In this article we’re going to give some night shift nursing tips you can start applying today.. We all know how hard it can be working night shift as a nurse. Day vs. Night. January 10, 2018 January 15, 2018 shanieb1. Be a human or a night owl? Now I only flip 3-4x/month instead of twice a week. I am a new graduate about to start on night shift what are some common nurse responsibilities On night shift? Don’t get me wrong, there is so much I love about night shift! I wouldn't say that it's not fair that we have the same amount of patients on day shift, but I still feel it's easier for night shift to handle 6 patients vs day shift. The Day Shift. I'm in a similar boat so I opted to just do outpatient and that's working for me. QueenNiaa 704 views. Direct vs. Sleep is the number one contributor to mood instability/episodes. Day shift is supposed to do most of the teaching; night shift tries to get more of the other "tasks" done--the PKUs, hearing screens, etc. It truly depends on your preferences. What are the pros and cons of night shift v.s day shift? Nights will kill u in the end. ☹️ it’s really bad for your health. So here’s the situation I find myself in.. I’ve been offered two positions and cannot come to a definite decision as to which one I should pick. Clock In 2. I feel alot better after reading all these responses, seems theres alot of pros ans cons to night and day shifts. When I strictly worked nights and didn't have school, it was totally fine! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The thrilling feeling during an emergency when me and my teammates read each other’s minds and move in perfect synchrony with each other. After two weeks, here are my thoughts. At least for my unit, they hire new grads for both. But I feel SO much better working day shift. EDIT: If health is your concern and you have to stay on night shift, I found that working 6 on/8 off has positively effected my health. Constantly trying to turn the switch on and off to acclimate to the routines of the average person (awake during the day/sleeping at night). Shift terminology is often different in retail environments than manufacturing or production because workers serve customers. While hospitals can vary, the typical day shift in nursing begins between 6:30 and 7 a.m. During this time, all hospital departments are usually fully staffed and open for business. I honestly don't know how people do nights full time. April 6, 2019 April 8, 2019 Yaya Zoe 0 Comments night shift, nurse, nurse advice, nurse career, Nurse Guidance, Nursing, registered nurse, RN Yaya Zoe Discusses the Pros and Cons of Night and Day shift and her experiences. Max 6 patients on days, max 6 patients on nights. On my unit, there are no permanent day shift positions. I think there is a strong argument that working days would be an ADA-protected "reasonable accommodation" based on medical regimen and circadian rhythm. Press J to jump to the feed. A slower pace gives you more time to spend with each patient and refine your clinical skills, and for this reason, the night shift can be a great choice for new nurses. I don't know if it would work but definitely worth a shot. But ultimately, the feeling of being well-rested, in good health and the ability to nurture strong relationships wins out in the end. I am a nurse who works 4 shift rotations, 2 days and then 2 nights with 5 days off. I'm a student nurse and I'm really excited to start working in a hospital when I graduate in about a year and half. I think that's important to think about when choosing one or the other. 0 Likes. I guess with the money thing, you will have to see what's more worth it, and weigh the pros and cons. Doing my job in peace and feeling like a shadow in the dark... :-). But it’s also nice to have off everyday during daytime hours if I need to stretch myself and stay awake for something. The purpose of this research was to study night shift work and its health effects on nurses. Whether it is grocery shopping or a hospital visit, you need to spend considerable time waiting your turn. Have I mentioned that you have to be prepared to walk away if they offer nights? I worked nights because it worked for my family. 1. I’ve worked both and am currently on nights not by choice but because I started at a new hospital. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Log in sign up. Night Shift vs Day Shift. I personally love nights because days burn me out and I like the ability to bond with my patient without feeling rushed- but I think it’s up to your body and how you feel. Generally you respond directly to the person for whom the information is intended. Posted Sep 15, 2020. Has 9 years experience. Changes in Resident's Care Plan 3. My hospital does not rotate shifts and we have a steady day and night crew. With that being said, here is the shift I like the best. If you are feeling gross and foggy switch to days and give it a shot :). Any advice? I have dogs that are crated when I’m not home and I feel bad that since I would no longer be home during daytime hours they would be locked up for longer periods of time (my s/o that I live with works 9-5 flex hours so is always home with them at night that I’ve been working). It depends on the hospital to be honest. Nightshift- I already know this schedule works for myself and my live-in s/o as far as our routines and having someone always home for the dogs (give or take a 2-3 hours that we don’t overlap). I did eventually make the choice to jump to days and even if it sucks having managements around, having more work to do, and dealing with the bureaucracy of days but you will feel better. Perhaps you, dear Reader, have experienced such confusion yourself. You start off rotating (60/40 nights/days) and as you become more senior, you work fewer nights (if you choose to). Specializes in New graduate RN. 1. Nurse here in Ireland. Whereas, night shift typically brings financial reward, is great for the night owls and you’ll never get stuck in traffic again. I do dislike having to sleep away my first day off after a shift or two. If its between that and finding another job I'll find another job. I am not a nurse yet, (graduate in APRIL!!!) Wouldn’t change a thing!!!!! Every shift has its pros and cons. Biggest one is always low vitamin D. But the biggest thing I have heard, read, seen, etc., is that we are just not meant to be awake at night, and especially work that kind of time with the 3 nights or days a week. Thanks for the reply! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I did about a year and a half there, then worked medsurg/Oncology for another year and a half. I loved working nights bc I really like my coworkers on nights. My 2 cents. level 2 Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 3. You're a special kind of troll aren't you? I mean it’s great like others said no families, no doctors and patients sleeping. It is all a case of the grass is greener on the other side. It comes down to one is nights and one is days. 3 Advantages of Day Shift Nursing. Tons of great input, thanks. 06:00 to 18:00), followed by 24 hours' rest, then a "nightly shift" (18:00 to 06:00), finishing with 48 hours' rest. They not only know you, but they know the research and they know the risks. I do not have any kids, I am a night person and I get some of the best sleep when I sleep during they day. Sleeping from 3 to noon gives you your sleep and lets you have a social life without ruining your night shift sleep schedule. Yes the day shift is busy, but there staffing is awsome (they have 4-5 patients per nurse, and several aides). 14:28. I have had health issues related to working nights for so long when I first became a nurse, and know many people who also have too. NYC here. -normal life, not worrying about when to sleep and when to wake up, better chances for promotion and recognition. Leave a reply. Work-Life BalanceHaving four full days away from your nursing job can allow for greater enjoyment of your personal life and more time with family. On the other hand, I would never go back after working days. It’s the flipping back and forth between days/nights that leaves your body in constant stress. I worked days originally the went to full time nights switched hospitals and now I rotate. Here are some things to consider when deciding. Thanks for the reply. Lots of good points about day shift being more stressful. This is the first time I've seen a bipolar nurse ask this question, but I love being corrected. Can you explain how this would bother you? The data were collected using Survey Monkey, with an Internet-base … Night Shift Work and Its Health Effects on Nurses Health Care Manag (Frederick). why is this downvoted? Retail Variance. And this one you actually wrote to OP instead of me...? r/nursing: A place to discuss the topics of concern to the nurses of reddit. Im pretty firm on not telling the hospital Im diagnosed with this particular illness because the stigma is really strong (calling someone bipolar isnt a compliment, also theres plenty of people who think psych disorders are made up). Day shift vs night shift…which is for you? Night Shift vs Day Shift. I always felt like a zombie working nights. This plan needs four teams for full coverage, and makes an average 42-hour workweek. Been nights 6 years. Adding all the chaos of a day shift in there creates a lot of stress on the new grads. My job is day shift only. I'd quit before going back to a night shift now. It does suck about your dogs, I don't have dogs so I don't know what to say about that! I lucked out and the dream hospital I wanted to work in was offering some day shift spots to their resident nurse hires. Hi, Ed Nurse here x4 yrs. Even with the hoops it's worth it. They may also be required to be available to work upon request at any time of day (on-call). Manageable Pace: Compared to the day shift, patient volumes are generally lower at night and you have fewer distractions and interruptions, not as many discharges to process, and fewer medications to administer. However I will never ever do overtime, if I know we are short staffed, I'll just replace myself with casual or agency and go home. Get Report: 3. Backstory- I’ve been nursing for 3 years in a hospital setting working night shift (3 12hr shifts a week). Shortened Work WeekMost likely, working three days a week means having four days off. It will be an adjustment to be getting up so early. After four years of nursing I switched from night shift to day shift. Student nurse with bipolar checking in! I do like the mix, but if I could I would get rid of nights. For awhile there, I was the only new hire on nights and they kept adding more new grads onto days (because their ratios are better on days). I worked nights and loved it when I was doing it for 2 yrs! Day Shift vs. Night Shift: A Consistent Nursing Dilemma As a career coach for nurses, I receive a lot of questions and complaints about nursing careers, and one of the most contentious and confusing issues for many nurses is whether to work days or nights. So I will explore the pros and cons of the two shifts for the sake of my day shift readers. However I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder (medicated and kicking ass at life btw) and I'm worried about working nights and the effect that is going to have on my stability. Another thing to think about is whether you’d like to work the day shift or night shift. User account menu. After getting hired, remain assertive about this. morning shift; night shift; weekend shift; These schedules may be fixed (the employee is expected to work the same schedule each week) or variable (the employee is expected to work a rotating schedule of different shifts at different times of the day). I will say that I am in a big minority. Surviving Night Shift If you're like me, your 4th semester preceptorship is on night shift and you have no… 5 Time Management Tips to Start Your Shift Getting your shift o! Press J to jump to the feed. Night shift vs day shift responsibilities. A typical day shift in nursing begins between 6:30 and 7:00 AM. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Thanks for the boost in that direction! -do pt vitals around 0600. Busy is good. When I work night shift this is how I tend to lay out my night. I myself prefer days and a busy schedule. In my opinion, working day shift is healthier mentally and physically than night shift. However, I have some information that might assist you in making the best decision between nursing night shift or day shift. More money which is always good. I always say I’m night-shift at heart. Thanks for the advice. The money was not worth it to me, although I have a few friends who work nights part time doing 2-12s a week, and they seem to like that. Each definitely has its merits, so if you’re not sure which shift is for you…read on! I took a pay cut, and there are frustrations with having so many people around watching what you do. In my opinion, working day shift is healthier mentally and physically than night shift. All are welcome. Does it really matter when you work? Less traffic for commute because I would be on the road much earlier in the morning and later at night coming home to avoid “usual rush hour” times. Earning Potential. Less flares of chronic health issues. Can I handle having feelings of alway being tired or groggy? The day shift is the body clock friendly shift, where there is always help available and there is a better chance of showing off your skills to management. I loved my coworkers and love that there were no visitors, one supervisor and a few physicians. The pattern repeats in a 4-week cycle, i.e. It’s great to hear the point of view from someone who has done both. Also, I don't know if your are female or male, but if you one day decide to start a family, it is a helluva lot easier working days. Are you a morning person? But honestly, it’s such a crazy-maker working nights. But that’s easy enough to get used to or ignore. I am a new grad on at the end of my orientation. I started out working nights in a nursing home. It takes a special kind of person to survive the night-shift long term, and if you are not one of those then you should avoid night shift like the plague. 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