Oh, you quirky night shifter you!

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

Night person working day shift (0700-1530). It's ROUGH! Even rougher getting back to day hours after a couple days off. I automatically go back to a more nocturnal schedule.

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Guess what? There's actually a genetic difference in those of us who are 'owls' vs. those 'lark' losers! It's found on the CLOCK gene (really!)

I did my MSN research and am doing my DNP project on all things night shift. 38 years and I am still happy with my choice of shift.

I never really researched this topic but I figured there was some sort of genetic component involved in my nocturnal-ness (you like that word, don't ya lol). My dad is still a night owl in his early 70s and my little girl has earned mini night owl status. I think it's fascinating that some people have a completely flipped internal clock.

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Specializes in Critical care.

4 kids, two owls two larks, guess it's not a dominant gene 50/50. I am the owl.

Cheers

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Here's another laud for the night shift! I could do day stuff if I could just sleep 'till 9......

I went to rotating eves and nights my grad year, and haven't really looked back. Did some months at LTC on days (shudder), but honestly have never wanted to claim my "seniority privilege" of taking permanant days. People sometimes ask about me being on nights, and I assure them that 30 years of it isn't enough.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
I love love working nights. I am never tired at work. However, the drive home is brutal.

I have found this is tough, too and I thought it was just me not getting to adjust since I have to flip flop. There's something about when the sun is up and it's so warm on your face and :angrybird9: It makes me relish getting home and showering and lying down and just passing out. It is the best.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
Congrats on your job! I wondered what you decided on. Sorry you got so much crap in one of your recent posts. It's just what happens sometimes I guess.

Thanks! I'm really excited. And yeah, BUT the good outweighs the bad, so it's all good:)

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
Love this thread! I'm going back to nights in a new job I start next week. I'm terrified to go back! Good to hear that people do actually love it.

Nights are awesome. You feel like you get to sleep in most of the day, night shift is less work for more pay, don't have to deal with rude doctors and there is TONS more teamwork among the staff. I was made for the night shift.

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I am a natural nightshifter. I've known this for a long time, but it was confirmed when I was on active duty and found myself rising around 0300/0400 every day (UGHHH!), only to be overtaken by a second wind around 2000 and unable to sleep.

While I love nights for my working life, I hate them for my social schedule! My husband works normal people hours and it's difficult when we are essentially passing in the night. I also enjoy vacations and I have to travel to see many of my family and friends, and I do NOT transition back to days very prettily.

Daytime classes are also a huge problem for me, though I feel this should be one of those problems we left back in the 1940's. (I mean, seriously, hospitals? Have you not figured out that close to 50% of your workers will want to stab you if you schedule all your classes from 0900-1700??).

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Specializes in pediatrics; PICU; NICU.

As of a few months ago, I've been a night shifter for 40 years. I started nights as a nurse's aide when I started nursing school & have never looked back. I made the colossal mistake of taking a day shift position after I got married 8 years ago & I only lasted a month before I begged to go back to nights.

The hardest thing about nights is getting friends to understand that they are not to call or drop by in the middle of the day. One of my friends used to make a habit of calling me around noon every day. She stopped doing it after getting calls from me 3 nights in a row at 0200. I just wanted to chat.

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Specializes in Postpartum, Med Surg, Home Health.

I love love love the noc shift! I am a night owl as well! And I think the teamwork is better on nocs as well

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

On my days off I sleep a little during the day. Take another nap around 10/11pm and wake up around 3am ready for whatever. I'm fully dressed as we speak waiting for HEB plus to open so I can go get my meal prep groceries. Lol

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I just want to say I love this thread! I'm in my first hospital job as a nurse and was doing days on orientation. When my orientation was done I was told the need for staffing on my unit was on nights (that's a whole other story). I was so scared this would be the worst thing that ever happened to me. I'm rotating days and nights monthly at this point and going to just nights starting in January. I love it! I still feel like part of me is "giving up days", but it's so great to hear other people that love it too. Instead of people who cringe when I tell them I'm on nights.

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