I would never as a new grad go straight into a NH for the above reasons. Good luck and welcome to nursing.