Why I LOVE night shift

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

I have worked night shift for the vast majority of my nursing career. Although the hours and working conditions are sometimes tough, I would never consider switching to day shift.

Night shift staff, in general, are a different breed of species. We thrive off of coffee, adrenaline, and critical thinking.

I love that night shift has more of a family feeling, a camradarie I have rarely seen on the day shift. You scratch my back; I scratch your back.

I love that night shifters are more individualistic...I can be myself without having to worry if what i say or do will be misread or misconstrued as being offensive.

I love that night shift has its own rythem....usually insanity the first 5 hours, followed by a short lull at midnight.

I love that night shift staff can speak their minds and do their jobs more efficently without having to walk on eggshells or water down what comes out of their mouths.

I love that night shift staff arent watched like children in a playpen by the mid level and upper level managers just looking for an error to point out (no matter how insignificant).

I love that night shift staff get things done in conventional and unconventional ways - methods that day shift staff would panic over.

What happens on night shift, stays on night shift.

Yes, I think i will stay on nights for the rest of my career!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I work the night shift to minimize my contact with management, doctors, visitors, dietary, PT, OT, case management, medical records, vendors, and those hovering family members who like to verbally abuse staff and tell people how to do their jobs. When I report to work, I really hope that all of these people are planning to catch up on their sleep!

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So true about night shifters! The other night we each had 4 pts. An admit came in at 0400. Soooo, of course, they give it to the newbie...me! Then they stepped up, each took a part of the admit and we had it wrapped up in 15 min!!!! Great nurses on the night shift! :D

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Awesome !!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in LDRP.

I'll be switching to nights in a month and have been pretty nervous about it - so thank you for this!!

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Specializes in Psych.

I've been working as a nurse for 6 months with 4 of those on night shift. I absolutely love night shift! Every time we get an admission one person does the search (psych facility) the next does the chart and the primary nurse does the admission interview. We can knock out a full admission in 15-20 min. flat. I also love that if I step off the floor for 5 minutes and a patient needs something my co-workers help out. I swear on day shift they'd page you just to give tylenol prn for a headache. Anytime I have a patient i'm iffy about my co-workers immediately offer to assess and put in their :twocents:. Above all I love that management isn't there. On day shift they would come around with a laundry list of things that needed to be done.

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Specializes in Pedi.
I have worked night shift for the vast majority of my nursing career. Although the hours and working conditions are sometimes tough, I would never consider switching to day shift.

Night shift staff, in general, are a different breed of species. We thrive off of coffee, adrenaline, and critical thinking.

I love that night shift has more of a family feeling, a camradarie I have rarely seen on the day shift. You scratch my back; I scratch your back.

I love that night shifters are more individualistic...I can be myself without having to worry if what i say or do will be misread or misconstrued as being offensive.

I love that night shift has its own rythem....usually insanity the first 5 hours, followed by a short lull at midnight.

I love that night shift staff can speak their minds and do their jobs more efficently without having to walk on eggshells or water down what comes out of their mouths.

I love that night shift staff arent watched like children in a playpen by the mid level and upper level managers just looking for an error to point out (no matter how insignificant).

I love that night shift staff get things done in conventional and unconventional ways - methods that day shift staff would panic over.

What happens on night shift, stays on night shift.

Yes, I think i will stay on nights for the rest of my career!

My favorite part of nights is that there's no management around to baby-sit us. And I agree that there is definitely more camaraderie. One night a while back, I had a severe headache that wouldn't go away and after a co-worker saw me take either Tylenol or Motrin for probably the 3rd time, she brought me into our treatment room and did Reiki on me. That could never happen on day-shift. God forbid we don't spend every free minute we have documenting....

The only thing I disagree with [or I guess more that isn't true at my facility more than I disagree with] is that what happens on night shift stays on night shift. Management has their spies on nights as well.

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Specializes in Non-Oncology Infusion currently.

SO TRUE!!! If only we were't working against our body's natural rhythms....that is what I worry about. Long term fall out from working nights forever is questionable.

It IS my family though and I love the climate of the hospital at that time.

Stupidest thing I hear a lot...."oh....you work nights. That must be so nice because the patients are sleeping all night". ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!!

CHEERS to all my fellow night shifters everywhere

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Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

Kudos to all who love and plans to stay nights forever. I have been working nights for the past 5 months and I really don't like it anymore. No way I can do it forever. I am staying on nights until I find a position on my desired specialty.

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Ugh except that my body is so confused on my days off and my nights on i do enjoy night shift.. I feel as a new nurse i've learned to stand on my own better being a night shifter. I have some coworkers who will helpn out, but most others turn their heads. I love being able to call rapid responses, and other critical judgements without second guessing myself. I really think night shift has helped me really get my career off to a good start. and if i have dire questions for upper management they are usually in at 6a or 7a if i haven't yet figured it out.

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I have always been a night owl, and I loved night shifts for all the above reasons. The camaraderie, the autonomy, and of course, everything is going at night in a busy ER. Day shift has an entirely different mentality. I am no longer working, but I have the memories, lol.

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Specializes in LTC.

I usually work nights but filled in on day shift today. It was hell. I had to deal with management, family, docs, pt, ot and constant interruptions. I can't wait to go back to nights. Yes fighting against nature is hard at times but the pros outweigh the cons at this point....

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