Difference between night and day nurses

[Joe V]

Are there any differences between night and day nurses? What do you notice that stands out the most to you? eg. patients, age, energy, etc

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[silverbells_star]

Yes! Pepper the Cat, totally agree, I will work a crazy stressed day shift any day over working nights, any day.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

No management on nights. Good place to hide.

[amygarside]

Oh, this too:

ALL the cool people work nights!

haha i somehow agree to this! not to mention the higher salary.. hehe

[Sammm]

Basically, night time is sleeping time. So working on the supposedly sleeping time really makes a difference, although you can adjust to it in time. One good thing about going on night duty is the night shift differential pay.

[Chisca, RN]

In regards to the life expectancy comment: I think that comes from those that never sleep (or don't ferociously guard their sleep time), don't eat well, likely drink too much, are miserable, and do not take care of themselves. That can be found on any shift. I think that the night shifters have to work a bit harder at looking after themselves, though. Once you know that, I think the mortality rates are probably the same as other shift workers.

The studies point to an interruption in circadian rhythm as the cause. Maybe that interuption leads to increased alcohol consumption, poor eating, poor sleeping and miserability. I'm suspicious of Vitamin D levels as night shift workers would likely have lower levels due to decreased sun exposure. I'm just thankful somebody likes to work night shifts so I don't have to.

Rotating shifts shorten lives – A Blog Around The Clock

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I work nights and wouldn't have it any other way. The only thing I miss about working days is the SUN! At night, the natural lights go out and strange things happen in the dark. I've never seen a patient suffer from sundowners during the day. AH HA!!!! That's why the restraints inventory is different on days than on nights...they've been relocated to select patients' rooms!

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

The cartoon is more like how I looked when I had to do my 8 week hospital orientation on day shift.

...not a morning person

[iLOVEbees]

No management on nights. Good place to hide.

So. Freaking. True.

The further I can stay away from management, the closer I can be to actual patient care.

I did days for years and I did nights for years. There are pluses and minuses for both, but a major plus for night shift is the absence of people in management.

There is better camaraderie on nights as well. Sorry to that day timer above who said night shift wouldn't even talk to her. That's lame and shame on them. Not all night shift is like that.

[NewbieNurse4U]

This caught my attention right away, this how I am currently looking! But I agree night shift has a much laid back work staff who will help eachother especially new nurses like me.

[JDZ344]

I have to say it comes down to who you have on your team (night or day). If one person is not pulling their weight, we all feel it.

Of course, lazy and hard working people exist on all shifts all around the world.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

The studies point to an interruption in circadian rhythm as the cause. Maybe that interuption leads to increased alcohol consumption, poor eating, poor sleeping and miserability. I'm suspicious of Vitamin D levels as night shift workers would likely have lower levels due to decreased sun exposure. I'm just thankful somebody likes to work night shifts so I don't have to.

Rotating shifts shorten lives - A Blog Around The Clock

I researched so much about night shift before I started to work nights. I do think a night shifter has to make a conscious effort to find sun and to really carve out time for yourself. In the winter I am always on the mountain and use that time for catching sun as well. When I worked days, I would be up before the sun, go into work and come home after the sun had set and hit the hay. Either way it's rough and you have to figure out how it will work for you.

Also ROTATING shifts is just cruel. I work straight nights and really feel for those that rotate. That's not natural or helpful in adjusting to one shift then being yanked onto another. People should be hired into one shift.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

my first gut reaction......SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!