Why do night shift nurses get paid more when day shift clearly does MORE work?

Mrs. Sparkle Pants · Feb 17, 2011

Oh man, you just opened a can of worms...

LegzRN · Feb 17, 2011

I work 7a-7p on a busy ICU step down/cardiac unit. All day long we have countless orders to take off, discharges to do, admits, MANY more meds to give, cath lab patients to deal with (along with sheaths to pull sometimes). Sometimes I only have time for a 15 min lunch if I don't want to stay and chart until 9pm.
Then shift change happens, if I pass along one thing like a UA that the night nurse needs to get from the pt or an order that needs to be taken off that was written at 1730 I get annoyed looks, and they generally treat it like I haven't done anything all day. When in reality I've had 5-6 pts, a full admit to do, and have dealt with an emergency or 2.
On top of all that I get paid LESS than a night nurse who passes 2100 meds along with a sleeping pill to each pt then relaxes most of the night?
Rant over.....No diss to night shift, but if you haven't worked days in years you should learn to understand what we go through at times. I know it can be busy on nights at times, but sheesh, I think the night shift on our floor shops online most of the time.

Wow... I wish you were only joking. I saw there that you mentioned you "only" got a 15 min lunch. Hmm... lunch.. I seem to have forgotten what that is.

kessadawn, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

OP, please come work a nightshift in my PICU, and then tell me again how dang easy I have it. Less LIP availability in emergencies, NO techs, rarely a secretary, minimal staffing with the highest acuity in the hospital. Yes, we make less road trips, but yours are prescheduled, mine are emergent, have you ever done chest compressions in a CT scanner or in the freaking elevator? Not cool. I don't doubt that you have busy day. Don't doubt that I don't either. I have NEVER shopped online at work, just so you know. I very frequently go without a break, we have to cover each other most of the time, and we are ALL busy. Oh, and it is perfectly acceptable to call me at noon between shifts to wake me up to see if will come in early. No one calls you at 2am, do they? The truth is, we both have busy jobs, but until you have walked in MY shoes, you don't know jack. :twocents:

:madface:

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Feb 17, 2011

The nurses in our unit get on a wait list up to 2 years long to go to Days; where they work harder and get paid less. Most discuss how their paychecks will be affected. About one out of 20 comes back to nights, the rest put up with the harder work and lower pay.

Night shift means you are not compatible with normal society, I get paid for that.

I have worked both and have found my happy spot on nights/weekends.

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

Because working nights goes against most people's circadian rhythms, and working nights has been found to increase the incidence of cancer, diabetes, overweight, depression, and a whole host of other things.

Consider it hazard pay. :)

SeeTheMoon · Feb 17, 2011

I'm not a nurse yet, but from what I've heard and read on AN, they must get paid more b/c they have 2 wake the almighty docs from their sleep...tee hee...

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

Rant over.....No diss to night shift, but if you haven't worked days in years you should learn to understand what we go through at times. I know it can be busy on nights at times, but sheesh, I think the night shift on our floor shops online most of the time.

Grrr. I admit, I had to sit on my hands to not post a bunch of profanities at this.

I've worked nights, and I've worked days. I've known plenty of lazy-ass day shift nurses. It has nothing to do with the shift, and everything to do with the specific nurse in question.

tntrn, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

I worked nights for about 6 months once upon a time. At the time, I did it to make the extra money. But I never was able to adjust my sleeping habits so that I could the 8 hours of sleep I have to have. Then I got a horrible cold, even worse cough (so bad I broke a rib) and probably it was pneumonia. I just didn't have the ability to fight it off in a normal way. My DH finally told me that if there were no eves (my preferred shift) available, then I had to look at another facility. So I fully appreciate night nurses....and thank you for reminding me to tell them more often.

kessadawn, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

Night shift means you are not compatible with normal society, I get paid for that.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA you seriously need to get educated! I am quite compatible with nearly everyone I meet, ask any of my zillions of friends! Thanks for the laugh!

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

April, RN, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA you seriously need to get educated! I am quite compatible with nearly everyone I meet, ask any of my zillions of friends! Thanks for the laugh!
:lol2:

I don't think she meant not compatible with society socially... but rather you don't do your errands, appointments, phone calls, gym, etc, during the day like the rest of the world... and the rest of the world never seems to understand no matter how many times you remind them.

kessadawn, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

I don't think she meant not compatible with society socially... but rather you don't do your errands, appointments, phone calls, gym, etc, during the day like the rest of the world... and the rest of the world never seems to understand no matter how many times you remind them.

Oh jeez, sorry, I knew that, I didn't mean to come off snotty! Sorry!! :heartbeat

SolaireSolstice, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2011

Night shift means you are not compatible with normal society, I get paid for that.

That. And you just made me giggle out loud.