Does Preferring to Work Night Shift mean you're lazy?

CrazyGoonRN · Jan 27, 2014

No, it dosn't mean you are lazy. Think about it like this. If there are two 12 hr shifts then at least 1/2 the nurses have to work night shift to care for the patients. No one should say that all night shift nurses are lazy. That's just absurd. Where I work (LTC) night shift nurses are given extra charting and work because things are usually calmer and there may be more time to do it, but not always. I've stayed over 2 hours past the end of my night shift just to finish all the work. I don't have to interact with families and doctors as much as day shift but I am by no means not busy. I don't sit around reading books throughout the night.

ArtClassRN, ADN, RN · Jan 28, 2014

I just can't take all the doctors, hospital rounds, discharge rounds, meetings, all of that. It's exhausting for me and it takes a toll on my health.

Then don't work in a place that has all that.

I've been told that it just means you're lazy and don't want to do the work. But in the grand scheme, my life doesn't revolve around my job and there are other things I want to do and explore with my life.

I love night shift because I have some time to recuperate. I still get the headaches but the fatigue is less. I would really prefer to work solely nights.

Your post makes it clear you prefer night shift because it gives you time to rest (you obviously don't work nights on my floor...) and pursue other opportunities. I suggest you quit your job and look into those other opportunities ASAP.

jcarl12 · Jan 28, 2014

I work night shift as well and often times it's just me on a floor with 30 patients and only two aides. I have said numerous times that the management that created the duties and job descriptions of night nurses at my facility (and I'm sure many others) has it in their head that patients sleep throughout the night. NOT THE CASE. I think the only reason I can handle working nights is because I'm so constantly busy so I don't have time to be tired. I've said it before and I'll said it again, night nursing is a totally different type of nursing. It is very far from being a 'lazy' job in my opinion. Maybe I'm just being bias but before somebody starts criticizing my job and how it's so easy, I challenge them to work my shift and see how 'easy' it really is. If you like it, then stick with it and don't worry what others think. They really have no idea unless they've tried it...

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2014

I have one word for you.

Sundowners.

It's impossible to be lazy at night where I work.

TU RN, DNP, CRNA · Jan 28, 2014

No. And anyone who suggest otherwise should be ashamed of themselves.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jan 28, 2014

I've found lots of night workers prefer not having to deal with managers, meetings, etc but prefer to just come in and focus on their patients.

doesn't sound lazy to me.

anon456, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2014

I have one word for you.
Sundowners.
It's impossible to be lazy at night where I work.

Ha ha! I'll see your sundowners and raise you some toddlers whose parents have left for the night. :nailbiting:

Despareux · Jan 28, 2014

On most nights, I'm steady busy. Some nights it's crazy hectic. Very rare are nights when I get to chat about non-work topics with co-workers. I love nights because I feel like I can get to know my patients and their history a little better, not be bombarded with requests from the patient's family members, and mostly, I like the autonomy that nights offers. Once it's 0645, the lights get turned on and all hell seems to break loose with call lights exploding, doctors and management all over the place asking all kinds of questions during report, patients trying to climb out of bed, a rapid response on the floor has been called. It's crazy what happens at 0645 and it doesn't seem to end until hours later. I'm SO glad I work nights.

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 28, 2014

I have one word for you.
Sundowners.
It's impossible to be lazy at night where I work.

AMEN. Day shift can never quite understand the hell that Sundowning brings to patients. I stay very busy working nights in the MICU. Patients need 24/7 care, and my night shift crew has amazing teamwork and we pull together and get stuff DONE. And this may sound silly, but I absolutely hate hand feeding people, it grosses me out, and rarely if ever do we have to hand feed patients on night shift.

It definitely has started to wear on me though, I have to rearrange my entire life to deal with the nights I work. But if I worked day shift at my facility, with my commute I'd have to wake up at 3:30am every day, and while I can be an early bird, I can't go to sleep early enough to support that sort of schedule!

And, the shift differential helps make up the difference because I commute 300 miles a week!

casi, ASN, RN · Jan 28, 2014

Night shifters are a whole different breed. I think one of the big things day shift doesn't realize is we don't have the resources that they do. We've got minimal staff.

kakamegamama · Jan 28, 2014

When I was at the bedside I preferred the night shift until I had to work the 12 hour ones....it just became more than my old circadian rhythm could handle. But, I loved the lack of drama, (although we had enough); the peacefulness of mostly sleeping patients and the occasional need to feed a baby because mom just needed her sleep. However, I was usually busy enough and could pace myself just right so that I had a good night of work. Sometimes, I miss that special "nuttiness" that can come with being awake when the "normal" people are asleep :).

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Jan 28, 2014

I prefer nights and I'm far from lazy! I also prefer to stay as far away as possible from day shift drama and craziness.

reason I work nights - no transfers, doctors or families unless its an emergency situation...I also feel I learn better on nights.