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

[SopranoKris]

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

[1KandyRN]

Amen! I have been night shift since I became a nurse 12 years ago,and I love it, I thank God for my position. 😀 yeah were short staff but we all work well together and I pray thats what gets me through. I would never work another shift.

[mountainview210]

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!!!!

I couldn't do it any longer either. I'm switching after 4 months but I agree with the others, less drama working at nite, too bad I don't sleep well during the day =(

[mountainview210]

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.

I'm an introvert and prefer nites due to all the reasons people have stated here but my biggest challenge is sleeping during the day, how do you guys do it? maybe it's not for everyone I guess. I can't seem to sleep during the day, I only sleep like 2-4 hrs on my own or take melatonin or Zzzquil to sleep more but then at times I may wake up too drowsy so take energy drinks, not a nice life. Wondering how others sleep during the day. I wish I could, really I could

[mountainview210]

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.

I can't do nites either, can't sleep during the day and have damaged my body by forcing myself to work nites.

[rookieRN123, BSN]

Yep! I like nigh shift too. It is true, there is often staff shortages and high patient ratios, but there isn't a lot of "foot traffic" and visitors coming and going. Also you don't have the day staff breathing down your back giving you extra things to do like "write the next month's unit newsletter" that no one reads anyway.

[Dranger]

It gets old trust me. I LOVE night shift in theory but not what it does to my body.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I worked nights for 4 years. Definitely less drama compared to day shift and I feel as if night shifters are more close-knit than their day shift counterparts.

I didn't like the effects of shift work on my body, though. Exhausted, grumpy, wanting to sleep all of the time...waking up at 0300 every night on my days off and having a completely messed up sleeping schedule...it was awful. Since I've made the switch to days I've been a lot happier.

[ladytraviler]

I started working nights as a Paramedic. I have worked several contracts on days and hated it. I sleep like the dead during the day. I have a dark room, a fan running, and a CPAP. I get off at 0730 and stay up until 0900. I get up at 1700 or 1730, depending on grandkids. I get off my last shift and sleep till noon. I can then be part of the family instead of the ghost. I would not go back to days for much of anything.

[AllieSparksRN]

Yep yep yep. I love the night shift!