What do you like most?

PMFB-RN, RN · Mar 24, 2013

About night shift. Starting this week on night shift and I need some moral support :)

No nurse managers! Fewer patient families. Fewer and less experienced physicians. In my hopsital at least a lot more money. Best of all standing outside bars waiting for them to open at 8AM. Just NOC RNs and hard core drunks at that time of the day.

Tait, MSN, RN · Mar 24, 2013

I spent over four years on night shift and loved the quiet. While it could definitely always be busy, there was something about the slower hum of the hospital at night. I also loved providing quiet, competent care for my patients by focusing on pain and sleep management. Night shift gives you more time with charts so you can dig deeper into progress notes (if you can read them!) and sometimes you discover things about a patient at night that directly translate to care during the day.

The only thing I didn't like was missing my husband a lot.

Best of luck!

Tait

eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2013

Less turnover than days. Slightly higher pay. Less dealing with every other department. Nights on my floor are much more team oriented too (since we get less staff than days).

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

RNperdiem, RN · Mar 24, 2013

Day shift is so loud!

On nights, the phone doesn't ring so much, visitors are less common, no large flocks of doctors sweeping through the unit.

I work days, and when I go to lunch and am alone in the breakroom, I turn off the TV to escape the noise.

Kitsha88 · Mar 25, 2013

The pay for sure is a definite perk, also more quiet and slightly less hectic. Being able to focus on pts without EVERYONE coming to disrupt you (doctors, nurse managers, visitors, dietary, PT, OT, administration, radiology, case management, representatives from various companies, etc)..... Oh and I would go to the grocery store at about midnight, because that was during my wakeful hours and there would be no one there so that's kinda cool lol.

Just make sure to get yourself some blackout curtains (they helped me tons with adjusting when I did nights) :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2013

I enjoy nights due to less doctors, fewer family members, no coworkers from other disciplines (PT, dietary, social work, etc.), and no nurse managers. Most of all, I like the fact that the night shift staff where I work has better teamwork and more cohesiveness than day shift.

loriangel14, RN · Mar 25, 2013

Less people. No management.No families.

I am a night owl and I sleep better during the day.I love going home and crawling into bed in the morning.

texasmum · Mar 25, 2013

Thanks everyone! Planning on making a trip tomorrow to look for some type of blackout curtain/device. Main problem is my bedroom has a gorgeous stained glass window - at the top of a really high ceiling! Love it but can't quite figure out how to handle it : ) Keep any more tips coming. I love them!

Rhi007 · Mar 25, 2013

I work in the ED so the best nights for night shift are Friday,Saturday,Sunday,Monday

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2013

Thanks everyone! Planning on making a trip tomorrow to look for some type of blackout curtain/device. Main problem is my bedroom has a gorgeous stained glass window - at the top of a really high ceiling! Love it but can't quite figure out how to handle it : ) Keep any more tips coming. I love them!

Get a good eye mask, and don't worry about the windows.

All masks are not created equal-- mine has a sort of roll around the edges so it doesn't lie against my eyelids (I can even open my eyes underneath it) and when I put it on it's as if it isn't even there. Heavenly.

proud nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2013

What I like the most is that I can handle my business during the day (grocery shopping, MD appointments, making phone calls, having stuff delivered) without needing to take off or do it after working day shift.

Work-wise, I like that it's generally quieter. Seems that night shifters are a different breed of people, who tend to be more laid back IMO.