How can I tell if I'm cut out for night shift

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I see that plenty of people on here say they couldn't get used to night shift, and that it was pretty much terrible for them. I have worked 8 hr shifts on nights (different type of work though) for short periods of time. When it was over, it never took me very long to get back on aa awake by day and asleep by night "normal" schedule. Would this mean that nights are not for me? I know that I will probably have to take a night shift job, but I'm debating on wether to apply for part time and see how it goes /tough it out, or just jump in and try for a full time one! If you have survived working nights, could you please share what your typical schedule was in regards to eating, sleeping, and days off? Thanks!

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
A month of night shifts will change that. All of the regulars I work with have made it to level 50 within a month at the very least. Some even make it as far as 200.

Actually, I've never played a video/ phone game in my life. And I was an adult when Pong came out.

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Actually, I've never played a video/ phone game in my life. And I was an adult when Pong came out.

Ha, but you already KNOW that candy ain't gonna crush itself!! :wacky:

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In all seriousness, thanks all for all the good advice about surviving nocs. Ruby, your article is awesome & I hope I will be able to use those tips soon. One of my biggest concerns was/is surviving the drive home... and ic I am lucky enough to get a noc hospital job, I might try eating breakfast on the way home, or coffee.

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Specializes in Software and home health.
We've debated this at work, and I just don't know. I am sure biologically it does take a toll, but what if you're already a night person? I have been a night owl my entire life. I have absolutely no problem whatsoever staying up all night, working or not. Twelve hour night shifts (staying awake at least) are a breeze for me. I fall asleep at the drop of a hat during the day, and I recently redid my bedroom curtains and my bedroom is not dark. If the light bothers me I have a leather eye mask I use that blocks all light. I keep a fan on while I sleep. What if some people are just naturally adapted to be up at night? Wouldn't it put more stress on my body to force myself to go to bed at 10pm and be up at 6am if I am not naturally inclined to do so? It really does stress me out to change my schedule like that. I would (and do get) be very depressed if I had to do that schedule for a month or longer. Just my late night ponderings :rolleyes: Any thoughts from anybody?

I am a night person. I felt like day shift was so unnatural for me. I tried for a period of time because of my husbands insistence. But recently transferred to a night position and it feels so much better. It actually works better with my family, I think that's because it works better for my internal clock so I'm a nicer reason to be around.i honestly believe some people are night people. It's true in my case anyways.my room is also not dark and I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat during the day.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I do research on this very topic. Recent genomic evidence from Denmark indicates that there is a difference on the 'CLOCK' gene between strongly morning types (larks) and strongly evening types (owls). So yes, there are actually people who adapt to nights better. Of my four adult kids- two are larks (one is an RN) and two are owls (one is an RT student).

There is a screening tool, the name of which escapes me right now, which is the gold standard for determining 'morningness' and 'eveningness' in humans. I almost think that this screening tool should be used before a person is hired for shift work. All things being equal, ou would want to hire for nights the person most likely to succeed as a night worker. KWIM?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

@ meanmaryjean, I would live that screening tool info when it comes to you.

For as long as I can remember, I was always a night owl, as a child and even more so as a teen.

I love rotating shifts, however, night shift seems more natural to me as well; I can easily switch back to days on my days off, and I love my dark curtains, but then again, I can go to sleep without any issues...

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

It's the Horne-Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. It's fairly old- if you have access to a good full-text academic library you should be able to find it.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
It's the Horne-Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. It's fairly old- if you have access to a good full-text academic library you should be able to find it.

Thanks! :up:

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Just because you're nocturnal (an "owl") does not mean that you will do well working nights. I should know; staying up all night - no problem (I have to force myself to go to bed before midnight when I work the next day - day shift). But I found night shift much too disruptive for a "normal" life. Especially if you have kids... sorry, it didn't work for me at all. It felt wrong from the start - and I got in line for day shift just as soon as I could.

It's hard getting up at 5:30 a.m. - I hate it, really - but at least I feel like I have a life now. On nights, one shift really "ruins" two days, which the differential (not much in my case anyway) can never compensate for.

To each their own! But this owl will stay on day shift.

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I worked a couple of months of night shift and I'll work some occasional shifts but I knew night shift wasn't for me when my 3 year old would see me getting dressed in scrubs and get frustrated while saying "you goto work now daddy". Night shift honestly doesn't have enough differential for the stress it causes on family life. If you live by yourself and have friends you party with, then it could be for you. It's hard on young kids though. Mine hated that I couldn't always tuck him in.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I'm a new night shift nurse... Honestly I adjusted pretty quickly. I try to group my days together so I won't have to switch back and forth between days & nights. I usually do 3 nights, off 4 or work 2, off 3, work 2. Also I try to only sleep from like 9-1 on the morning of my first off day so I won't be up all night that night. I occasionally take a Benadryl to help me sleep on days before my first night back to work, but usually I only need a 2-3 nap before the first night back. As far as eating schedule, on days I work I eat when I wake up around 4pm, eat around 1am @ work, and then eat about 7-8 that am before I go to bed! Lots of snack in between & work too tho and ice water :)

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I worked a couple of months of night shift and I'll work some occasional shifts but I knew night shift wasn't for me when my 3 year old would see me getting dressed in scrubs and get frustrated while saying "you goto work now daddy". Night shift honestly doesn't have enough differential for the stress it causes on family life. If you live by yourself and have friends you party with, then it could be for you. It's hard on young kids though. Mine hated that I couldn't always tuck him in.

Awww... that makes sense. Sounds like you made the best choice for you.:) I don't have youngins,so that won't be a factor for me.

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