Embracing Night Shift

anon456, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2015

I just put in for days, because my body is not recuperating after nights like it used to, and my kids are now are teenagers. I am thankful for all the reasons you listed that nights served me well, especially the childcare situation. I will miss the camaraderie and strong teamwork found on nights. I do admit that am also greatly looking forward to being "normal" again and not losing a couple of days a week to sleeping.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Mar 17, 2015

I like there being no traffic on my way to and from work.

I also like doing my grocery shopping after work and having the store be almost empty.

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Mar 17, 2015

I love nights! no docs unless its an emergency, no family/visitors unless its an emergency, and the teamwork can't be beat. I get home as the kids are getting on the bus and I kiss them goodbye and head for bed! 8 hours of uninterrupted bliss!

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2015

I love love love working nights. To me, I feel like there is less ancillary staff night to get in the way of me providing real nursing care. I have more one on one time with my patients, more time to just be present.... to really take the time to do things the way that I, as a nurse, want to do them. :)

QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 17, 2015

I have worked nights for a year and a half now, and while I do believe that they are starting to take their toll and I feel exhausted a lot even on my days off, there are pros.

We have 24 hour/day visiting hours (UGH), but there are definitely LESS visitors overall, and the ones that stay, sleep.

The first four hours of the shift are usually crazy, but between 12am-4am, it usually quiets down enough to take some much needed time to catch up on charting.

The teamwork is better on nights, because there are less of us so we learn to depend/lean on each other.

Less admit/discharges.

Less meds to pass.

Less doctors and ancillary staff hanging around being annoying and getting in the way.

Red Kryptonite · Mar 17, 2015

I always say all the cool kids work nights.

Recently I had a week where I didn't get all my hours. Usually I work three 12s 7-7:30, but they had a unit that needed a little extra help so they offered me a 4 pm to midnight. I accepted because I wanted to patch the hole in my paycheck.

Oh. Em. Gee. Just those three hours at the end of day shift were a stark reminder of why I like nights. There seemed to be so many people, so many things going on, so much noise.....it felt utterly chaotic.

Plus, I really like not having higher ups around breathing down your neck all the time. Those people got desk jobs so they didn't have to work those hours, so if they come in it takes an act of Congress. Being night shift float pool is about as anonymous as you can get. I come in, do my job, and stay under the radar. ðŸ‘

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2015

Brandon Im now so exhausted working nights that I order my groceries online and have them delivered to my home. But I do appreciate the empty stores after work.

TriniRN15' · Mar 17, 2015

I just graduated and started training on day shift at my hospital. I was a tech on nights before I graduated so seeing how day shift operates has been good. I have been considering going to go to days to feel like a normal person again and spend more family time with my husband and daughter but I think I still prefer nights!!

Elle23 · Mar 17, 2015

I also like doing my grocery shopping after work and having the store be almost empty.

I like this too, except my favorite store only has self check open until 8. I get off work at 6. So if I want to get groceries in any significant quantity (I have 4 kids), it is a pain.

~Katniss~ · Mar 17, 2015

I have worked nights as a CNA for years and it is good for all the reasons you mentioned. I think if one can work only three twelve hour shifts that is better than five eight hour shifts. I am leaving night shift at a long term facility to go to 3-11p. The place I am leaving does not have differential. I just find I don't feel healthy and after years it is not good to continue. If I am offered 3 12s I will take it just until I get through school and have my RN.

Chesterton1 · Mar 17, 2015

I will be working nights starting at the beginning of April after I finish my LNA classes and I honestly cannot wait. At my old job before I became a full time employee in charge of my own department I was in the "night" shift for that particular supermarket (tho night shifts their meant working until closing) however I can imagine there seems to be an overarching culture for night shifts in general regardless of where you work. I always enjoyed the more laid back atmosphere and there seemed to be much more interesting co-workers working at the time.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2015

I thought I was going to hate nights when I started my first hospital position not too long ago.

Surprise, surprise, I PREFER them! You couldn't pay me enough to work days or evenings. I did all my orientation on the day shift and wanted to dig my own eyes out with a rusty spoon after each shift. TOO many people...TOO many 'chefs' in the kitchen ruining the soup. Every time I blinked a new order was in the computer. Family all over the place, PT/OT, all the docs...eeekkk! Made my head spin. I was recently offered a newly opened position on evenings...smiled, thanked the NM for offering it to me but polietly declined.

While lots of people think night shift does nothing..I know (as well all do) thats not true. But its a different kind of busy than days/evenings. I'm on the go all night, but I get time to sit and chart. Of course we have less back up if things hit the fan but we have a great team of docs, PAs that are there at night to help.

Of course I get some night where I'm going 300mph, the night flies by and I still have a ton of charting to do and no time left in my shift to do it. But I'd still take nocs anytime!