Day shift vs Night shift

[juleslevesQ86]

I just got hired for my first RN job on med surg tele floor in a residency program and they have put me on day shift 7a-7p. She said after my 10 week residency I can do nights if I prefer but they do need day shift. Nights pay 3/hr more. I have a four year old tho and I figured it'd be nice to see her every night. And oddly enough with where I live I'd be in horrible traffic with night shift unless I always took the toll roads. But I still need some input.

Can any one give me the pros and cons of day shift vs night shift other than the pay difference? Or give me your own experience with either one or both?

[Mulan]

Have you ever worked nights before?

[Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN]

When I was first being oriented, I was on day shift. This was a positive learning experience, because so much stuff goes on during the day. I now work PM & nights (8hr), and very much enjoy it verses the day shift. I have learned so much, and the camaraderie of night shift is fantastic. It is a slower pace than days, but many times can be quite busy. I know a lot of my night coworkers have children, and find that night shift actually works better for their family.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I agree with the night shift camaraderie. We seem to be so much more about team work than dayshift, and that really makes a difference in your shift. We have an RN who has worked in many places, both days and nights, and she said it's like this everywhere...dayshift just kind of does their own thing and they don't really help each other out.

I work with several RNs who are moms and they prefer nightshift, it just works better for their family.

[rachel0609, ADN, RN]

I currently work 7p-7a only and greatly dislike it. I have 2 young children and they hate it as well. The positives are the great friends and the slower pace, but on the flip side, I work Monday night off Tuesday but still have to sleep most of Tuesday pretty much making it worthless. Our shift diff is around $10 at nights so I will miss that, but it won't make up for the time missed with my kids. Needless to say I am switching to days next month. Just my opinion, others may feel different.

[dienne]

I've been working nights for a year and am about to switch to day. As everyone said nights have a slower pace (although they can be very busy) and you don't have to deal with management, other disciplines, and doctors that much. Because it's slower you can help each other out.

If my body could do nights I would probably stay on nights, but after a year my body is literally falling, my health has declined and my quality of life has declined as well. To the point that I don't really have a social life anymore because all I do is work and sleep. And on my days off I'm so exhausted that I just sleep for most of the day.

So it's really up to you and your body. Everyone's different.

[Mommaof3]

Everyone's different. Personally I work doubles 3p-7a and I love it. I work 2 doubles one week and 3 the next. So I work 10 days a month and am home with my family the other 20 days. I usually sleep from 8-12 or 1 when I get home which leaves me tired enough to be able to go to bed that night when my kids do and get me on their schedule. It works for me, I preferred learning on the night shift as well but again that's just me!

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

I love nights. I have the most amazing coworkers ever. My floor is the busiest with the highest turnover and it's nothing to turn the whole floor over. It gets crazy but all the admissions aren't typically accompanied by doctors and residents and dietary and social workers and case managers and management to communicate with. I love nights.

[nursynurseRN]

I tried to like nights becasue the staff is cooler, more down time ect. It sucks for family and I could hardly staay awake when I was driving home. I think you should stay on days if you can.IF there any ever night events even if you get off at 730pm you can still go to them even if you are tired and late. Working nights you will miss some important night time events.

[Nurse ABC]

Days are much busier which is why nurses don't help each other out as much-they're too busy. You have many more meds to pass, baths, 3 meals, more blood sugar checks, PT, OT, RT, pts leaving the floor for tests and surgery, dr rounds, social services, consults with all their orders, etc so it's so much crazier and harder to just find a place to sit down and chart! Night shift can be busy but not nearly as busy as days. The bad thing abt night shift is if your patient is having a problem you have to call and wake a grumpy dr up. You also have to occasionally wake grumpy pts up for surgery preps and vitals at times. It's also hard on your body and you just don't sleep as well and I always felt like I was in a fog. I've done both and my choice is days so my body doesn't have to adjust and so I can be at home all night with my kids. Plus you're usually so busy the day flies by and you get more experience doing stuff that's usually done by night and you don't have to waste a day off sleeping.I used to HATE leaving work in the morning and hear someone say "I'll see you tonight!" That always felt way too soon to come back even though it was the same amt of hours. :)

[Nurse Mommy]

I've worked both days and nights. I preferred the night shift's work load, but the havoc that overnights reeked on my body was unbearable. On my days off I slept all day and was up all night. I never saw my young son or my husband, and even when I got good sleep I was still exausted. Then again, I've met nurses that love the night shift. Typically though, those nurse's were single with no kids. It really depends on you, but for me the few pros DID NOt outweigh the massive cons.

[sapphire18]

I work nights but know that I could never do it with kids. You're just too tired during the day- that's your sleep time! I would NOT recommend night shift with kids. Some can do it, but it's just unhealthy. And I DO agree that night shifters are more teamwork-oriented.