Oh, you quirky night shifter you!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

It is a well known fact that some people are nocturnal by nature and I just so happen to be one of THOSE people. Of course I work on the night shift as an RN and I wouldn't have it any other way. Day shift gives me mental hives (yes, it's a real diagnosis...in my mind lol). I have always been more productive at night than I am in the day time and my husband looks at me sideways when I am in full house cleaning mode at midnight. I just came back from getting groceries and I got to the store at 2300. I put my wireless earbuds in my ears, turned on my tunes and danced my way through the aisles. I know some of the workers (and customers) were staring at me but it's all good! Anyone else full of energy after the sun goes down?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

Back when I was a tech, I loved working night shift. However, now that I am a nurse I prefer day shift. I enjoy having normal human hours and not feeling tired all the time. I wish a day time position would open up in my department. My partner is an architect and trying to find time to spend together is hard since one of us is leaving or coming home.

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I literally feel sick when I have to be awake during the day. I can't concentrate and I get nauseous.

I go grocery shopping at 3AM sometimes, but I have to do it at Walmart (not my first choice) because it's the only thing open. I have more choices when I make it out by 10 or 11 in the evening.

I also go to the beach all the time, but I stay pale because it's overnight. :cyclops:

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

I've been working days since March, and it's horrible! Who goes to bed before midnight? Who gets up at 0530? It's just not right!!!

Hopefully by the first of the year I'll be back on nights again where I belong!

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I precept on nights and I LOVE it. I have accepted a position for L&D night shift and I am so looking forward to it. I do not want to work days. The idea of having to be up at 5am to get to work by 7am annoys me. I hated day clinicals. I enjoy the feeling of getting to sleep in. Night Owls UNITE..

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Specializes in OB.

You described me perfectly! 34 years on nights. Someday I'm going to be that old lady in the geriatric unit sitting in the chair by the nurses station all night because she will NOT sleep!

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

I love love working nights. I am never tired at work. However, the drive home is brutal.

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
I love love working nights. I am never tired at work. However, the drive home is brutal.

Some assignments I'm an hour's drive from home. I have at least ten different spots identified along the drive home where it's safe for me to park and catnap so I don't fall asleep at the wheel!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I am naturally nocturnal! Never have been good about going to bed on time and waking up early. I've always felt energetic when it gets dark. I'll go to the grocery store at 11pm, midnight. Cook a huge meal at 02:00. Clean, so laundry, dishes until 06:00. Am usually in bed around 07:00-08:00.

For several reasons I am up early today, and I don't like it :( I will be miserable this afternoon!!!

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

I loved nights for the five years I worked them. Always felt much more alert during my shifts and slept better in the day (I've always been nocturnal). It was a little rough on my days off, being in a small town where nothing but bars and walmart were open past nine, but I had my nightshift buddies to hang out with and my now-husband was deployed on the other side of the world to I liked being awake when he was to talk online.

Now that he's back and works the dayest day shift ever (0400-1900), I work days so I get to see him. I'm always dragging by 1400 though, and I curse that alarm clock every morning. Years of day shift still haven't made me a true daywalker.

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Now that he's back and works the dayest day shift ever (0400-1900), I work days so I get to see him.

Lol @ "dayest shift ever!" It's funny because my husband is the opposite of me and works best in the day. He is a LEO and he recently tried a 6 month stint on nights (1800-1830) and he was not able to adjust very well. I have a 6 year old daughter that seems to be nocturnal like me and it is SO difficult to get her to sleep at night! Now I know how my parents must have felt when I was a kid!

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Specializes in ED; Med Surg.
I also go to the beach all the time, but I stay pale because it's overnight.

No, No, No! You go to the beach after work to sleep. :)

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