I can't believe I actually *like* night shift!

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm a new grad (May 2015) and started my first RN job in July. During orientation, I was exclusively on day shift. I was so worried about switching over to night shift. I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I really like the night shift.

I was worried I'd be bored because the patients would be asleep. Nope! I bust my butt from start of shift to end. I feel I'm actually busier on night shift than I was on days. It's a rare night that all of my patients sleep at the same time. And even then, I invariably get a new admission from the ER. The only draw back to night shift is that we get short-staffed a lot (especially on weekends) and we have higher patient ratios.

If I need to have an appointment, I can just schedule it in the morning, so I don't have to take time off. I really like it. My kids are older and all of them can drive now, so I don't have to worry about schlepping them to sporting or school events. :)

Night shift rocks :D

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Definite advantages to NOC. You with either love or hate it. I Hated it, but it was necessary at the time for me to do it. I don't day sleep well and it makes me physically ill to work nights and try to sleep days.

But I am happy for YOU!!!!

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Shift differential, the only meal is dinner and the odd evening snack, ER admits, fewer family members, mostly everyone is asleep (except sundowners but oh wells) and you can really talk with your patients and try to make them feel more comfortable being in a crappy situation. I also am pleasantly surprised to find out how much I love night shift as well. :) CONGRATS!

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Specializes in CVICU CCRN.

Just had my first NOC shift on my new unit after orienting on days. I already love the night crew. I was lucky enough to do several clinical rotations on nights and loved it. I have no idea what possessed me to start off with a day shift position on another unit. I hated it.

Even though I've had to work days most of my life, it's always been a struggle. On early mornings/day shift I feel how most people describe they feel on nights. (Sluggish, jet lagged, headaches.) I joke that I'm nocturnal, but truly, my rhythms must have gotten confused somewhere in my development. Not only that, but the culture always seems so much better on nights. There was a palpable wave of stress as the day walkers showed up this morning! :)

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I've been on nights since '77. I'll never do days. I just can't get out of bed at 05:30 and face anything. I can stay up- just not get up. The biggest hardship I see on nights is everyone-management, day shift, docs, family,- all seem to feel I'm getting paid way too much to just watch a few people sleep quietly through the night. Night shifters are never included on committees, or have staff meetings, or get timely updates on policy changes. The attitude is that we are just holding a place until the real nurses come in at 07:00. Of course, with the bar set that low, it's easy to meet their expectations.

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Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

I love nights and wouldn't work days for night pay. I love the teamwork, the autonomy and the lack of extraneous people. I actually sleep better working nights and don't have too much trouble going back to "normal" when I am off. My only problem is when I am off for a stretch, I feel like i should be sleeping all day.

I picked up a day shift a few weeks ago, and I didn't like it, not one little bit. I kept saying "the light...it burnsssss us".

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

I'm really glad you like it. It does have its perks, such as less commotion, less meds to pass, less people around getting in the way, (usually) less family, and sometimes the patients even sleep! And of course the extra pay. However, after almost two years on nights, I am over how much it ruins my sleep. Seriously considering day shift in the new year.

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The down side of working days has been mentioned many times and in my experience, is true with one exception. In my facility, there wasn't anything magic about "team work" on nights vs. days. Our unit had a great nurse manager, so I think the team work attitude was ingrained from the top and trickled down to every nurse/cna whether you worked nights or you worked days.

Every facility has a different culture. The night shift CAN be easier, but there are some nights from hell, too. I think the best units are the ones where all the nurses have worked both shifts, so they can understand the challenges that go along with each one.

And to the poster who said you'd have to be brain damaged to work days: If I'd worked many more nights, I would have been the brain damaged one!

We loved our night nurses. They were awesome in every respect. But a nice bonus they brought to our unit was that because they were so happy to work those shifts, none of us morning people were ever expected to take on those shifts! They are total heroes in my book.

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Specializes in Critical care.

I think it's a genetic thing. The laid back, sleep-in kind of people, enjoy nights. The type A, high strung people enjoy days. It's been that way no matter which hospital I work at. Even my kids show tendencies, had a son who loved sleeping in until noon even as a toddler. Then I had a daughter who was up every morning with the birds .... ugh.

Cheers

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Night Shift Nurses with Children: I'm a nursing student who will be done in December. I have a husband two children 10 and 5. How do you do night shift with children? On your days off, do you switch your sleep schedule to days?

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Night Shift Nurses with Children: I'm a nursing student who will be done in December. I have a husband two children 10 and 5. How do you do night shift with children? On your days off, do you switch your sleep schedule to days?

I'm following to find an answer to this question, too. I graduate in May, and I am married with 2 young, school-aged kids. And we want another. I've toyed with the idea of nights - just don't know how feasible it would be with all that going on.

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I'm starting my first night shift job Monday! Eeeek! Any advice on how to prepare? I'm so nervous that I will be falling asleep around 0400.

I'm a new nurse. Just graduated in August with my BSN and passed my boards about three weeks ago! :up:

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Specializes in ER,Surgical ICU,Neuro ICU, OR.

I am on my 3rd year of nights and it is starting to get to me, initially I liked it too but now I feel like I am missing out on life, your body definitely feels it in the long run, also all the studies done on night shifters all point to one conclusion, it's not good for you. There are definitely benefits such as autonomy, less management etc but I feel that in the long run it's detrimental both physically and socially. Just my 2 cents.

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