Do all new nurses get night shift?

Tait, MSN, RN · Aug 25, 2009

Well, I don't see anyone giving you the great part about night shift... Yes, as a new grad unless you really luck out you will be night shift after orientation. However, night shift has some great benefits - in no particular order:
1. Shift diff
2. Avoid administration :-) LOL
3. Night shift has a different attitude than day shift. See #2
4. Night shift tends to be more independent - nobody else wants to be up either...
5. Night shift nurses are much sweeter... :-)
6. You can sleep during the day...
7. Interesting things happen at 3am
Best of luck. You will find your place, and your time...

This is the best thing I have read all night and is so perfectly true!!

Thanks for the smile!

Tait

OP: I love nights, wouldn't trade them for the world right now. I try very hard to get my days scheduled together, and yes there are some sad weeks where I don't see my husband for three in a row, but for the most part I see him for a little bit each morning. My new grad thought she wouldn't make it on nights at all, but once you are here and realize the pace of an alive active floor it pretty much makes 5am feel like 5in the afternoon! And watching all those beautiful sunrises each morning is a bonus as well!

Best of luck in your search!!

mel2009 · Aug 25, 2009

I am a new grad and was hired on days with rotation on a med surg floor. very lucky I know. I am not writing to brag but to let people out there that there are some options for us new grads. I was completely prepared to be offered nights which was my second choice, with eves being a last resort due to the family schedule. I am def concerned about the rotations PRN and wonder if anyone else out there works this type of shift & how you handle for example : days one day, nights the next. I am afraid I will be a walking zombie with the switching.

JavaMama98 · Aug 26, 2009

I don't mind working weekends or holidays. Christmas and New Years would suck...but oh well. It's just the night thing. I've never pulled an all-nighter in my life. Not even with tons of caffeine. I honestly don't know if I could do it. I can't imagine going for days without seeing my husband because our schedules are completely opposite

My first nursing job was/is as a night nurse in a LTCF. It was exactly what I didn't want fresh out of school but it has worked out beautifully for my families needs. I have 3 kids and a husband. I work 4 on 2 off and my husband works 9A-6P. I have never gone for days without seeing him or the kids. There are days when time is cut short because I need to nap or get ready for work but it's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. This is how I look at it:

#1 I have a job. Lots of people, even nurses, can't say that right now.

#2 I don't have to drive an hour away to get to said job. (there are folks in my facility who drive an hour both ways.)

#3 Because I work nights I have a lot of time to actually read patient charts and learn more about diagnoses. I aquire new skills under less stressful circumstances (no admin, doctors, family members standing around watching you).

#4 The rest of my team of co-workers have much less attitude than some of those during the day. Fewer (not none) personality conflicts.

#5 I have learned that night nurses get called to work over far less often than other nurses. They know we're on a whole different sleep/work/life schedule.

#6 I very rarely miss school activities for my kids. I make every PTA meeting, go on field trips, etc. I get to go and have lunch with my husband sometimes. And sometimes he takes the afternoon off and comes home (yay!) :redbeathe

#7 I've learned a tremendous amount of time management skills, prioritization, and clever ways to deal with Alzheimer's/dementia patients. Those are skill they can't teach you in a book in nursing school.

So, you see. it's not all bad. Don't get me wrong. There are days (well nights) when all I can think about is what I must have been drinking when I signed up for the whole nursing thing. But once I learned to embrace what I do (and what it does for me and my family) things became a lot easier. That's not to say that I'll be a night nurse for my entire career but for now I enjoy it and it works for me and my family.

So I said all that to say this: Be open-minded to the possibilities. As new nurses, no matter where we go we'll always be learning something that will help us in our careers. Stay positive! Best wishes, I hope you get what works for you. :wink2:

NiteNurz79 · Sep 10, 2009

I went back to nights after YEARS on dayshift. I think the great thing about nights (that you only find out once you are there) is the attitude. When you are down to just core staff - few doctors, no managers, minimal staff - everyone seems to pitch in and support each other MUCH more than I ever found on dayshift. When ancillary departments are closed the "McGyver Principle" kicks in...you look at what resources you have there in front of you and find a way to get the job done.

Often the anticipation/fear of having to "stay awake all night" is worse than the reality. Evening shift keeps you away from your family more than nights, especially with a working spouse or school-age kids. Sleeping during the day while they are busy at work/school works for most of us. Yes, it is hard to switch your body's internal clock - maybe that's why they pay us a shift differential? Because it's hard? But is IS doable. Approach it with an open mind - you'll find the more experienced hands on the night shift ready with tips and support. After all - we've all been there...some of us have even gone back. :smilecoffeecup: