The Battle of Day vs. Night Shift

Overall people can make arguments for both. To me the shifts always depend on two things, the staff working along side you and the type of patient population.I work at a large metropolitan hospital and we are able to schedule ourselves for 6 week time blocks. We can also request straight Nights, Days or mix depending on what the floor need is. Since I do not have kids I am far more flexible but I find nurses who hate to work nights or even days make the day more difficulty. They hide in rooms documenting, their slow to answer call lights and whine way too much.On the other hand during nights, I always look forward to working with a particular Tech who always works nights but makes the shift way better due to her great team work, personality and humor.So to me it has nothing to do with the time but more or less the company.

The thing I like most about days over nights is having a chance to participate in decisions about the patient's care and treatment plan with the medical team. It's also better for the social life.I work nights, am a complete night owl, and see myself staying on nights for a while. Waking up in the wee hours of the morning, when it's cold and dark? Not for me.

I quite agree that each shift has their own pros and cons. Maybe if we just learn to get along and avoid the bickering then we can have a smooth working relationship. I think it will start with the people.

Every shift everywhere gripes about the previous shift. Every. Single. One. It makes everybody feel like they're better than everyone else, and wouldn't the entire building would just fall apart if they weren't there to fix the previous shift's B.S? Of course, they're all super-friendly during report. It's just how people are.

Oh dear Heavenly Father, another Night vs. Day Shift Thread! Give us strength, wisdom, and understanding so that we may appreciate each others unique battles, cultural differences, and superiority complexes, for after all, although we are "Nurses," we suffer being "human!" (And all that comes with both)

I don't believe in anyone complaining about another shift unless they have personally worked that shift for a period of time. We all feel overworked and there never seems to be enough time to get everything done, sometimes it is just easier to 'vent' but we shouldn't slam each other in the process.

To both shifts, I get so tired of the KARDEX being read, followed by a paper shuffling sound to read copies of the Physician Orders, more paper shuffling- then the Progress notes. I want to know 1) name 1a) diagnosis or CC, 2) RM# 3)Dr. 4)how they done on your shift 5) new stuff 6) exceptions. 7)next patient. I can read the KARDEX and Chart the sooner I get out of this stuffy room.Ex: Ms. Doe is 123 y/o Full Code pt. of Dr. Fisishun w/Dx of CHF/CRF. She gets dialysis MWF, so in am. Breakfast Tray to Dialysis. 300cc of 1K ml restriction. No CP or SOB. O2@2L via NC. No new c/o. Family is giving her Salt, extra education needed. Foley-strict I and O, scant output tea colored. VS stable/afebrile. Heplock 20 ga R FA. Hold PO AM Meds for Dialysis per Dr. Fisishun. Tonight's weight 253.4 kg. loss of 0.4 Kgs.This nurse took 6 minutes on this patient, on her report. (this is what I said in report).

Most rotations here include a mix of days and nights. There are definite advantages to that as well, not the least of which is that everyone knows what it's like to work both shifts on a regular basis. In my last job there were only three aides that actually worked nights, and there were no end of problems with day and evening staff assuming we would do a lot of their work for them "because nights don't do anything" (even though it was the busiest and most understaffed night shift I've ever worked and was NOT quiet). Lots of complaints and attempts to foist off distasteful jobs on to nights. So yeah I think insisting everyone work all shifts can be a good thing from that perspective, though it's terrible from a work perspective.That said, if I could go back to an all night position, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I am a night person. Very few advantages in days for me.

Quote from BostonTerrierLoverRNTo both shifts, I get so tired of the KARDEX being read, followed by a paper shuffling sound to read copies of the Physician Orders, more paper shuffling- then the Progress notes. I want to know 1) name 1a) diagnosis or CC, 2) RM# 3)Dr. 4)how they done on your shift 5) new stuff 6) exceptions. 7)next patient. I can read the KARDEX and Chart the sooner I get out of this stuffy room.Ex: Ms. Doe is 123 y/o Full Code pt. of Dr. Fisishun w/Dx of CHF/CRF. She gets dialysis MWF, so in am. Breakfast Tray to Dialysis. 300cc of 1K ml restriction. No CP or SOB. O2@2L via NC. No new c/o. Family is giving her Salt, extra education needed. Foley-strict I and O, scant output tea colored. VS stable/afebrile. Heplock 20 ga R FA. Hold PO AM Meds for Dialysis per Dr. Fisishun. Tonight's weight 253.4 kg. loss of 0.4 Kgs.This nurse took 6 minutes on this patient, on her report. (this is what I said in report).

It would be so amazing if shifts could understand one another and get along. It would be amazing if people on the SAME shift could understand one another and get along. Oh well, a girl can dream.......

when we change shifts, we simply say nothing has changed except so and so had issues with this or that and could you please check with the doctor on so and so. our patients are usually there anywhere from 1 week to 28 days. when they are new pts we do read all diagnosis's the first couple of change of shifts so that we are kept on target. other than that, its "ssdd, something or some one different, love ya, see ya in 12hrs...lol

I have worked every shift, I'm about the only person on my floor that has! I was on nights for a while and I know that I personally hate working nights. I just accepted a position on weekends, Fri-Sunday. Finally, I know my schedule I have mon-thurs. off, I usually work OT on at least one of those days. As far as report goes, once someone starts babbling I usually tune them out, I'm not even listening at that point. I just want to know dx., any procedures the pt. has had or needs, if they are NPO or not, and if they have any tubes, or fluids running. I can figure the rest out on my own. I know I hated waiting to give a long, drawn out report to the oncoming nurse. I never make someone stay, I know night shift is tired and wants to go home and sleep. I like days much better, but different strokes for different folks.