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

brillohead, ADN, RN · Feb 6, 2014

I'm hoping for a night job not because I'm lazy, an introvert, or hate people, but because I'm a night owl who DETESTS getting up in the morning. I would rather stay up all night until 5am than wake up at 5am, no matter how early I went to bed the night before!
I've always been a night owl -- it's just the way my body has been, going back to my teens or even earlier. I can do all-nighters without yawning (as long as I can sleep the next day to recover).
Different strokes for different folks!

This thread/post must have been my good luck charm... just got hired today for a night job!

allnurses Guide · Feb 6, 2014

I couldn't hack it on nights. Does that make ME lazy, because I can't work the night through without consequences? I don't think it does. I don't think so for others who prefer to work nights over days. It is a 24/7 job. Thank goodness there are those willing to work the shifts I'm not.

Spika RN · Feb 6, 2014

I work night shift, I am not lazy I have lots to do cancer patients don't seem to sleep chemotherapy prep work, and if I do have some down time I am in charge so I have to do that.

pinkiepieRN · Feb 6, 2014

I started off on 1900-0730 as a new grad and hated it, more because of the 12H shifts than anything else. I felt like I could never get in a rhythm because I didn't want to clump my shifts in a row or else I'd be exhausted, but then I also never felt like I got enough sleep during the day before a shift. I switched to days and it was exhausting. I couldn't sleep until at least 12MN or 0100, to wake up at 0600 and that's just not enough sleep. Interestingly enough, I decided to give 0700-1530 a try at my new job and it didn't take long to realize, "Yep, I still don't like days." I've been on 2300-0730 since October 2013 and have seen a major difference in my mood, behaviors and level of happiness. I get at least 6H of sleep during the day and then there's still time to enjoy the world and catch up with DH before I have to go to work. I also work M-F, so I have weekends off.

Am I lazy? Hell no! We work with the smallest amount of staff, so when there's a call-out that doesn't get covered, we bite the bullet hardest. Finding supplies can be a nightmare and of course there's no supplies coordinator to ask or speak to about it. Med pass times are stranger - 12MN and 0500 - because who wants to pass out meds less than 30 minutes after getting report and right up until the last minute when 0700-1530 comes in? Dealing with a zillion fingersticks, QShift vitals, changing g-tube flushes, filling meds that days couldn't be bothered to fill because they "don't give them", and fall risks and behavioral problems who just can't seem to sleep EVER or only get 2-3 hours of sleep even WITH a sleeping pill - I don't think that's lazy. Is it a relief that I don't have administration breathing down my neck, have to deal with any meals and at least 50% of the residents sleep - yes, but that's my choice of what to work with.

lxpatterson · Feb 6, 2014

As a new RN I actually prefer days because it's a much better learning experience. Working with different with consultants, residents, and services as well as learning the administrative ropes (ie. transfers, community services, children's aid, etc) and putting out fires is great for gaining experience. As well, you do feel like you have more support (in terms of having physicians, labs and imaging accessible) if **** goes down. Humans run on a day diurnal schedule, so days are certainly more hectic. BUT, I wouldn't say that nights are lazy, only that the nature of the scut work is different. At nights, I do a lot of scheduled chores like cleaning, lab controls, restocking and reviewing lab work. During days, the scut is less leisurely and more to do with rushing patients from one place to another and helping with procedures....Every unit has a different culture and expectations for days and nights...What is probably true is that days are more stressful because everything is time sensitive. Personally, I'd like to continue days in med-surg and ER for a couple of years, but I am already planning a move to a nice quiet ICU, preferably a night rotation, once I am more seasoned.

pinkiepieRN · Feb 6, 2014

but I am already planning a move to a nice quiet ICU, preferably a night rotation, once I am more seasoned.

I don't work ICU but I can tell you from my knowledge nonetheless, I don't think there is such thing as a "quiet" ICU.

Also, I preferred starting off as a new grad RN on nights because it gave me more time to look at charts, made me feel like I was making a difference with the patients I did see (because I had more time), and the sense of teamwork was incredible. Days was a bit of a culture shock but I feel like the groundwork was laid on nights for me and I was more prepared to handle the work, having worked nights.

generalRN2008 · Feb 6, 2014

I prefer to work night shift. I prefer a little bit more seclusion to the hustle and bustle of the day shift experience. If I HAVE to work days, I would prefer for it to be weekends. 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. 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 initially loved nursing, but after all that I've experienced while working on this particular unit, I've started to suffer continuous headaches and fatigue from work. This isn't good for me. 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.

Do what works for you

utadahikaru · Feb 7, 2014

Since when do they give a pay differential for being lazy? I don't think so. They pay night shift more money for a reason, and it isn't because they are lazy.

miranda819, BSN · Feb 10, 2014

Lazy? Far from it! One night this week I had 10 patients....10! There was no time to be lazy on the night shift!

nynursey_ · Feb 10, 2014

I don't think preferring the night shift makes you lazy. As a matter of fact, I thank you for preferring the night shift because it opens up spots for people who much prefer days! I think any place you feel comfortable and productive is good for your patients, and if that happens to be nights, then so be it!

dwoolard · Feb 10, 2014

People who work day can be just as lazy by leaving a ton of work for the night shift and vice versa. I have worked the night shift for the last four years and I enjoy the work on the night shift. I like the sense of knowing what is going on with my patients by having the time to read the different progress notes and knowing a little bit about my co workers patient's as well. The sense of teamwork on the night shift is greater as well. What seems to be overlooked is that night shift staff need to know their medical knowledge. The covering MD normally is not familiar with the patient and depends on the nurse for a plan of action. Great comments from everyone.

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2014

I take it a step further...I work exclusively weekend nights. I must be the laziest of all! I definitely prefer to deal with less management, visitors, doctors, med students, etc. But I have many a busy night. And if I'm not busy, then I stay busy...doing tubing changes, central line dressing changes, checking the charts(adhering tele strips, yay), passing meds to the med drawers from the inbox, helping my fellow nurses. There is *always* something to be done.