[dijmart]

I'm an rn student (6 mos. to go) i can't see myself dealing w/ the total chaos of the day shift floor for very long after graduation? is night shift more tolerable ....pace/choas wise? or is it just as crazy!

during my clinicals staff & students are running around like chickens w/ their heads cut off......does this sound like night shift also, NOT including an emergency?

i figure if i can't stand floor nursing i could get a year in at least and do home health, but a year of day shift might kill me! HELP, is night shift better or am i kidding myself? (I have multiple sclerosis & literally can't stand the pace!)

[rn/writer]

I've always chosen to work nights for the very reasons you mention. Some units keep pretty busy throughout the night--critical care comes to mind. And L&D and postpartum--the babies can't tell time. But for the most part, even on the busier units, you aren't trying to do your job in the middle of a freeway.

If your body can adjust to nocturnal hours, night shift is great. I personally can't handle days.

Good luck to you.

[texas_lvn]

I choose nights because of the differential pay. It makes it worth it.

[weesyanne]

The pace of nights is usually easier, but not always. I like it better because all the big wigs and higher ups are generally not around so that you are free to do your job without all the chaos that occurs on day shift.

I also love the camaraderie of night shifts. We are all in the same boat, sometimes fighting to stay awake. It makes us all pull together and work as a team. I love, love, love my fellow night shift workers! I don't usually go around kissing them like the smiley faces indicate, however!

[GregCP, RN]

Originally Posted by texas_lvn

I choose nights because of the differential pay. It makes it worth it.

Hell, if they paid more on days, I still wouldnt do it....i feel your pain. I never liked days. I think its because Im such a zombie, first thing in teh morning. I prefer nights because you do have time to think, take a break, and go at your own pace. Granted, it depends what floor you work, like L & D or peds (which I'm in), however universally, Nights are more tolerable than days (if you can get used to sleeping in the daytime).

[EmerNurse]

I LOVE working nights and on a med-surg floor it was usually somewhat less chaotic, if only because Administration wasn't present and the docs weren't usually around either.

Now I work Night ER and THAT is a different story. Day shift folks seem to have time to have breakfast, lunch, snack, whatever. Sure when they come in, night shift has all but emptied out the ER, which must help. But when Night Shift comes in - HELLOOO! Full Beds, full waiting room, and they just keep coming and coming. In ER, nightshift is the BUSIER shift usually - I've never worked so hard in my life! And I love my job, even on the bad nights.

[am17sg05]

i think it depends on the area where you are going to work.i work night shift when i was in er and it is more busy than days.in telemetry and psych,it is more quiet during nights;less people(staff and visitors) and pts more or less just sleep.it's more of paperworks and you just have to wake them up for meds and vital signs.i also had the chance to do home health as personal care supervisor.my time was flexible although it involved a lot of driving.goodluck to you!

[dijmart]

thanks to all who replied!
i use to be an E.R. tech/E.M.T. (long time ago) and i THOUGHT i wanted to do E.R. as a nurse....NOoooo, can't stand the pace now!

So, instead of giving up on nursing all together, i've had to look into other options. So, if i can think straight on nights (med/surg) w/ out a zillion people barking at me and having to fight for a tiny area by the pixus to draw up a medication, then maybe i can get a year in on nights (med/surg) at least before moving on to something else, then that's what i'll do. hope i won't have to orient on days?????

like i said i'm not done w/ school yet, but i'm the type that needs to think ahead or i feel lost......i need that "game plan".

[AtlantaRN]

It depends on what you consider easy.

Normally, less family at bedside, no doctors rounding for the most part so no pages of new orders to implement...No management with their clipboards trying to drive the floor nurses stark raving mad....I like it because although you may have more patients to care for, you really have MORE time with your patients because you aren't dealing with pages of new orders...

linda

[dijmart]

Originally Posted by AtlantaRN

It depends on what you consider easy.

i consider easier to be.....
an overall slower pace, the pts. not asking for 1/2 a dozen things everytime i walk in the room, having time at the pixus/med cart w/ out other nurses trying to run me over (literally) every single time, & other things like that. don't get me wrong i want to stay busy, but i don't want to be CRAZY busy running around like a chicken w/ it's head cut off!

just from what everyone has already mentioned i think it would be better....
are there less meds to pass also???