Liking the night shift

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey everyone- It's my night off & I just wanted to share the surprising news...I made a huge fuss over the past few weeks about being mandated to do a few weeks of night shift. I have been a day shifter for several years. I did night shift about 10 years ago & just hated it! Back then, I couldn't sleep a wink. It was like hell. Well, due to a severe nursing shortage, I am now on my 1st week of nights ...and surprise! I kind of like it. Mind you, my husband works days. And I know this is only temporary...but I do like the peace on that shift. I thought maybe I would be tired or bored, but no. I prepped for it by staying up till 2-3 am for several nights before I started. I think it really helped! I drink a few cups of coffee before work in the evening, and I keep a good pace all night long. It's been no trouble trying to stay awake for nocs.

Dayshifters- I LOVE not having to field the phone calls, the guerneys, the hustle & bustle of day shift. True, I have some added responsibilties to keep me plenty busy like 24 hr checks, and these patients are not always sleeping like I thought they would!I enjoy trying to take care of odds & ends that I know dayshift will appreciate. LOL! But it feels kind of nice for now. I don't think I will stay on it, but it's definately not as bad as I thought. I have my bedroom all dark & have had NO PROBLEM sleeping like a log after work at 9- 10 am or so. Just wanted to share with others...in case you are afraid of nocs as I was. It's really got a few things going for it...

:cool: ~kona

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nocs rocks!!
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Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah NIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

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Well, at least you are doing straight nights x 3wks. Some of my former colleagues work A-N-A-N-A and a 1/2 day on the sixth day:

a shift: 7-3

n: usually 8 or 10 hours

Now that would kill anyone's Circadian rhythms.

Scary thing: they work as nursing instuctors for a large well known university in HK.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I prefer working nights for a number of reasons. EVERYwhere I have worked, we are more of a team....we stick together....no suits....better pay differentials.....many reasons. I am not a natural night person, but those reasons make it attractive to me.

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we used to have pot lucks, got 'lunch' every night at some time or other. that's one of the advantages. but you sure will gain weight if you don't watch out!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Loved nights!!!!!!!

Worked in peds.

Advantages:

pts were all in bed, didn't have to go looking for them.

quiet environment

MUCH more TEAM work

quiet environment

No suits or coats screwing up your shift plans by sending 1 of your 6 pts for a test and "oh yeah, he needs a bowel prep!"

quiet environment

No visitors!!!!!!

quiet environment.

Disadvantages:

More sitting (than on days)=more eating=weight gain:o

trying to be awake or not having to leave early (to go to work) when socializing with people on a "human" schedule.

But I still prefer nights:cool:

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I have said it before and I will say it again. I loved nights but nights hated me. I either rotated days nights or did steady nights for long time. Loved it but in my late forties my system changed and I could not tolerate it anymore. There are studies that document the fact that older workers have difficulties with night shift more often than younger. I could flip myself into a major depression with no other stimulus than doing nights. But if you can tolerated nights it IS GREAT.

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I work in an ED and absolutely love nights. Everyone is right...more team work, docs aren't running around shouting orders at everyone (unless they are called in), the only one's we answer to are the charge and house supervisor (who only comes down maybe twice a shift), of course there are the added calories from people bringing in food but the running around helps a little. LOVE IT!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I hate to sound stupid but would someone explain to me what nocs is? I assume it is night shift but have never seen that before. Thanks.

By the way I love night shift, my motto is "only the stars come out at night

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I have worked nights for 8 years now and am begging to get off. However, I too work ER and with the severe nursing shortage and the fact that we staff nights with 75% travellers there is no way they will let me off - YIKES.

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Badbird, nocs is short for "nocturnal" which means night.

Like "a nocturnal bird"!

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