The skinny on working nights

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Hi folks. So, I was ridiculously lucky and got an L&D day shift position right out to school. I love it. Problem is I am moving home next year and I will more that likely be on nights. My question is, if you work nights, do you love it or hate it? Does it make your life unbearably harder, are you tired all the time. Do you feel like you never get to see your family/significant other? I am also a little worried about the resources available at night in the hospital. Just want to hear the ins and outs of night shift on L&D.

Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.
My biggest problem with nights is trying to diet. My whole body is out of whack because it never knows when it's supposed to be hungry, lol.

My advice is, first off, eat well! Make sure you get plenty of fruits and veggies. With that said, I have a HUGE dinner (largely because I am sleeping during lunch), some fruit and soup around 12M or 1a, and then I pack some breakfast (yogurt, cereal, etc.) to have between 5a and 7a. That way, you're not eating a huge fat-laden meal at 1a and still maintaining a normal-ish schedule.

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Specializes in med/surg, home health, oncology, psych.
OK, so riddle me this-- how do you nurse a baby while working nights?

Same as if you're working days, you pump at work and take the milk home. I work nights on a floor where there's been a nurse either pregnant or nursing for the past couple of years and a lot of moms prefer nights so they're home when their baby is more awake (more as they're a little older). They're not sleeping much anyway. . .

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Specializes in L&D, Orthopedics & Public Health.
OK, so riddle me this-- how do you nurse a baby while working nights?

Hate to say it, but you have to pump and store. Then if you are working, the person taking care of the little one will have to give the baby a bottle. There is really no other way. Unless the baby can come to work with you and thats not likely. Good Luck

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Specializes in L&D, Orthopedics & Public Health.
My advice is, first off, eat well! Make sure you get plenty of fruits and veggies. With that said, I have a HUGE dinner (largely because I am sleeping during lunch), some fruit and soup around 12M or 1a, and then I pack some breakfast (yogurt, cereal, etc.) to have between 5a and 7a. That way, you're not eating a huge fat-laden meal at 1a and still maintaining a normal-ish schedule.

I agree, when I was working night though, I have to say that I was able to lose weight better or faster b/c I did just as you've stated above. Now that I've been doing days, I've put on a few unwanted pounds.

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Hate to say it, but you have to pump and store. Then if you are working, the person taking care of the little one will have to give the baby a bottle. There is really no other way. Unless the baby can come to work with you and thats not likely. Good Luck

Well of course I will pump and store!:) I just wondered if anyone who had done it had any advice specific to nights. Thanks, though!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab, HH.

I love nites, works best for my family. I go to work after the kids are in bed, and I am home when they get home from school. On days they have no school, I am home. If they are sick, I am home. During summer months or holidays, I am home. Waiting for a package to be delivered? I am home. Orthodontist appt at 2pm, I am available. I am able to do "MOM things" where if I were working day shift, I would not be able to - as easily.

Also, its nicer at work....no bosses around(too many chiefs can cause problems!!) no visitors, no physical therapy, no meals to serve, NO state inspections!!!(those cause everyone to panic-even when your prepared)

Comraderie among staff is better at nite. Everyone helps each other.

ONLY bad thing, is snow. Roads are bad at nite.

Hands down, nites are pretty good. just have to make sure sleep is done at home, and you eat right:)

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

My ds was weaned by the time I went to nights. A lot of the girls I work nights (12hrs) with that have had babies have done this: get there a little early so you can pump before starting your shift. Pump once on an early break (21-22ish) if you can, and pump at lunch (01-03ish) and you should be ready to feed baby again when you get home.

Some girls have their dh's bring baby to them during the day when it's nursing time. Others have them feed baby w/ what they've pumped overnight and supplement as needed w/ formula.

I'm gonna be honest and say that I am worried about this issue myself with baby #2 when/if we have one. 12+ hours is a long time for a nursing mom to be away from her baby.

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Specializes in OB.

For me, you'd have to pay me shift diff to work days! Hate days, love nights!

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You have to train your body and YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. No one thought twice about calling me in the middle of the day, when I certainly would not pick up the phone to dial them at 2am. I have been doing this for only 4 months now and they still do not get it for the most part. Turn your phone off, have a dark room and it works best for me if I go straight to bed as soon as I get home. I also work 3 / 12's. Good luck!

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Specializes in Rehab, CICU, ICU Pulmonary, ER, OB.
OK, so riddle me this-- how do you nurse a baby while working nights?

I worked swing shifts as a PCT/PCA/CNA, whatever your facilitate calls them while nursing. I found that night shift is MUCH easier on a nursing mother than day shift was. When I worked nights I was able to sneak away and pump easier than when I worked days. On night shift this is what I did for when I worked. I only work 15 minutes away from home, so you'll have to adjust time/s for your drive: 4:30pm - shower. 5pm - eat dinner with the older kids. 5:30pm dishes to the dishwaser 5:45 - 6:20ish nurse as much as baby would nurse. Then once at work I would get done everything I would need to do so that at 9:30/10ish I could pump (what would be her last feeding before the long sleep) then I would take lunch at 2:30am eat then pump around 3am. (which was around her night feeding time) then I would sometimes, depending on how 'full' I felt I would sometimes pump just a ounce or two out of each breast so that she didn't drowned in milk when I got home. A lot of times I would catch her just waking up so she would lay with me for a while and nurse and nurse then she would get up with whoever was watching her that day (my mom or husband) and I would get up and nurse her to sleep for nap time at noon, then we would get up around 2pm for the day.

On day shift I could rarely find time to pump, I don't know if it was actually day shift or the fact I was HUC'ing on day shift.

My best advice is try to stay on your babies schedule, it helps your supply stay up and your breast don't ache while at work.

Good luck

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Specializes in OB/GYN & Med/Surg.

I have never had a baby, but one of my coworkers has been nursing for 2 years, all working nights. She just made sure she took time to pump. She doesn't pump @ work any more since her son only nurses very infrequently any more, but she definitely used to! :up:

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Specializes in OB/GYN & Med/Surg.

as far as working nights, i love it! yes, it does take time to get (especially) family & friends to not call during the day... for me, it was a battle trying to even keep salesmen from calling me when i was in the market for a new vehicle! :banghead: (needless to say, i didn't buy from any of those that called during the day after i specifically asked them to call after 5pm.)

anyways, back to my answer... i love nights! although sometimes it can leave you understaffed for the amount of pts & needs present, most of the time it is calm enough to be able to get your work done before you get "another" admission. also, it can be a downer for family/significant other time... you just have to learn to remind them to ask about your schedule before going to make big plans. thankfully it hasn't dipped into my time with my boyfriend yet... we're still together after almost 2 years, all of which i have worked night shift! :wink2: good luck! :up:

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