Nursing is a career option that offers a variety of working hours. Whether you’re seeking a traditional 9-to-5 schedule or hope to find a graveyard shift just a few nights a week, chances are there’s a nursing position available to suit you.

Nursing Day Shifts

For some nurses, the day shift is like the holy grail of the profession. Coveted by those who want a more traditional schedule with nights and weekends off, these types of jobs aren’t all that common to come by. In most cases, nurses have to work for a physician’s office, a government or community center, or have high seniority at a hospital in order to get the preferred hours.

Even nurses who work a day shift in a hospital setting are likely to work their fair share of holidays and weekends as part of a rotation of nurses all trying to balance their lives and their careers. And in most cases, the 9-to-5 hours don’t really exist; because nursing is a round-the-clock profession, most day shifts run from 7 am to 3 pm.

Nursing Swing Shifts

Swing shifts traditionally run from 3 pm to 11 pm, taking up a good portion of the afternoon and evening. These positions exist primarily in facilities that offer 24-hour care like nursing homes and hospitals, and nurses working the swing shift are part of a daily rotation.

These shifts tend to be the first ones to open up and make a place for recent nursing graduates. Because the hours can be hard on those with families, they’re not always popular, and pay may be increased as an incentive. The routine can be a little bit lighter, as well, since most patients will be asleep for the latter half of the shift.

Nursing Graveyard Shifts

Working the night hours, from 11 pm to 7 am, is one of those things that some people are perfectly suited for – and others aren’t. The workload tends to be lighter, since patients are sleeping (though this isn’t always the case or relevant for emergency work), and pay is increased because of the undesirability of the hours. Despite these incentives, this shift might not be for you if you don’t like working at night, or if you have a hard time adjusting your sleep schedule.

Most hospitals and nursing homes make this shift voluntary because of its late-night hours. However, if you have kids, the graveyard shift can be a great way to be home when they are (and you can always sleep while they’re at school).

The hours you will work as a nurse depend on your employer as well as your type of nursing. For example, a community health nurse isn’t likely to spend much time working at night, since most of the advocacy and education these professionals are responsible for is done during the day. At the same time, an ER nurse will most likely find him or herself taking on at least a few night shifts as part of the required rotation.

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Night Shift Nursing: Pros and Cons

Day Shift Nursing: Pros and Cons

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