For those of you that know me already, you know my stance. -do pt vitals around 0600. 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! If you are feeling gross and foggy switch to days and give it a shot :). Night Shift VS Day Shift Nursing. Generally you respond directly to the person for whom the information is intended. In fact, I immediately started to lose weight when I started this pattern. Nurses Nursing. 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. Being healthier overall I can understand though bc I do feel very drained switching my schedule all that time. While I don't think night shift should have more than 6 patients, I would like day shift to be capped at 5 patients. 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. Be prepared to walk away. I took a pay cut, and there are frustrations with having so many people around watching what you do. 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). On our unit, the night shift: -pull the day shift's morning meds and bag them up so that they can just grab the bag and give them to the patients during morning med pass. I take meds for major depressive disorder and as long as I don't skip a dose I'm fine with nights. Whether it is grocery shopping or a hospital visit, you need to spend considerable time waiting your turn. Not only is your body programmed to be active during the daytime and sleep at night, but also, it somehow seems that your entire world is going in opposite directions with your family and friends. (1) Opportunities to Learn Newnurse23 . I did about a year and a half there, then worked medsurg/Oncology for another year and a half. To me it's the Easiest Shift as long as you are good at managing your time. But honestly, it’s such a crazy-maker working nights. 0 Likes. written by Kaynen Brown. I think that's important to think about when choosing one or the other. Be assertive when negotiating your first job (and every one after that...), and be ready to walk away from any job offer that does not guarantee you 100% day shift. Leave a reply. They may also be required to be available to work upon request at any time of day (on-call). 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. 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. Adding all the chaos of a day shift in there creates a lot of stress on the new grads. SUBSCRIBE & JOIN THE TEAM -- https://www.youtube.com/tamkam?sub_confirmation=1 Day shift or Night shift? You expect OP to search the subreddit but not follow threads in their own post? Night shift vs day shift responsibilities. I do like the mix, but if I could I would get rid of nights. Any advice? I'd quit before going back to a night shift now. Non-hospital jobs are far less likely to be on nights. I'm not a nurse but I have worked both day and night shifts in my line of work (electrician). Night shift has their own stressors as well and it's very different than day shift, but I do think that it is a better place for a new grad to begin their job now that I'm on the other side. But I was diagnosed with diabetes and switched to day shift. level 2 What are the pros and cons of night shift v.s day shift? Stay strong bipolar friend. Press J to jump to the feed. r/nursing: A place to discuss the topics of concern to the nurses of reddit. I’d go to days, but then I’d have to sell my car... And this is coming from someone who hates management/politics and thinks half of the day shift nurses are caddy old hens. It truly depends on your preferences. Completely agree. Shift terminology is often different in retail environments than manufacturing or production because workers serve customers. No amount of negotiating at an interview would make a difference. It’s soooo hard to go back and forth, never having a normal life or sleep cycle, never feeling like you get enough sleep, always putting things off for another day. When I worked on the floor, there were more patient-oriented tasks during the day, such as bathing, feeding, ambulating, etc. Less flares of chronic health issues. The Day Shift. 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). If I’m feeling gross cause of nights I switch and do days for a couple of weeks until it burns me out. I myself prefer days and a busy schedule. 3. 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). Does your hospital offer rotating shifts? 4-day shift plans. As someone who’s about to finish up on night shift and start back on day shift , I thought it might be fun to compare the pros and cons of each shift. I mean it’s great like others said no families, no doctors and patients sleeping. I honestly don't know how people do nights full time. Dayshift: It’s less money but still good money. I think day shift is so much better for your health overall. I hope y'all enjoy and thanks for watching!! If you like nights, work nights. It is better for your health in the long run, you will feel better, and you will also feel like you have more days off because you don't have that night adjustement day! Another thing to think about is whether you want to work day shift or night shift. I have been able to manage having to rotate my schedule by making sleep my number one priority and trusting my therapist and psychiatrist when they tell me I'm failing to do so and it's affecting me (on the rare occasions I can't see it myself). It’s the flipping back and forth between days/nights that leaves your body in constant stress. to a good start is crucial if you want to have… ← What you need to know about diabetes: Episode 2 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Episode 3 → Day shift vs night shift…which is for you? With that being said, here is the shift I like the best. A typical day shift in nursing begins between 6:30 and 7:00 AM. Day shift nursing, by nature, is more active. A 24-hour company could use morning or day shift, evening shift and night shift to describe its three eight-hour shifts. Rarely sick. Shortened Work WeekMost likely, working three days a week means having four days off. Love my night shift peeps and day shift peeps. If I had gone into the hospital I think I would've disclosed it on the disability form and your reasonable accommodation is to work days only. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I'm not a nurse but I have worked both day and night shifts in my line of work (electrician). User account menu. But ultimately, the feeling of being well-rested, in good health and the ability to nurture strong relationships wins out in the end. I personally love it because I can work when I want. Working a day shift means you put off certain personal tasks to the late evening hours or the weekend. Day vs. Night. Thanks for the input! Almost every hospital is understaffed on the night shift, and HR/management will try anything, and say anything to get you to agree to it. Asked and answered a lot in this sub. You're a special kind of troll aren't you? A place to discuss the topics of concern to the nurses of reddit. -normal life, not worrying about when to sleep and when to wake up, better chances for promotion and recognition. There's too much research to show how bad it is for your health both mental and physical. Go for the days. This has its disadvantages because most other people who work day shifts are likely to do the same. Get a statement from the provider managing your BPD care and then contact your manager and ask for HR assistance. I worked days originally the went to full time nights switched hospitals and now I rotate. Yes for many new grads this tends to be true here, they get the night shift depending on the hospital and the acuity. 1. 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. I dont want my judgement to be affected. Retail Variance. Yes my dad worked nights and always advised I never do it but when I was a new grad it’s all that was offered. I am bringing y'all along with me during my night as a night shift nurse! All are welcome. Hi, Ed Nurse here x4 yrs. It comes down to one is nights and one is days. Has 9 years experience. Don’t get me wrong, there is so much I love about night shift! Your health, relationships and work/life balance suffer greatly on the night shift. The commute is a bonus on days, especially for your stress levels! Does it really matter when you work? I am a nurse who works 4 shift rotations, 2 days and then 2 nights with 5 days off. Posted by 2 years ago. Here are some things to think about when making your decision. One of the best decisions I ever made! I would stay up until at least 3 even on my nights off. When I strictly worked nights and didn't have school, it was totally fine! It is all a case of the grass is greener on the other side. I didn't get a job in my dream field, but day shift jobs in specialty areas were not offered (and I doubt they will ever be). Most discharges happen during the day, so consequently, there are also more admissions during the day, too. Night shift rules – end of discussion! Day shift is usually dominated by more staff. Get Report: 3. Archived. Are you a morning person? Is it worth disclosing to the hospital in terms of disability/affecting your work? The midnight is not quite as busy, so long as the ER is not full or some random doc hasn't gone into a 1201 admit streak, but each nurse has 7-8 patients and there is only one aide (granted this is just my hospital). 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). (These girls know me better than my family). It’s not good for mental health or family life or friendships. All are welcome. I work three 12-hr shifts per week. 3. Wow thanks I really appreciate the advice especially since you seem to have experience with working both shifts. Specializes in New graduate RN. Days has more meds; nights has more paperwork (with the chart checks, MAR rec, and preparing charts for the next day). Now I only flip 3-4x/month instead of twice a week. why is this downvoted? Those requiring child care will also prefer this option to a traditional 9-5 schedule. Almost all of my friends from nursing school are working nights. Max 6 patients on days, max 6 patients on nights. At least for my unit, they hire new grads for both. Busy is good. Each definitely has its merits, so if you’re not sure which shift is for you…read on! I worked night shift for a few months and then was asked to switch to days, and although I only worked nights for a few months I thought it was awesome to switch to days! What’s the Difference? Please do some searching. Patients are awake, phones are ringing, more call light bells are going off and families are visiting patients. Night Shift vs Day Shift. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. 1. Nights are avoidable, but you must be proactive about it. In my opinion, working day shift is healthier mentally and physically than night shift. I lucked out and the dream hospital I wanted to work in was offering some day shift spots to their resident nurse hires. Can you explain how this would bother you? Plus mentally your feel so much better getting normal sleeps. 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. Student nurse with bipolar checking in! I do dislike having to sleep away my first day off after a shift or two. Been (mostly) night shift for the past 7 years (L&D) — Unless you have a really good reason to stay on nights, go to days. But I feel SO much better working day shift. Indirect. DAY SHIFT VS NIGHT SHIFT NURSING | The Pros/Cons, Hidden Beef & My Preference - Duration: 14:28. I loved my coworkers and love that there were no visitors, one supervisor and a few physicians. Due to the less desirable hours, most employees across the nation earn a higher hourly wage for working the night shift than those who work first or second shift. After getting hired, remain assertive about this. More money which is always good. Contact Info . Med administration times are usually throughout the day, as well, and less so during at night. I started out working nights in a nursing home. My job is day shift only. There are many days where I feel like my growth as a nurse and mental health would be better if I started on nights where I could be eased in to the role and improve my skills, time management, charting, learning protocols before adding in added stressors like family, case management coordination, discharges, tests/procedures, my least favorite game of "find the doctor somewhere on the floor", in addition to fun things like kamikaze bed jumpers and call light junkies. 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. Day shift is busy but you get used to it quickly. Time off was great and money too. This plan needs four teams for full coverage, and makes an average 42-hour workweek. This is the first time I've seen a bipolar nurse ask this question, but I love being corrected. I am a night shift nurse on a psychiatric unit. Log in sign up. Almost all of the above issues become non-issues after a tad bit of practice and the net benefit to ALL other aspects of your life is just beyond definition. Nights will kill u in the end. Even with the hoops it's worth it. 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. Backstory- I’ve been nursing for 3 years in a hospital setting working night shift (3 12hr shifts a week). But, as the previous poster has mentioned, it is expected to work nights as a new grad. 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. 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. Thanks for the reply! Direct vs. On the other hand, I would never go back after working days. Why I Did Not Apply To Medical School - Duration: 9:21. New grads are likely to be on nights or rotating to nights in a hospital. Night Shift vs Day Shift. Are you a morning person? They not only know you, but they know the research and they know the risks. Thanks for the boost in that direction! I have never worked a noc shift and don't plan on it. The Day Shift. In my opinion, working day shift is healthier mentally and physically than night shift. How does high stress affect you with bipolar? 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 always felt like a zombie working nights. I currently work nights and still have to deal with school stuff during the day, but before that I strictly worked nights. I know many people who love the generally slower pace and schedule. I feel so awful and tired! Earning Potential. Yes the day shift is busy, but there staffing is awsome (they have 4-5 patients per nurse, and several aides). There are a few categories that are very different for day shift vs. night shift – which essentially separate the two. I worked nights and loved it when I was doing it for 2 yrs! Hey beauties! Tons of great input, thanks. I have worked every schedule pattern over the years and I’ve had health issues/weight gain with every pattern EXCEPT 6on/8off. I flat out told every hospital that I prefer days over nights. After working nights for so long I’m nervous to make the change although days sounds more appealing in theory and could offer me some normalcy in my sleep schedule. If you want to know which is better, nursing night shift or day shift, it could be either. Another thing to think about is whether you’d like to work the day shift or night shift. I don't know if it would work but definitely worth a shot. No doctors, families, meals, administration, therapy appts, more money, & patients sleep (hopefully). And this one you actually wrote to OP instead of me...? Lots of good points about day shift being more stressful. 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. (Don’t forget to subscribe). Ours doesn't. Changes in Resident's health 2. Sleep or no sleep? I'm in a similar boat so I opted to just do outpatient and that's working for me. 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. 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. 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. I worked night shift for 25 years. I am currently pregnant and nights are literally torture! I loved working nights bc I really like my coworkers on nights. EDIT: Wow thanks for all the responses! I also want to point out that hospital day shifts are hard, especially as a new grad. Sure I sleep my free days away but lol who doesn't when you're a night walker . However, I have some information that might assist you in making the best decision between nursing night shift or day shift. A sub for discussion and witty banter on nursing related topics. 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. Whereas, night shift typically brings financial reward, is great for the night owls and you’ll never get stuck in traffic again. Now I’m just apprehensive about making such a big change in my routine after 3 years. Personally if it were my decision I would say pick the day shift. Job I 'll find another job I 'll find another job rotating '' shifts others said no families,,! Separate the two shifts for the most part grads for both shift!. So early shift '' ( e.g if this particular place sucks bad on days-, are... Begins between 6:30 and 7:00 am and translates into less hours on the.... 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