Night-shift workers, do you think you could successful work days?

ObtundedRN, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2011

I think night shift could adjust much easier and quicker then a day shift person could. I've done both, and recently. Many of us night shift people switch back to a day shift on our days off. Otherwise we wouldn't see many friends and family. So we already switch to day shift, just not at work. I think night shifters would struggle with the loss of their night differential (although day shift gets that differential for 4 of the 12 hours each shift).

Day shift would probably have a harder time. But could do it too. Many of them started out on nights at some point. It would just be harder for them and their family to adjust.

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 9, 2011

I recently switched from nights to days, after 16 years of nights. I agree with the OP, night shifters are a breed of their own! I finally switched because sleep was becoming harder and harder to get. I miss the closeness I had with my night shift family, and the differential! It took me about 6 weeks to learn how to sleep in the dark with other people in the house, but I love my days off now! I "sleep in" and am up by 7 with all day to get things done, and I get to spend so much more time with my family!

RNforLongTime · Mar 9, 2011

In previous positions I've worked days and nights. When I started my current job I did both shifts, sometimes in the same week. I KNOW I could do day shift if I HAD to but I choose not to because there are less medical students, residents, attendings around...Less family members to deal with on night shift.

It was SO hard to get ANY work done on day shift when the chart was always missing, or a family member asks you a kazillion questions and then another family member for the same patient asks the SAME questions because she wasn't here the FIRST time you told the story.

So yeah, us night shifters are a different breed but I wouldn't have it any other way!

proudnurseRN · Mar 9, 2011

As a night shifter... if I worked days I would be late all the time. 7am comes way too early for me. I could transition to a 11a-11p shift (which we have a couple of), and that would actually be my ideal shift for my sleep rhythm... if I didn't have a family.

steelcityrn, RN · Mar 9, 2011

I worked night turn for many years, and daylight is much better!

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Mar 9, 2011

I've done both. Bot have their advantages and disadvantages. I think either shift could work either shift, and we do occasionally get floated to the shift we don't usually work. It's definitely an adjustment to be on a shift other than your usual one, but in the end we all do the same job.

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Mar 9, 2011

I've done both. Most people can switch to either, I think. It comes up to preference. I did like the hours for days, but I really am not functioning that well that quick at 7 AM. Swing shift would be my ideal, but ICU is usually 7 to 7. : /

I work full time night shift, and go to school during the day to complete my BSN, plus I have a 6 month old. It's possible to do whatever you want if you want it bad enough. : )

mama_d, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2011

Speaking to my floor and the employees there specifically...

Most of the night shift could do days...most of us came from there. I'm not sure about the reverse however. It's a totally different flow, and we've got more pts to juggle with less back up on nights. Several of the day nurses probably wouldn't be able to handle it well, especially if our staffing level was at critical...they're too set in their routines and wouldn't handle the difference well. However, there are a few that I would love to have come to nights and I think they'd adjust quickly and do very well with the different set of challenges we face vs what days has to deal with.

Plus we couldn't let just anyone find out how much fun we have on nights when the time allows! :)

Been there done that on days, and I much prefer nights. I do rarely pick up a day shift when the staffing is bad enough to justify me doing so.

Someone else mentioned that in general night shifters are better at adjusting to bouncing around between days and nights already, and I think that holds true as well.

nursie_pants · Mar 9, 2011

Well, I'm a day/night rotator, so I get the best/worst of both worlds. :)

I generally work a couple weeks of nights followed by a couple weeks of days. My nights are 3 in a row and I don't keep up a night schedule when I'm off.

The only thing I like about day shift is the hours of the day. Otherwise, I love nights: fewer ppl, fewer, ancillary staff around, and if you're lucky your patient might sleep 1/2 the night. :)

MisMatch, LPN · Mar 9, 2011

I have worked all 3 shifts, but am a true night shifter and have no intention of changing to days. Never had any of the day shifters in my place work a night shift, but I have stayed over and worked days. The biggest shock is to the CNA's when I pitch in to help them - something they say the day nurses never do, even if they have the time.

Too much chaos, drama, politics and favoritism on days IMHO. Night shifters are better team players and multi-taskers out of necessity. Right now, I work with a great crew who busts butt when needed and has fun when time allows.

loriangel14, RN · Mar 9, 2011

I find that all shifts have good and bad going for them. I work all 3 shifts plus some are 8s and some are 12s. This week i work a 12 hour day, 8 hour day, day off, 8 hour evening, 8 hour day, 8 hour night, 12 hour night, day off. You sleep when you can and make the most of your breaks. Days are busy and fast paced so they go by quickly. Nights are quieter and there is no management or doctors around.If I am luck not too many call bells. But a night shift can be a long night.