I Love Night Shift

48 This is just a post related to the absolute gazillions of negative commentary about night shift.

1. Teamwork, less backstabbing and sarcasm
2. Shift differential
3. Meals and showers are generally already done.
4. The 3am giggles
5. Never need a sitter (elementary kids + older)
6. The traffic is nonexistent
7. Superheroes work at night (Batman, Green Arrow, Daredevil, Dark Angel)
8. Putting small gifts at pt bedsides Christmas Eve/Halloween for those who celebrate and then get to go home and spend morning with family
9. Sleeping out in a hammock (under a shady tree!) to get Vitamin D
10. Sending family to work/school and having house to myself.
11. Night shift is full of really crazy or crazy sick pts. Either way, it's a good time.

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You can disagree with me or do your night shifts/sleeping differently, and that's great. I love night shift. I'm hooked.
#7 Good point

I wouldn't work any other shift. I love nights too!3 am giggles indeed !

I <3 nights (and have for over 30 years). All the cool kids work nights.

I love night shift except for the traffic! With 7p to 7a I go with traffic both ways. It's miserable. Going to days to get back to my 20 minute commute. I never know why they list this as a bonus to nights. It cannot be true for all.

Quote from meanmaryjeanI <3 nights (and have for over 30 years). All the cool kids work nights.

cute

I love everything about night shift, too, and your list is great! I have worked night shift for several years. What I don't love is fatigue on my nights/days off. I have used good strategies to combat it the best I could, but regretfully will be moving to days soon. My health is suffering. I will miss the 3 AM giggles the most. Night nurses have a lot more freedom and room to breathe, and when we get a lull we can have some good times at work with impromptu yoga sessions and the sharing of funny stories.

Quote from poppycatI've got you beat, meanmaryjean! This year is 40 years since I started working nights. Except for 1 month when I tried day shift, I've never worked any other shift & I'll never go to any other shift until I retire in another 30-40 years.

I've always been a night owl, so working nights was easy for me. I never hit the "four am wall". I never nodded off during charting, never bleary-eyed during my shift. Didn't even drink coffee, lol, so not a caffeine high, just a....NIGHTSHIFT high! It did have its downside, no doubt; had to struggle to make daytime appointments in between shifts (those I HAD to make, rather than schedule at a better time). Otherwise, I liked having fewer residents, attendings, management-types loitering at the desk

Night shift is seriously the best for every single one of those reasons!I can't wait to get back on the night shift routine Also, don't forget: #12: No bosses/higher ups or state inspectors to deal with! (at least not where I've worked)

Love nights!!!