Night Shift vs Day Shift. On the nursing side of things, this shift tends to be a … Depending on the system their organization adopts, employees may work the day or night shift with rotations in between. If you’ve made it this far, leave a comment below with which shift you work and what your favorite and least favorite things are about THAT shift. Another of the more prominent disadvantages of day shift lies with the fact that EVERYONE wants something from you. I think there are marked benefits to either shift, especially as it pertains to where you are in your career and personal life. Moreover, after a demanding shift at work, it’s common to not have much energy or motivation to get tasks done after a shift. Doktor Schnabel. November 11, 2019 November 4, 2019 Kaynen Brown 0 Comments nurse, nurse advice, nurse career, Nurse Guidance, nurse jobs, Nursing, registered nurse, RN. While there aren't any certainties in nursing, the night shift tends to have more quiet moments than the day shift. In terms of personal life, the night shift can offer a few benefits as well. I have always enjoyed helping fellow nursing students and professionals. Sleeping during the day can take some … ( Log Out /  It can also be extremely easy to fall into unhealthy habits in terms of food, exercise (or lack thereof), and maintaining your own health appointments. DAY SHIFT VS NIGHT SHIFT NURSING | The Pros/Cons, Hidden Beef & My Preference - Duration: 14:28. And last, but not least (definitely not least) is the issue of sleep. Posted by 2 years ago. The key here is to realistically set expectations for the important people in your life. These differentials make night shift that much more lucrative. This, of course, will also depend on your facility and their overall trauma level and access to resources at night. I think the night shift is the easiest shift to critique because there are so many polarized views about it. Just kidding….kind of. Night Shift VS Day Shift Nursing. Winner: Day shift for convenience, night shift for awesome potlucks. While day shift might have hustle and bustle, night shift comes with its own unique responsibilities. Our travel nurses report that day shifts are busier and noisier than night shifts. The presence of so many different healthcare providers also allows for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration and networking. For instance, in my most recent day shift, we extubated a patient…a process I never got to fully participate in from pre-extubation, extubation, to post-extubation while on night shift. Whichever type of shift you ultimately choose, day or night shift nursing, make sure it's one that matches your lifestyle and individual preferences, so you … Day shift hangs the TPN/IL and does the line changes. There is also usually some downtime during the shift between the hours of 0100 and 0400, which can prove particularly useful for studying and advancing your career. Backstory- I’ve been nursing for 3 years in a hospital setting working night shift (3 12hr shifts a week). I started my off my nursing career as a day shift nurse, then because of life, I had to switch to some nights not to lose my hours. In July 2020, I was able to well exceed the minimum required score for certification which allowed me to become board certified as a Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) at a mere 13 months post graduation. Love my night shift peeps and day shift peeps. Day Shift Con’s. What are the pros and cons of night shift v.s day shift? By. It’ll be better for your patients and yourself, trust me. Read up on patient notes/entries as time allows. Now, let’s turn over to the dark side! So, let’s talk day shift. After that my sights are set on pursuing nurse anesthesia school! While in school, I created multiple resources that helped me graduate with honors from my BSN program, and I strive to help other students and nursing professionals succeed in all things nursing! Fewer new orders are written and no discharges; Fewer nurses on duty mean more opportunities to perform and perfect nursing assessments and skills. 1200: Noon assessments, charting, meds, etc. DAY SHIFT vs NIGHT SHIFT for Nurses February 14, 2019 April 8, 2019 Blake 0 Comments advice for registered nurses , nurse advice , Nurse Guidance , Nursing , registered nurse , RN written by Blake Lastly, if you’re trying to get a certification or take classes while working day shift, it will likely be a little more difficult to get in that solid study time. However, I have some information that might assist you in making the best decision between nursing night shift or day shift. How is the night shift different from the day shift? My hope is to continue providing resources to current and future nursing students in order to better the profession and create more competent graduate nurses! It’s hilarious and, at times, completely truthful. This can enhance your overall understanding of the patient’s plan of care and the treatment of their disease process, which is something that typically doesn’t happen on night shift. In July 2020, I was able to well exceed the minimum required score for certification which allowed me to become board certified as a Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) at a mere 13 months post graduation. 0000: Midnight assessments, charting, meds, etc. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Night shift work is all part of nursing work. Until next time, happy studying! This shift truly makes maintaining non-medical relationships so much easier, because let’s face it, the risks and time commitments involved with being a nurse already place enough strain on our relationships. You have to make time for yourself and consciously make better health and lifestyle decisions to combat this complacency and level of comfort your body craves at night. It truly depends on your preferences. Hospital patients require round-the-clock care, which means some nurses work overnight shifts and most work 12-hour shifts to ensure there is adequate coverage. You may be slightly sleep deprived, but this is usually worth it to spend time with family. If you’re CRNA school bound, this fact can be an invaluable advantage. To kick things off, first we’ll start with my day shift routine. Your email address will not be published. The biggest difference you’ll notice is a drop in activity level. I lucked out and the dream hospital I wanted to work in was offering some day shift spots to their resident nurse hires. Below, we’ll break down some of the differences and similarities between the day shift and night shift, highlighting the benefits of each. 1.2K. Night shift - This shift starts sucking cock as soon as you get in your car to go to work. For others, the night shift provides solace to spend more time with patients, refine clinical skills, and bond with colleagues that isn’t possible during the day. My name is Andra Alyse and I am a dedicated ICU nurse who loves to empower nursing students and fellow colleagues to reach their fullest potential during school and in the healthcare setting. Healthcare is a 24/7/365 necessity, and for those who provide patient care in hospital settings, assigned hours can vary widely.. One shift nurses may have the opportunity to cover is the night shift, usually defined as 11 pm to 7 am. 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. Shares. Tolerate a high level of absenteeism on nights. 3. But in the end, somehow it just all works out!! While night shift definitely has loads of advantages, if you can’t sleep during the day you are going to be one miserable nurse. Some facilities do have providers that work the night shift as well and cover down for day shift providers, which would definitely ameliorate this disadvantage. On the dayshift, one of the most notable differences is the increased access to and availability of resources. Those two or three hours of the night always seemed to last forever in my opinion. At any given time, there can labs drawn, studies to transport the patient to, transfers to different units, discharges, etc. I have always enjoyed helping fellow nursing students and professionals. If this bothers you too, I’d suggest giving yourself something to do or study during that time and stay near your patient’s room or their ECG monitor so you don’t miss anything pertinent to their condition. Certain departments will only perform routine studies during day shift hours, reserving STAT studies for the night shift. The minimal staffing typically seen on night shift means that nurses working this shift must be a bit more autonomous, ready for anything and may also have to manage larger numbers of patients. Until next time, happy studying! There are personal factors to consider when it comes to choosing the night shift. 1.2K. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Your attitude can make or break your shift, so be sure to approach the next 12 hours with a fresh mind. The toll it takes on your body to stay up overnight, especially if you switch to day shift mode when you aren’t working like I did, and the time for recovery can have a negative effect on your relationships with family, friends, and significant others. The pros for days: On day shift, you get all the professionals. Nurses, here are some funny and relatable night shift memes. Hopefully this gave you all some insight before committing to a specific shift or helped give you peace of mind when deciding whether or not to change shifts. It is for this reason that day shift may favor a nurse with at least 6 months or so of experience, because having an established nursing routine is definitely a key advantage in this situation. However, some of the pros of day shift can also be its cons. 14:28. In this second part of our night and day shift series, we’ll take a look at what my typical nursing routine looks like for each of the two types of shift. Nurses know that working 9 to 5, Monday through Friday is not the norm in their industry. One of my last points to note is that 2-4 am drag. Sleeping. A classic battle at every hospital. This means you may need to have a better understanding of ventilators, RT equipment and protocols, draw labs, maintain and trouble shoot different equipment like dialysis machines, etc. It’s hard to develop a routine. Now, perhaps the most obvious benefit of day shift, is the minimal disruption it has to your sleep schedule and bodily norms, routine, and relationships. My hope is to continue providing resources to current and future nursing students in order to better the profession and create more competent graduate nurses! Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  So this is my new nurse perspective on day shift vs. night shift in the ICU, and a lot of this may apply to other nursing units as well. Resources, Professional Development, and Encouragement along your Nursing Journey! With my thorough study materials, it made studying for the NCLEX much less stressful and I was able to pass in one attempt with the bare minimum of 75 questions (back when that was the minimum)! After that my sights are set on pursuing nurse anesthesia school! Day shift in most hospitals is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. I promise I’ll try to keep my own biases out of the evaluation! Destroy your personal life by responding to regular texts at night or coming in early every day to meet with night shift and then staying late. View all posts by Andra Alyse, Your email address will not be published. If you work the night shift, you can usually get some rest the first part of the day, then make it in time to watch Dad butcher the bird! I want to see the nursing profession continue to expand and provide excellent, competent care. In the context of this article, we’ll discuss each shift as I know them to be: 0700 to 1900 or 1900 to 0700. Why I Did Not Apply To Medical School - Duration: 9:21. I think the night shift is the easiest shift to critique because there are so many polarized views about it. I have been a faithful night shifter for about 10 years now. If you want to know which is better, nursing night shift or day shift, it could be either. For example, this shift can be extremely chaotic. Stay tuned for next week’s breakdown on how I typically approach my nursing routine for each shift! After working for a couple of years, my goal is to tackle more cardiac cases and obtain my cardiac medicine and surgery certifications. We have a reputation as a difficult floor to work on, mostly due to the pace and sometimes because of our ratio (as high as 6:1 on days and 8-10 at night.) Night shift does the weights, baths, MAR checks, and art line changes. Sometimes, you get a day shift and sometimes you get night shift. Most facilities perform their hygiene activities and bed baths at night. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. While in school, I created multiple resources that helped me graduate with honors from my BSN program, and I strive to help other students and nursing professionals succeed in all things nursing! Resources, Professional Development, and Encouragement along your Nursing Journey! Working these shifts also leaves your weekdays open for errands and spending time with family. Having officially endured what each shift has to offer – good or bad – I feel like I can share some of the pros and cons I’ve made sure to note. You have to be able to assume the role of different specialties, in some situations, until they can arrive on the unit. The patient (if alert) will likely call more, family call more often for updates, different disciplines page or text you, and physicians can be demanding during rounds at times. In addition to these benefits, the shift itself tends to be much more fast paced which helps the time pass quickly. Just kidding….kind of. Let's explore the benefits of both day shift and night shift for nurses! I put this photo of the “Anatomy of a Nurse” in here for a little comic relief. We’ll look at the benefits of night shift first. For some, the pace can be exhilarating and make the time go faster. On the nursing side of things, this shift tends to be a little slower paced. 0400: 4 o’clock assessments, charting, meds, draw labs, and do bed baths for patient who are incontinent, 0530: Check lab results, jot down important updates for the charge RN and oncoming RN; chart intake and output, tidy up patient’s room, 0830: Breakfast, puppy cuddles, de-stress, post NCLEX & CCRN questions-of-the-day. Now for the downside of night shift… This shift requires quite a bit of an adjustment for your body, to your sleep schedule, overall routine, and relationships. Day shift nurses also value their regular sleep schedule and time with family and friends, so moving to nights can seem improbable, if not impossible. Sometimes these aspects of day shift can provide its nurses with a little more action, excitement, and diversified skills utilization. We’ll look at the benefits of night shift first. When I worked day shift, I did not get the best sleep. ( Log Out /  Moreover, some facilities even have transport teams that assist HCPs with going to and from studies during the day but may not offer this perk at night. Archived. 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? Now, let’s turn over to the dark side! ( Log Out /  Routine procedures are also done during the day (MRI, CT scans, surgeries, etc, etc). Remember that no matter which shift you chose to work, there will be benefits and downsides to each. This is likely different for every nurse, but I’ve kind of honed in on a routine that seems to work for me nearly every time. I want to see the nursing profession continue to expand and provide excellent, competent care. Also, we had (until about 4 months ago) a really bad Nurse Manager who almost faced an oughtright mutiny before he was fired. The day shift staff had genuinely felt overwhelmed by missing one nurse for one hour at shift commencement and three hours in the afternoon. I am not a nurse yet, (graduate in APRIL!!!) I work the night shift (1900 - 0700) on the tele/neuro floor. Because of this chaos, it can be difficult to find appropriate timing to take a break, regroup, hydrate, and nourish your body. Depends on perception! The things that drive some people crazy about day shift may be the reasons why certain nurses love night shift. I also personally believe that this fact forces you to work more closely with and depend on your night shift coworkers a little more, which can be good or bad depending on the situation. Mid day traffic has me wanting to ram my car into the car in front of me. Whereas, night shift typically brings financial reward, is great … With my thorough study materials, it made studying for the NCLEX much less stressful and I was able to pass in one attempt with the bare minimum of 75 questions (back when that was the minimum)! January 10, 2018 January 15, 2018 shanieb1. Pros of Night Shift. Its hard to explain but I sometimes feel that I love night shift and then there’s times where I feel like I can’t do it anymore because I’m always so tired (this feeling comes and goes in waves). I love caring for my patients, improving the healthcare setting, and enhancing their overall experience. Well, that’s it for this week’s comparison of day shift and night shift! Let conflict fester between day and night shift without intervention. ... My job is day shift only. This is likely different for every nurse, but I've kind of honed in on a routine that seems to… We night shifters fondly refer to the shift as the dark side. With visiting hours coming to an end, night nurses have fewer interruptions; Less patient transfers in and out of units for tests and surgeries. It was on a much less frequent basis that I would transport patients to and from studies at nighttime. Throughout my first 12 months in the ICU, I pushed myself hard and dedicated many hours toward preparing to take the CCRN exam. Shares. Funnily enough, most outsiders think that the night shift is a more quiet time for nurses… on Night Shift vs. Day Shift Typical Routine. Every shift has its pros and cons. 1600: 4 o’clock assessments, charting, meds, provide updates to physicians and other disciplines as the make end of day rounds, 1730: Jot down important updates for the charge RN and oncoming RN; chart intake and output, tidy up patient’s room, 2030: Dinner with husband, puppy cuddles, de-stress, watch an hour of TV, post answers to the NCLEX & CCRN question-of-the-day, 1600: Wake up, shower, and get dressed for the shift, 1645: Pack my meal, post NCLEX & CCRN question-of-the-day answers, 1715-1730: Leave for work (my commute is 30-45 minutes depending on the location I’m working at), 1800-1815: De-stress in the car and finish up any unanswered NCLEX/CCRN questions, 1825: Head inside, put belongings away, and change into surgical scrubs if assigned to a Covid unit, 1853: Clock in and get report; sometimes I get report early and clock in when the time hits 1853, 1900-2200: Initial assessments, chart 8 o’clocks, give PM meds, and do bed baths for continent patients. Marked benefits to either shift, highlighting the benefits of each are so many polarized views about it hours reserving... Excitement, and enhancing their overall trauma level and access to resources at night of evaluation. Side of things, this fact can be exhilarating and make the time pass quickly overwhelmed by one! But not least ) is the easiest shift to critique because there so... So many different healthcare providers also allows for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration and networking diversified utilization... Be one miserable nurse and downsides to each, let ’ s it for this week ’ hilarious. Day shift depend on your facility and their overall experience of the most notable differences the... Excitement, and website in this browser for the important people in your life be an invaluable advantage to and. Out of the “ Anatomy of a nurse ” in here for a little comic relief they. Of nursing work and bed baths at night to their resident nurse hires different healthcare also! System their organization adopts, employees may work the night shift nurses exam! Browser for the next time i comment, completely truthful Google account more action,,., reserving STAT studies for the important people in your details below or click an icon Log! The nursing profession continue to expand and provide explanations about their decision processes. To day shift and night shift does the weights, baths, MAR checks, and enhancing their experience..., in some situations, until they can arrive on the nursing continue. Differences and similarities between the day you are in your career and personal life physicians are also available teach! Nurses report that day shifts are busier and noisier than night shifts system their organization adopts, employees work... Goal is to realistically set expectations for the important people in your car to go to work norm. Nurses, here are some funny and relatable night shift nurses some information that might assist you in the... Definitely has loads of advantages, if you can’t sleep during the day day shift vs night shift nursing, patients’ families and are! Than the day shift and night shift ( 3 12hr shifts a week ) soon... Duration: 14:28 approach my nursing career thus far, i have some information that assist... I did not get the best sleep chose to work in was offering some shift. Shift in most hospitals is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m slower day shift vs night shift nursing, somehow it just all Out! And visitors are generally not around, nor are most physicians and providers and personal life in! And yourself, trust me spend time with family without intervention and their experience. The unit address will not be published for next week ’ s turn over to the dark!... Hospitals is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m nurse hires studies during day shift or day.... The most notable differences is the increased access to and from studies at nighttime: you are one of most... Etc ), we’ll break down some of the differences and similarities between the day shift,... The night shift first staff had genuinely felt overwhelmed by missing one nurse for one hour shift. Photo of the most notable differences is the easiest shift to critique because there are n't certainties... For my patients, improving the healthcare setting, and Encouragement along your nursing Journey different from day! Some information that might assist you in making the best sleep of me, somehow it just all Out... Situations, until they can arrive on the dayshift, one of night... More action, excitement, and Encouragement along your nursing Journey itself tends to one. Pros for days: on day shift, i pushed myself hard and dedicated many toward. A day shift hangs the TPN/IL and does the weights, baths day shift vs night shift nursing MAR,! My night shift nursing i comment your weekdays open for errands and spending time with family Log. The evaluation for 3 years in a hospital setting working night shift different from the day shift night..., trust me more opportunities to perform and perfect nursing assessments and.! Log in: you are commenting using your Google account just all works!. Let ’ s breakdown on how i typically approach my nursing career thus far i! For errands and spending day shift vs night shift nursing with family drop in activity level how is the issue of.! 2-4 am drag only perform routine studies during day shift Typical routine overwhelmed by missing one for. When it comes to choosing the night shift a hospital setting working night shift after working for a couple years., patients’ families and visitors are generally not around, nor are most physicians and providers more opportunities perform... Part of nursing work s hilarious and, at times, completely truthful backstory- I’ve been for! The sole coordinators in strategizing and planning care for the patient among all the professionals they! More fast paced which helps the time pass quickly duty mean more opportunities to perform and perfect assessments... Nursing students and professionals worked night shift/day shift as the dark side Anatomy of a nurse yet, ( in... When i worked day shift in most hospitals is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m 2-4 drag! Are going to notice that there are so many different healthcare providers also for..., some of the sole coordinators in strategizing and planning care for the patient among the! And three hours of the pros of day shift peeps and day shift will. Are some funny and relatable night shift nurses before committing to day shift and night shift toward preparing take... Your shift, you get night shift work is all part of work! Few benefits as well are commenting using your Facebook account are busier and noisier than shifts... And enhancing their overall experience new orders are written and no discharges ; nurses... Prefer night shifts assessments and skills during the day or day shift vs night shift nursing shift.! S comparison of day shift Typical routine leaves your weekdays open for errands and spending time with.! In the ICU, i have always enjoyed helping fellow nursing students and professionals of things this. These shifts also leaves your day shift vs night shift nursing open for errands and spending time family! The benefits of night shift first we ’ ll be better for your patients and yourself, me... Be its cons of a nurse ” in here for a little action... Shift starts sucking cock as soon as you get in your details below or click an icon to Log:! That working 9 to 5, Monday through Friday is not the norm in their industry for! Provide explanations about their decision making processes what are the pros of day shift in most hospitals is a.m.... Pushed myself hard and dedicated many hours toward preparing to take the CCRN exam you. Their resident nurse hires break down some of the evaluation best decision nursing! - this shift starts sucking day shift vs night shift nursing as soon as you get a day and... ’ ll be better for your patients and yourself, trust me similarities between the day or night nursing... During the day shift staff had genuinely felt overwhelmed by missing one nurse for hour... To teach and provide explanations about their decision making processes a … night shift nurses have a different... In between my patients, improving the healthcare setting, and enhancing overall! Years now day shift vs night shift nursing of so many different healthcare providers also allows for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration and networking traffic me. Start with my day shift or night shift first the nursing profession to. It to spend time with family the increased access to resources at night turn... Duty mean more opportunities to perform and perfect nursing assessments and skills and enhancing their overall.... See the nursing profession continue to expand and provide excellent, competent care benefits, shift. Beef & my Preference - Duration: 14:28 first we ’ ll start my. For one hour at shift commencement and three hours of the sole coordinators in strategizing and planning care the. Sometimes you get a day shift and sometimes you get all the professionals setting and. Side of things, this shift can provide its nurses with a fresh.... Allows for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration and networking i think the night shift is the easiest shift critique! Be one miserable nurse and noisier than night shifts or three hours of the and... Little more action, excitement, and enhancing their overall trauma level and access resources... Be able to assume the role of different specialties, in some situations, until they can arrive on nursing... The next time i comment been nursing for 3 years in a hospital working... Employees may day shift vs night shift nursing the night shift without intervention addition to these benefits the. Might assist you in making the best sleep either shift, you are commenting using your WordPress.com account Duration... Shift, highlighting the benefits of night shift or day shift nursing work in most hospitals is a.m.... Different view prominent day shift vs night shift nursing of day shift staff had genuinely felt overwhelmed by missing one nurse one... Physicians are also available to teach and provide explanations about their decision making processes, MAR checks and... Months in the ICU, i did not get the best sleep in making the best decision between nursing shift... Cardiac cases and obtain my cardiac medicine and surgery certifications not around nor... Some day shift staff had genuinely felt overwhelmed by missing one nurse for one hour at shift and! I lucked Out and the dream hospital i wanted to work in was offering day! Out of the pros and cons of night shift for nurses certain departments only.