Does anyone like night shift?

[Despareux]

I'm casual and still being precepted. I will eventually have to train during the night shift. Here's the situation: currently, I work days and it seems like it takes me several hours to feel fully awake, even with my usual 6-7 hours of sound sleep, and by the last two hours of my shift, I feel pretty out of it. On any given non-working day, I tend to be more productive in the evenings. I have always enjoyed staying up until 2 or 3am because my kids are sleeping and I can get a lot accomplished. But by sunrise, I'm feeling out of it.

Given the above scenario and from your personal experience, do you think I would have an easier time with nights than I do with days? I understand it's hard to tell because you all don't know me. And I know I have to try it to see for myself. But I am curious to know if pretty much everyone is affected by night shift regardless of various situations, personalities, rhythms, etc..

If you do like night shift, I would love to hear why and how you make it work for you.

[westieluv]

I've been an RN since 1990 and I've always preferred night shift, although I've never had to do it five nights a week, so maybe I would feel differently if that was the case. I've always worked either on a contingent basis, meaning that I could take nights off in between shifts when I want to, or part-time or full-time 12 hour 7p-7a shifts. I prefer night shift because if I come home and I know that I don't have to go back in that night, then I can sleep a couple of hours, get up and drink a couple of cups of coffee, and still have most of the day to enjoy, then sleep that night when the rest of my family sleeps. This is especially nice when you have to work the holiday. If you work the night before, say, Thanksgiving, then you can sleep a little and have the day with your family. If you work day shift on Thanksgiving, you miss everything. Also,I hate being at work all day long, especially for 12 hour shifts. I feel like I live at work when I'm gone during the day, so I would never want to work days. Nights is just a better fit for me all around.

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

I love love love my night shifts!

I was a wreck when I worked days. Getting up with (or even before) the birds is just not right, I'm sure there's several natural laws that breaks. Plus all the coolest kids work nights on my floor.

[flyingchange]

+1 for nights! The best crew, the best food, and the more amusing/challenging patient presentations (depending on which night of the week)

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I now work days, M-F, but did nightshift for years. And it suited my rhythms perfectly: I'm a night owl, preferring to stay up quite late, hate mornings.

I STILL want to stay up late, but as I must be up about six am for my current job, it's not an option. Or, sometimes, I just do with less sleep.

LOVED nightshift because of my natural tendencies, maybe you will too.