Time For Another Days vs. Nights Debate!

beckster_01, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2012

On my unit the only groups of nurses that do NOT work alternating days/nights are the weekend contractors and management. There is no "us vs. them" mentality. As one who works 50% days and 50% nights, I can say that when it comes to work load, night shift is easier. What makes night shift difficult for me (and the reason that I do not work straight nights) are two things.

1) There are very few resources on nights compared to days. I have been a nurse for a year and a half, and when I work nights it is not uncommon for me to be the most experienced person working. When I am charge I am taking care of my own 5-6 patient assignment, as well as the rest of the floor. It is stressful for me and while I don't mind it when that happens 2-3 times a month, I don't want it to happen 1-2 times per week.

2) Working nights messes with my personal life. I am not good at converting from nights to days. I got off of work on Thursday morning, slept for an hour, then I had to get up to go to a meeting. After that I couldn't make myself go to bed until 10pm. I probably could adjust if I had to, but for now I enjoy the variety of working both shifts.

Vespertinas · Apr 6, 2012

Good question, Pepper. It depends on what attitude the floor or individual RNs have adopted. If it truly is 24h nursing, then there should be no problem saying to the oncoming RN, "I am sorry I did not get to complete this task. Would you please follow through tonight?" Of course depending on the answer you get, one can sometimes understand how an 'us versus them' attitude can arise.

LynnLRN · Apr 6, 2012

Night shift is def. easier. The night shifters where I worked were a bunch of babies in my opinion, they always cried about how busy they were. But I think they had been babied for a while (they never had to do aid type work because they for some reason got to have 3 aids, which is more than we had on days). So then when the new budget came out and it was decreased to 2 when we were full they all started complaining about how busy they were because they had "less" sitting around chatting/gossiping time. I think business is relative, I think you get used to what your doing so then if it changes it stresses people out.

But my argument based on experience: On days (where i work anyway) the nurse gets 5 pts and aid help with 3 (or 4 with 2 aid help). Meaning the nurse has to do toileting/walks/baths for 2 of their pts and then help out with the other pts if the aid is busy. The nurse also has more meds, more pt education, discharges, admits, more phone calls with Dr./nutrition/pharmacy/care management and has to deal with family. Night shift tasks, a couple meds, turns/toileting, blood draws (days also has to do these), admits. Plus on nights typically there may be 2-3 trouble makers but the rest of the patients are SLEEPING. Night shift where I work has 6 patients and aid help with 3. Day shift nurses have way more to do, the argument isn't even close! I worked nights for 2 years then switched to days, so at my place of work, night shift gets NO SYMPATHY from me.

LynnLRN · Apr 6, 2012

Oh and its funny when night shift will complain in staff meetings that they are so busy blah blah blah. But then they always say we can't do those tasks on nights because the "pts are sleeping".

OCNRN63, RN · Apr 6, 2012

Why does it have to me "us against them" ? Why can't we just accept that nursing is a 24 hour job with each shift having its own challenges!

Because we need somebody to hate on, silly! :)

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Apr 6, 2012

You have more patients at night so you work every bit as hard as days....

Further, you are up all freaking night.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2012

I work permanent nights. It depends where you work. Both shifts are busy where I am. Why the need for the debate again?

beeker · Apr 7, 2012

Night shift is def. easier. The night shifters where I worked were a bunch of babies in my opinion, they always cried about how busy they were. But I think they had been babied for a while (they never had to do aid type work because they for some reason got to have 3 aids, which is more than we had on days). So then when the new budget came out and it was decreased to 2 when we were full they all started complaining about how busy they were because they had "less" sitting around chatting/gossiping time. I think business is relative, I think you get used to what your doing so then if it changes it stresses people out.
But my argument based on experience: On days (where i work anyway) the nurse gets 5 pts and aid help with 3 (or 4 with 2 aid help). Meaning the nurse has to do toileting/walks/baths for 2 of their pts and then help out with the other pts if the aid is busy. The nurse also has more meds, more pt education, discharges, admits, more phone calls with Dr./nutrition/pharmacy/care management and has to deal with family. Night shift tasks, a couple meds, turns/toileting, blood draws (days also has to do these), admits. Plus on nights typically there may be 2-3 trouble makers but the rest of the patients are SLEEPING. Night shift where I work has 6 patients and aid help with 3. Day shift nurses have way more to do, the argument isn't even close! I worked nights for 2 years then switched to days, so at my place of work, night shift gets NO SYMPATHY from me.

I wish the patients were sleeping! Confused patients don't know it is night time. Ortho patients have pain all night. PCAs aren't all that useful at night because if you fall asleep you wake up hurting often. On my floor, very few people actually sleep. Maybe it is just my floor?

Ok I see you did work nights. Your floor must be very different from mine.

beeker · Apr 7, 2012

I had a suspicion that night shift hospital nursing was easier than days but I was afraid to say it out loud without personal experience first. Then I did a 2 year "investigation" and to be honest, my suspicions were confirmed. When I felt more confident to start bringing this up, my night shift co-workers replied that they ARE just as busy but in a "different" way. I even tried to have my close friend (whose nursing practice I respect) level with me but she INSISTED that she feels that day and night shift are equally busy. She's also worked both shifts.
I'm baffled at this difference in opinion but, at the risk of being excommunicated, I do declare that night shift is easy....er (less hard?)

We have more patients. We have few resources. Methinks this thread is obviously started to cause some drama. Save the drama for your mama!

Woodenpug, BSN · Apr 7, 2012

One thing about nights not mentioned so far....fewer administrative types. That alone is why I love nights.

Since the work is so much easier, I wonder why night shift gets the differential? Wouldn't most people want less work and more pay? Night shift should be overstaffed with a waiting list. Why do we have a waiting list for the lesser paid harder work on days?

Vespertinas · Apr 7, 2012

I wish the patients were sleeping! Confused patients don't know it is night time. Ortho patients have pain all night. PCAs aren't all that useful at night because if you fall asleep you wake up hurting often. On my floor, very few people actually sleep. Maybe it is just my floor?
Ok I see you did work nights. Your floor must be very different from mine.

When I worked night, I always had a patient or two who were keeping me busy the whole time with pain and/or confusion or something to that effect. I sometimes felt like it didn't make sense that it's night and that NONE of my patients seemed to be sleeping. But the frustration comes from the expectation that EVERYONE should be sleeping and I should have very little to do. Looking back, the indignation tickles me.

I work permanent nights. It depends where you work. Both shifts are busy where I am. Why the need for the debate again?

Because while I have read a few of these threads, I've never actually participated in one and doggone it I'm stirring the pot. I just like some activity. If someone doesn't want to participate, then I encourage them to not take this personally and move on.

p.s. I hear a lot of posters saying they have more patients on night. That wasn't the case for me.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 7, 2012

nights has fewer management types, fewer consult services, fewer road trips, no pt, no ot and no social work. pastoral care doesn't come at night. (sw and pastoral care both take up inordinate amounts of my time talking about the patient rather than just going to see the patient.) no meals to feed, fewer visitors. it would be the perfect shift if it weren't for the unfortunate fact that it happens at night.

really, i think both shifts are equally busy, although as previously mentioned, in different ways. if i get an slow half hour or so to sit and chat on the night shift, i think it makes up for the days i've had to run all shift without a break.

i rotate, so i see both sides.