Day shift vs. night shift

EternalFeather · May 16, 2015

When I was interviewed by the director of nursing, she told me I go the position in day shift. Now, the recruiter called me and I got the job but night shift.

Ugh. Goodbye normal sleep pattern and daylight.

Red Kryptonite · May 16, 2015

When I was interviewed by the director of nursing, she told me I go the position in day shift. Now, the recruiter called me and I got the job but night shift.
Ugh. Goodbye normal sleep pattern and daylight.

Wow, that's pretty crappy. Do you have contact info for the DON who interviewed you? Because I'd at least be asking what happened and why the offer changed.

When I interviewed and got an offer, it was clear from the beginning that it was for night shift. Had they said, oh no sorry you're day shift now, I'd have had to refuse the offer. I work nights for a lot of reasons and can't switch for the foreseeable future.

calivianya, BSN, RN · May 16, 2015

When I was interviewed by the director of nursing, she told me I go the position in day shift. Now, the recruiter called me and I got the job but night shift.
Ugh. Goodbye normal sleep pattern and daylight.

Welcome to nights! :)

I have only worked as a nurse for two years, but I have worked nights in various positions for eight years now. I love it. ICU patients are not that different from day to night. An intubated, sedated patient isn't awake period, regardless of what time of day it is. The not sedated ones will just be annoyed with you waking them up all night long; it's not like they get to be left alone just because they're sleeping. You will probably have the same amount of interaction with physicians; people decompensate at all times of day. However, your managers are gone and sometimes the family leaves at night to get some sleep, so you will have less annoyance there. And get paid more for it. Wouldn't trade nights for anything...

Dranger · May 16, 2015

Day shift: get paid less to do more
Night shift: get paid more to do less

I call BS, at night we have the same workload just less procedural stuff. We have less resources and no doctor in our back pocket (pulm doc is on call only). Nights is hard on your body and the extra differential is well deserved for screwing up the rest of your days off.

I have worked both shifts and the team work on nights is second to none

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 16, 2015

If your body can adjust to being a night owl, and not everybody can, it is great shift. With fewer staff the team work is the best. We all get along well, there is none of the backstabbing and gossip that happens on days. I work both shifts so I can say from my personal experience that this is true, at least where I work. The work load isn't necessarily lighter as there are fewer staff. When the brown stuff hits the fan, and it will, there just isn't as much support. There added bonus is typically nights pays more.

NOADLS · May 16, 2015

I call BS, at night we have the same workload just less procedural stuff. We have less resources and no doctor in our back pocket (pulm doc is on call only). Nights is hard on your body and the extra differential is well deserved for screwing up the rest of your days off.
I have worked both shifts and the team work on nights is second to none

Depends on where you work. That's where most nurses get dinged for working at a hospital. Some of us are smart enough to choose an easy setting. Others are determined to work in a specific "specialty" where they actually have to do some work.

I've even heard of some LTC facilities where the staff sleep better than the residents.

Red Kryptonite · May 16, 2015

Depends on where you work. That's where most nurses get dinged for working at a hospital. Some of us are smart enough to choose an easy setting. Others are determined to work in a specific "specialty" where they actually have to do some work.
I've even heard of some LTC facilities where the staff sleep better than the residents.

I gotta admit, NOADLS is growing on me. Like a fungus, but still....

SmilingBluEyes · May 16, 2015

Depends on where you are. Where I work, the dayshift is a team, we support each other and have each other's backs and work hard.

our night shift, is more about being individual, doing their own thing and often, NOT getting what they are supposed to do, done. It's baffling to me, because I like the people on our NOC shift as individuals. Good people, most of them.

It's different everywhere. I think it has everything to do with who the nurses are who lead the shift. My co-nurses and I try hard to foster camaraderie and team work---- "no man is an island"---- and I won't ask my technicians to do anything I can't or won't do myself. We have potlucks, celebrate each other's birthdays, baby showers, etc.

Our NOC shift does none of these things and the nurses tend to stay behind the desk, not out on the floor where assistance is needed.

It's cultural.

amzyRN · May 16, 2015

I'd like to work nights if my body let me. I got sick from night shift though when I tried it. I simply could not sleep well in the daytime and got really depressed and would get sick more easily. Plus sometimes it would get busy at 4am and my body and mind would be slowing down. I didn't have the energy level and had a slowed thought process and reaction time. Then there would be the nausea I'd get around 4am. It just wasn't worth it to me, despite all the benefits. Some people's bodies can't adjust no matter how they try and for them another shift is better. I have found that I can work other shifts without problem. Like a 3p-3a or another late shift, just not a full night shift. I have to go to bed when it's still dark out and my body and mind gets very tired after 3am.

DowntheRiver · May 16, 2015

When I was interviewed by the director of nursing, she told me I go the position in day shift. Now, the recruiter called me and I got the job but night shift.

This happened to me. HR offered me Day Shift. When the DON called to set up my schedule she said it was only nights. I recently found out that I was supposed to be on days but one of the night shifters wanted the day position so I got bumped despite already being offered the job. I started the job but I just couldn't do the nights - had to quit. Husband and I are trying to start a family which is hard to do if you never see each other. :yes:

caseyuptonurse · May 16, 2015

Depends on where you are. Where I work, the dayshift is a team, we support each other and have each other's backs and work hard.
our night shift, is more about being individual, doing their own thing and often, NOT getting what they are supposed to do, done. It's baffling to me, because I like the people on our NOC shift as individuals. Good people, most of them.
It's different everywhere. I think it has everything to do with who the nurses are who lead the shift. My co-nurses and I try hard to foster camaraderie and team work---- "no man is an island"---- and I won't ask my technicians to do anything I can't or won't do myself. We have potlucks, celebrate each other's birthdays, baby showers, etc.
Our NOC shift does none of these things and the nurses tend to stay behind the desk, not out on the floor where assistance is needed.
It's cultural.

That's so interesting because ours is visa versa. I guess it depends on the personalities of the workers.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 16, 2015

Depends on where you are. Where I work, the dayshift is a team, we support each other and have each other's backs and work hard.
our night shift, is more about being individual, doing their own thing and often, NOT getting what they are supposed to do, done. It's baffling to me, because I like the people on our NOC shift as individuals. Good people, most of them.
It's different everywhere. I think it has everything to do with who the nurses are who lead the shift. My co-nurses and I try hard to foster camaraderie and team work---- "no man is an island"---- and I won't ask my technicians to do anything I can't or won't do myself. We have potlucks, celebrate each other's birthdays, baby showers, etc.
Our NOC shift does none of these things and the nurses tend to stay behind the desk, not out on the floor where assistance is needed.
It's cultural.

That's interesting. Guess it does depend on where you work. I won't say our day shift, or night shift for that matter is lazy and sitting at the desk all shift. That's not the case at all, both shifts work hard. The difference is the night shift works hard together, the day shifters tend to work on their own. Partly just the culture, but to be honest it is partly the full on busy rushing of the day shift. It's much faster to just do something on your own than to wait until somebody else has the time to help.