Have you ever wondered about the night shift as a nurse? As a nursing student, working the night shift was always something I felt nervous about! Maybe you’ve thought about what it’s like, if nursing responsibilities are different during the night shift, and how to even stay awake while you’re working all night? Well, let’s talk about all that!
In this post we’ll answer some FAQs nurses have about the night shift. Hopefully by the end of it, you’ll feel a bit more comfortable about working overnights, and whether it’s for you. Let’s get started!
1. What is the night shift?
We all know that hospitals are running 24/7, which means someone has to care for patients at all times of the day, including night time! Most nursing shifts are 12 hours, but night shift hours can vary from facility to facility. My hospital did night shift from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., but I’ve heard of other facilities doing 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., and even 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.
2. Are night shift nurse responsibilities different?
Typically, yes! While the general nursing care provided to clients remains the same, there are some small things that are different. Most of the time the interdisciplinary team is not working overnight. So you shouldn’t expect visits from physical therapists, dietitians, or any ancillary services during night shift.
There are also some tasks that may only be performed on the night shift. For example, the facility I worked at previously would have all standard labs drawn overnight, fluids would be changed on night shift, and a client’s weight would be assessed every night. So while the overall nursing tasks remain the same overnight, there are a few tasks night shift nurses don’t participate in, and a few they do that day shift nurses don’t participate in.
3. What are the perks of working the night shift?
Most facilities offer a night shift differential, which means night shift nurses get paid a few extra dollars per hour for working overnight than they would working a day shift.
Plus, many night shift nurses report enjoying the pace of night shift better. Since there typically aren’t visits from ancillary services, this allows the nurse to spend more one-on-one, uninterrupted time with their client.
There also tends to be periods of downtime on night shift that may not occur on day shift. This is a great opportunity to research a client’s conditions, spend time learning more, and develop critical thinking skills.
This isn’t to say those things can’t be done on day shift, but typically night shift provides more opportunities for them, just due to the fact that night shift is slower than day shift.
4. What are the drawbacks of working the night shift?
On the flip side, there are a few cons to night shift. It can make having a “normal” life outside of work more challenging, as during the day you need to be catching up on sleep while the rest of the world is awake.
Night shift can be harder on the body, as some people don’t tolerate being up all night very well. I personally experienced intermittent nausea and struggled to eat on night shift, which was challenging.
5. So, how should you prepare for your first night shift as a nurse?
Give yourself grace.
I’ll be honest—I was very nervous and felt overwhelmed by my first night shift. So if you’re feeling that way, you’re not alone. Those emotions are totally normal! It can feel intimidating knowing you’re required to stay up and provide care to clients all night long.
Give yourself grace. The more you do it, the more you’ll figure out a routine that helps you prepare for the night shift.
Find a sleep routine that works for you.
Whether you’re heading into your first night shift ever, or just starting another stretch of shifts after a period of time off, switching to a night shift schedule can be a bit of an adjustment.
When preparing for that first night shift, remember the first night is always the hardest, usually because you just slept the entire night before and may not be able to nap during the day. It usually becomes easier with subsequent shifts, as you’re so tired from being up all night that sleeping during the day becomes unavoidable.
Keep in mind, everyone prepares for their first night a little differently! Personally, I know I can’t sleep in. No matter how late I stay up the night before, I’ll wake up bright and early.
That said, I had plenty of coworkers that could sleep in if they stayed up late the night before. They would stay up as late as possible (sometimes to 3 or 4 a.m.) so they could then sleep during the day in preparation for their night shift.
Since that didn’t work for me, I would instead try and get as much quality sleep as I could the night before, then have a really relaxing day heading into my shift. Sometimes this would include lounging in bed all day and trying to sneak in an afternoon nap before the shift started.
Pack your bag with night shift nurse essentials.
Snacks, snacks, and more snacks!
I personally really struggled with eating during my night shifts. Sometimes I wanted a full lunch, and other times I didn’t want to eat much at all! I always found it helpful to have a few different snack options in my bag to give me choices depending on how I was feeling and provide me energy throughout the night.
Pens
You can never have enough pens! For some reason it feels like pens are always going missing, so having an extra stash in your bag is really helpful.
Hair ties
There were many nights I had to use the “rubber glove hair tie trick” to keep my hair pulled back because my hair tie broke mid shift or I forgot one altogether. Having a few hair ties tucked away in your bag is a must for emergency situations.
Caffeine
If you’re someone who drinks caffeine, having an extra energy drink on hand can be really helpful. I personally tried my best to stop drinking caffeine after midnight, just to ensure I’d get good sleep after my shift, but that didn’t always work out! The stretch from 4 to 6 a.m. was often difficult for me, so having caffeine on hand for those extra tired nights is helpful.
Sweatshirt
The hospital can become really cold at night! If your unit allows it, I’d recommend having an extra sweatshirt or jacket in your bag to help you stay warm throughout the night.
Extra pair of scrubs
It’s never a bad idea to have an extra pair of scrubs on hand!
Entertainment
Having a book or e-reader on hand can be a nice way to relax during your breaks without watching TV or looking at a screen. We’re already looking at computers while charting all night, so give your eyes a break!
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it, the night shift nurse essentials! Use this information to master any nervousness you may have about working overnights. Remember to give yourself grace, knowing there will be a period of adjustment for you. But armed with the answers to these five FAQs, you have what it takes to become a night shift nurse!
Looking for more tips for new nurses? Check out these other posts on the Blueprint Nursing blog!
