Night shift duty is it better than days???

GoECU · Apr 8, 2010

I love working nights! Like others have said, it is less chaotic and there is no administration coming around asking if all your IV bags and lines are labeled in the middle of your med pass! :rolleyes:

totally_nuts · Apr 8, 2010

I used to do nights so I could be with my kids more and swore I would never work days. I was a grumpy cow all the time cos I never got enough sleep and I got sick constantly.

Due to a work related injury I now work days and I swear I'm never working nights again. I sleep now and I'm not usually a grumpy cow any more.

There is evidence that night shift workers get sick more, and are more often overweight.

Just my 2 cents worth ...

Chris

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Apr 8, 2010

I like working nights, but.. You won't see your baby much. You will be gone all night and then you will have to sleep during the day. If you work nights, plan on having a sitter or daycare during the day so you can sleep. IF you can sleep. I had terrible problems sleeping during the day. I had to take something to help me sleep. And that didn't always work, so I would end up going to work medicated with no sleep. :crying2: Sleeping when the baby sleeps during the day doesn't work. Night shift is much harder on your body. If you NEED that extra differential money that is one thing... Otherwise, I wouldn't do it with a young kid.

MommyinMO · Apr 8, 2010

I work LTC- Fri, Sat and Sun nights, 12 hour shifts. I have two small school age children. My mom keeps my children from Fri afternoon until I pick them up for school Mon morning. My parents love the time with the kids and I get to sleep during the day. On Mon I take a two hour nap while they are in school and go to bed around 8p. I also try and fit in a two hour nap on Fri afternoon while they are at school. This schedule seems to work the best for my family. However, if you are a social person (which I am not) and like to go out on the weekends with family or friends, then a schedule like mine is not for you. I am able to go on all school outings and do not have to pay for daycare-which is more important to me at this stage of my life. I am there to make breakfast and take them to school, pick them up from school and do homework and tuck them in and read their bedtime story.

At my particular LTC facility it is quieter at night but the staff is unreliable and requires more supervision. Also, there is a increased nurse-resident ratio. There will always be trade-offs no matter what you decide to do.

As an RN at a local hospital I was making 26.50 to work weekend option three years ago in ICU (med-surg rns who work nights make about 21.50) I now make 26.00 working in LTC and the work is much less stressful and fits my lifestyle. But keep in mind that I live in rural Missouri.

Good luck in finding what works best for you. Having a new baby and a nursing career is tough. Don't ever feel bad about putting your child first, that is what I did. Twenty years from now I might not have an impressive nursing resume, but I know I will treasure the time I got to spend with my children. I will also treasure the relationships LTC allows me to build with my residents.