Why do night shift nurses get paid more when day shift clearly does MORE work?

mcleanl · Feb 17, 2011

I've worked night and I have worked days......in my experience days is busier.....but I always say night shift should get paid just for showing up!!!!

It is very hard on your body, even when it is your preferred shift. If you think they are getting the better deal, try moving to nights.

tntrn, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

If you have an issue with night shift getting more pay, then go to night shift and do nothing for more money.....although I expect you might change your mind after a week or more.

Erikadawn RN · Feb 17, 2011

You are so right, I worked day shift for the last 21/2 years. I ran around like crazy all day, and still we day never nurses never got itall done. I went to night shift 4 months ago, its the best kept secret. i got paid $5 more an hour, and had my work load reduced by at least 70%. I know people are going to post and say it is not true, but at my job it is.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

I've done both. Day shift has much more work. But night shift was far more difficult-for me, at least. I was thrilled to take the pay cut to live like a normal person.

egglady, LPN · Feb 17, 2011

I work days, and there is NO way in hell I would want nights! they have minimal staff, horrible hours. I had a family member in a ICU recently, and I was there during the night- that nurse would not have had time to "shop online" even if she wanted to. Nope- I will keep my dayshift, without the extra money... Have you ever worked a Night shift?

April, RN, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

Like the previous poster said, they get paid more for the undesirable hours. It's hard on the body, makes it difficult to run errands and make appointments because you sleep during banker's hours, as well as a whole list of other reasons. If shift differential wasn't offered, hospitals would likely have a very hard time staffing nights.

netglow, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

Night people need to make more because their lives are shorter. I'm kidding... maybe.

nurse678 · Feb 17, 2011

I work nightshift, and let me tell you it's not as easy as you make it seem. On my days off in order to spend time with family and do any normal activities, such as attend a birthday party or even go to the bank, I have to switch my entire sleep schedule.

Also on nights, we do not get a set dinner/lunch break. Yes we don't have doctors in and out constantly writing orders...if we need an order we have to call the Dr. in the middle of the night (not always the best experience). We have less ancillary staff, and yet more patient care responsibilities that require that help such as bathing the patient, and getting them in and out of bed. It's very hectic in the mornings!

Remember, the grass is always greener on the other side

Oh yeah and I really only get $1 more for working nights...

leslie :-D · Feb 17, 2011

i've worked days and nights as well.

and my rate for nocs, was substantially higher...

i mean, my pay was premium.

still, i was miserable...MISERABLE, i tell you.:)

i couldn't adjust to sleeping during the day.

that said, i've always been amazed at those who know of nurses who mostly surf on the net.

i can promise you, i was busy, busy, busy (which is what i preferred anyways).

anyways op, i strongly encourage you to work nocs...

and get back to us in a month.

leslie

BettyBoop01 · Feb 17, 2011

I work 7a-7p on a busy ICU step down/cardiac unit. All day long we have countless orders to take off, discharges to do, admits, MANY more meds to give, cath lab patients to deal with (along with sheaths to pull sometimes). Sometimes I only have time for a 15 min lunch if I don't want to stay and chart until 9pm.
Then shift change happens, if I pass along one thing like a UA that the night nurse needs to get from the pt or an order that needs to be taken off that was written at 1730 I get annoyed looks, and they generally treat it like I haven't done anything all day. When in reality I've had 5-6 pts, a full admit to do, and have dealt with an emergency or 2.
On top of all that I get paid LESS than a night nurse who passes 2100 meds along with a sleeping pill to each pt then relaxes most of the night?
Rant over.....No diss to night shift, but if you haven't worked days in years you should learn to understand what we go through at times. I know it can be busy on nights at times, but sheesh, I think the night shift on our floor shops online most of the time.

Switch to nights then, it will be sooo easy. You will get paid more and you can shop online while all your patients sleep. :uhoh3: Ignorance is bliss. Carry on.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

I've worked nights for more than four years.

Once every few months, I pick up a day shift for a change of pace.

Boy, is it nice to be able to take a break off the floor, have a charge nurse that is floating, and more than one tech for 35 patients!

I agree that days is busier. I disagree that it is more difficult.

I get to work at 7PM. I usually have a few empty beds, or I'm discharging a few people. That means I'll be getting admissions. The techs go on their breaks at this time.

Then, the next thing you know it's 11 and our staff is reduced to a skeleton. If we have a sitter case, we will sit it ourselves. Our charge nurse takes a full assignment.

If I have an issue in the middle of the night, I have to wait for a callback from the oncall doctor who has more than likely never laid an eye on the patient. I also have to debate on what issues are worth calling an oncall doctor about at that time.

If my chart checks are not pristine, I'm getting pulled into the office. It doesn't matter if I have to get orders clarified that should have been dealt with while I was sleeping.

My total care patients have to get washed up or I'm getting pulled into the office. Never mind if my total care patients are alert and oriented, and, dangnabbit, want to sleep at night.

Only one staff member may leave the floor at a time because of fall risk at night. But we're not allowed to document that we didn't have a break because we have "down time."

Also, you know when sundowning happens. Ditto with a lot of mental status changes, and codes.

But I'll take it. Sure beats forty billion ancillary staff, doctors and family members in my work space.