Is Night Shift Nursing for You?

Date Published: June 1, 2022

Night shift nursing is a love-hate relationship for many people. It might surprise you, but there are actually many individuals who prefer working overnight. If you’re considering working night shift, there are a number of pros and cons to consider before your first shift.

Positives include: 

Less stress from elective procedures

Because there are typically no elective surgeries at night, there are fewer patients moving through the hospital. This means a smaller burden on nurses to keep track of the constant changes that can occur when elective surgeries change or lead to emergencies.

More down time

Because the night shift has less commotion, you often have more time for paperwork and other tasks. During this down time, you can study to maintain skills, finish documentation, or work on other general tasks that you may not usually have time for.

Bonding with coworkers

There are limited staff during night shifts. Because of this, you may find it easier to bond with your coworkers and work together to maintain a fully functional hospital.

Negatives include:

Fewer people to call if there is an emergency

Unlike day shift, not as many nurses and doctors are available to assist in the event of an emergency. While you can still reach out to on-call staff, it is important to realize that night shift requires a lot of confidence in your abilities.

Lack of sleep

It is important to be able to function during abnormal hours and to adapt your sleep schedule to meet your night shift needs. Being tired isn’t necessarily a problem, but letting it affect your performance is.

You may sacrifice your personal life

With taking on the night shift, you are promising to do the necessary things during the day to prepare you for the night. This may include sleep, skip events, spend less time with friends, etc.

At the end of the day, it takes a dedicated nurse to be able to take the night shift on with full force. Keep your options open, and who knows, this position may end up surprising you!