night shifts....

bellehill, RN · Jan 8, 2004

I have been working the 7P-7A shift for over 2 years and I love it. I don't have kids so can't help you there. I think the nightshift has better staff relationships since we need to rely on each other (no support staff). The best part....NO MANAGERS!!!!!!!

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jan 8, 2004

I can't imagine having to switch back and forth between shifts. I am a night person though and have worked nights as a nurse for the past 11 years. My advice would be to take a night shift position to try it out and then try to get on days if you don't like nights. Almost everywhere I've worked new grads almost always take night positions for several months (sometimes longer) while they are on a list to go to the day shift. Some of them find out they like night shift, some find out they just can't function.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2004

I worked nights for several years. Your family has to be cooperative or it will not work. This means they have to respect your sleep time! You cannot be awakened till your rest period is over NO MATTER WHAT. You cannot sleep a few hours in the morning and a few in the afternoon---it has to be consecutive in order to prevent med errors, falling asleep at the wheel, etc. Other than that, I liked it.

hoppermom3 · Jan 8, 2004

I worked night shift in LTC as a CNA when my oldest was little. I loved it. I am a night owl anyway. Hubby and I are arguing over whether I will look for a night shift job when I finish school. He is a morning person and cannot imaging why anyone would want to work nights.

Nurse1202 · Jan 8, 2004

I LOVE NIGHT SHIFT!!!! I have been a nurse almost 3 years and I have worked nights since graduating. I felt the same ambivalence, but I decided to give it a try. Nights allows for a greater amount of independence in your practice (my opinion), because you have less support, such as staff, other therapies, and management. There are some cons but the pros are many. The nursing staff can only rely on each other for help. There is a whole different level of friendship, because you have to work together more closely. If you are a new graduate, it is a good experience in learning organization, prioritizing, and decision making without the craziness of day shift. (To the day shifters out there: a salute, because I couldn't do it, I don't have the patience) Night shift is not as crazy as day shift, but by no means will you sit on your keister and eat Bon Bons. ( I actually had a day shift nurse say that to me, but she changed her attitude after I challenged her to fill in on a short staffed night):chuckle

Whatever you decide: there is always an option to change shifts later, depending on the facility's policy, usually 3-9 months. Good Luck!!!

dphrn · Jan 8, 2004

Originally posted by purplemania
I worked nights for several years. Your family has to be cooperative or it will not work. This means they have to respect your sleep time! You cannot be awakened till your rest period is over NO MATTER WHAT. You cannot sleep a few hours in the morning and a few in the afternoon---it has to be consecutive in order to prevent med errors, falling asleep at the wheel, etc. Other than that, I liked it.

I agree with this 100%. It takes the whole family to make this shift work. You have very young children though. I worked night shift the last two years.

It did become difficult to sleep at times. One thing or another always seemed to come up, no matter how hard you tried. My husband and kids were great, but it was always something.

I think there are pros and cons to each shift, as all were stated already. It is usually a shift you love or hate. Unfortuately, you don't know until you try it. I thought I kind of liked it until I stopped doing it six months ago.

I feel my health actually suffered while I was on night shift. I gained weight (eating dinner at 0200 isn't normal), I always felt tired, no matter how much sleep I got that day. I usually felt like I was in a fog for a few days after working my shifts...and I only did two in a row. I just didn't feel "good".

Now that I am back on days, I lost the extra weight I gained, and I feel like my old self again. I feel good again. This was my two year experience on nights. I would ask if I could work a schedule on nights before I committed to it fully. You need to work more than just a few shifts to know if it is for you or not.

rn-jane · Jan 8, 2004

I started straight nights over ten years ago, used to work days/nights. At times it is not an easy shift, have to be more open to doing things on your own, but their are always a support staff if you need their help. I think perm nights is heck lot easier than days/nights, you can get on a reg sleep schedule. People think nights are easier, i think they can be tough but no procedures docs or upper mgmt to get in your way. I love nights! I started nights because my kids were little and wanted to be home when they came home from school, now they in their mid teens and don't need mom as much.

rollingstone · Jan 8, 2004

I've worked 12 hour MN's for 12 years now. Wouldn't think of working day shift. On work days I'm in bed by 10am and up at 5pm. I black out the windows so the room is dark and sleep soundly.

Dragonnurse1, ASN, RN · Jan 8, 2004

Nights Rule:D

Worked nights for 10 years . My children were young when I started and I wanted to be up and at home after school. It worked great for me. We had several staffers that were nights only. Several of the Docs were nights only as well.

But you have to find out for yourself. I am a night person by nature. Never could get anywhere at 6 AM. When the sun came up I felt like I should burst into flame (like vampire). So you have to know your bodies circadian cycle.

Also nights means you do not have to put up with the suits, you know, management. I would never work days. Or Evenings for that matter.

See if the hospital will let you try the shift for 2 months. Then decide. (Usually nights carries a shift diff as well)

TraumaQueen · Jan 8, 2004

Night shift is THE bomb!

I worked on days for a very short period of time when I was on orientation a few years ago, and the difference in personalities between the day and night nurses is HUGE. (no offense) The night nurses are so much more laid back, we take everything in stride..... We all get along, and the day nurses are constantly bickering and complaining about -everything/anything-. :)

I have 3 kids, and a husband that's willing to get up in the morning and get them off to school.

It took them a while to understand you should not wake the green-eyed monster after she stayed up all night long, without a REALLY good reason.

It's really hard for me to get back on a 'normal people' sleep schedule on my days off. Sometimes I try, and sometimes I just stay on my night schedule since my kids are in school all day anyway.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 8, 2004

If you are naturally a morning person, working nights is probably not a good idea.

It can work well with a family. I worked straight nights for several years. My kids were up getting ready for school when I got home. They went to a babysitter for a couple of hours after school. I got up when my husband brought them home. I had the evening at home, then went to work (worked 8 hours as opposed to 12). If you have the family cooperation, it can work quite well.

You really *must* get your sleep, however. If you can't bear to turn the telephone ringer off "just in case" you will get interrupted. I turned the ringer off, had voice mail, and made sure the school knew to call their dad in case of emergency. If worst came to worst, he would've come home and woken me up. I put a sign on the door, darkened the windows, used earplugs and a "white noise" machine, and slept like a log. You also have to be careful about your caffiene consumption and watch what and when you eat, but again, it can work quite well.

The worst part was people who flat refused to understand that when I said I worked at night, I didn't mean 8 PM, I meant 2 AM! Again, a sign on the door, turning off the ringer, etc. really helps with that.

I did like having more independence, not having all the "extra" people around, etc. I'm naturally a night owl- now working in a daytime world, unfortunately!