night shifts....

[uk_nurse]

Does any one do permanent nights or more nights than days. I have been asked if i would like to do premanent nights. (4 nights a week) I have weighed up ads and disads but cant fully make up my mind. I have a hubby and 3 young children (11yrs.7yrs and 5 yrs old) My hubby has just said 'it's up to you' so i thought i would get some advice from you people. Thanks :)

[uk_nurse]

thanks again for all ur replies. I'm on nights next week after doing days this week. I must admit i like my nights. I do 10 and 3 quarter hours a night compared to 14 hrs a day on days. I do 4 nights whereas on days i work 3. Going to give nights a try tho

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Worked nights for 6 years now...

I agree with ImaStork about being more confident in myself because I work nights. You have to be a little more independent and assertive when it comes to things like needing to wake up the docs. I know what problems can wait until morning, and what problems need to be dealt with STAT. I notice a major difference when nurses from Days rotate to Nocs. They are often calling the docs at all hours to do things that can totally wait until the morning! It's like if things aren't perfect, they need the doc to fix everything RIGHT THEN, because that's often how it is on Days in our unit. Whereas permanent Noc nurses are able to be a little more laid-back, and the relationship we develop with the docs is totally different. Most of the time, if we're calling them at 3am with a concern, they KNOW it's important and that they need to get out onto the unit right away. This might be just my unit though, so no flames!

I've actually worked with nurses from days who will call a doctor in the middle of the night to renew baby vitamin orders that don't even expire until the next afternoon. BABY VITAMINS!!! Please, let the doc sleep so that when there's an emergency, they'll be a little more alert! I know they're not paid to sleep, but if I have a code at 4am, I'd prefer that my doctor got an hour or two of rest!