working nights

llg

Couldn't agree with you more that students DO need to think about whether or not a 24/7 working environment is acceptable for them or if working in a job that allows for 9-5 dayshift is an acceptable "consolation prize" for them. For example, if they want to be NICU or PICU nurses, but only want 8 hour dayshift, they need to think about if they are willing to give up one ideal or the other - because the combo is NOT going to happen (at the very least they'll most likely have to give on the 8-hour shift - critical care is almost exclusively 12's).

I'm always a little surprised (and more than a little irritated) when students (or people doing prereqs) come on here and say - they aren't going to make ME work nights, weekends, and holidays are they??? They can't do that can they??? Sure everyone else does it, but tell me please that they won't make ME do it!!! -- WELL YEAH! If you want to work in this setting, you're gonna do it right along with the rest of us. If you're willing to work in an office to get away from it, fine! If not, I suggest you learn how to deal or rethink your plan.

The rotating shifts, on the other hand, are just lazy management in my opinion (another option is overly cheap administration). When you interview folks, you tell them that the opening is night shift and do not cave when they tell you they would be happy to work days for you. When you do this, however, you have to give some incentive to make it worthwhile. After all, it has been proven time and time again that working nights is detrimental to health and there are cumulative effects of it. Keeping just that in mind, to offer some ridiculous 50 cent an hour differential is a slap in the face (as is requiring staff to rotate so you don't have to offer differential). 18-33% is common and fair for differentials. Weekend and holiday differentials are also a necessity. It is important to recognize that people do have lives away from the workplace, and when you infringe on their family time, you must make up for it in compensation. Too many managers and administrators just do not understand this - likely because they are at home with their families and never give it a second thought.

I've spent four years working the graveyard shift as a nursing assistant, and am getting ready to switch to day shift again (I want to be awake with everyone else).

With that being said, there are definite blessings to working nights:

-- you work at your own pace (or at least a slower pace)

-- minimal exposure to office politics

-- you work with patients without having to deal with their families

-- less hectic, stressful environment

-- no sitting in traffic, and you get to run errands in peace because everyone else is AT WORK!

-- some places give you shift differential (mine doesn't)

-- management/state/corporate office not looking over your shoulder all the time--you get to work in peace

The drawbacks:

-- you're working against your body's natural rhythm, and I won't kid you, this is TOUGH! (But if you're doing it short-term, you should be okay)

-- you're invisible to management most of the time

-- sometimes you might have to attend staff meetings or in-services during the day--ugh!

-- family and friends need to be very understanding, because you'll be working opposite schedules

-- less staff to work with at night (but this is a blessing sometimes)

Hope this helps! Night shift's a bugger, but maybe you won't have to do it, and if you do, you WON'T die, I promise! :rotfl: