Dayshift vs. Nighshift

[pie123]

Hi! I am a new nurse (on orientation) who is currently working nightshift, and just talked to my manager this morning about going to dayshift. I have been doing nights for a month now. In a 24-hour period, I get 6 hours of sleep...literally (in bed by 9am, up by 12pm x 2 nights in a row, every week). My husband has totally blacked out our bedroom, to simulate nighttime, and I've taken sleep aids, but still wake up several hours before I should, with eyes burning, and feeling sick. I have done 8 hour nightshifts in various other jobs, and I have always had the same results--very little sleep, feeling run-down, and feeling so exhausted that I feel sick, then on my off day, sleeping for like 18 hours. I'm a little nervous about days because I know that on average, there is more of everything to deal with, but nights is just wearing me down. Just wondering how dayshift is working out for you other new nurses? Thanks.

[shyne]

I think it all depends on if the person is a night or day person. I'm a night person so it works out great for me. Day shift was too busy and hectic, but what made it worse was that I came into work with only 1 hour of sleep. Now that I'm working nights I'm getting 7-8 hours of sleep before work.

[BIRTHDAYRN]

To PIE123,

Happy sleeping!! I think you'll also find more experienced/senior nurses on day shift that you can draw on their experience and learn alot, too. Good luck to you.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I work night shift now. I have worked all the shifts. I think my body does best on the evening shift. :)

Honestly, my body did the best when I worked 3-11, not too early, and not too late. It was just so socially isolating for me, so it wasn't a good idea. Now I like the 12-hour shifts too much.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I work night shift even though my body hates it and I am unable to sleep. I like how there are less "suits" around, less pt, ot, activities, etc. It gets frustrating not being able to find your patient when you have a med or treatment due!

[jenrninmi, MSN, RN]

Even though I enjoy working 3rd shift, (3 12's a week), if given a choice, I'd work days (7a-7:30p). There just simply are not day shifts available here - especially for new grads.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Also not a nurse but I had to work graveyard shift for a year and I was miserable. I could not reconcile any sleep during the day no matter what I did or tried. It depends on the person I guess.

[county162]

Pie, I am in the exact same boat as you. I work the night shift in the emergency room and when I get home from a horrible shift you would think that I would be able to knock out right away. Well, unfortunately I only get appx 2 hours of sleep and wake up feeling horrible. I tried Lunesta, but is doesn't work. The regular ambien does work very well, but it is not for long term use , so I am going to ask my doctor to place me on ambien cr. I'm hoping that once I get off of orientation my manager will let me go to a mid shift, otherwise I will have to find a new job.

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

I think my natural clock runs for 3p-11p shift, so 7p-7a hasn't been too bad an adjustment. Some days I don't sleep as well as I'd like, but those are rare. If I have to be up at 7a, getting to sleep the night before is a bear.

I do think nights are a bit better for a new nurse. Not so much easier, necessarily, but certainly fewer distractions. I work every weekend, too, and our weekend crew is pretty much set. Nights in general and weekend nights especially seem to have a bit more camaraderie--at least on my unit.

But I can certainly see advantages to day. I had today off, but spent it sleeping. Hard to go back to a daytime routine.

[sweetpea839]

Night shift rocks, and I wouldn't switch back to days unless i was older or ready to talk to all the snotty MDs who show their noses on the day shift:angryfire I love to have time to converse with my patients, understand and try to emotionally and medically help them, and be with them. I can only imagine being stuck in a hospital trying to sleep and just wanting a friendly face to talk to at 0400. I would want a night nurse to talk to me!