October 21, 2024
A Day in the Life of a Nurse: Night Shift vs. Day Shift
By B&SC Blog Team
Nursing is a meaningful career that requires dedication and hard work, as the life of a nurse can be very demanding. Rolling shifts, long hours on their feet, and time spent away from their families—these are all part of a day in the life of a nurse. A major factor contributing to a nurse’s daily life is whether they work the shift or the night shift.
Day Shift vs. Night Shift: 3 Biggest Differences
While the differences between night-shift nursing and day-shift nursing are numerous, there’s no doubt that the following are the most significant:
Shift Differential
Shift differential is an additional payment to employees for working outside of regular office hours. This could be during an evening shift, night shift, or on the weekend, but for nurses, it usually means they’re working the night shift. Many nurses find the night shift difficult due to the unconventional hours and inherent challenge of working through the night. Fortunately, many employers offer premium pay for those who brave the extra challenge of working overnight, meaning night shift nurses earn extra income that compensates for the exhausting work schedule.
Sleep
Working the night shift undeniably affects your life outside of work, as your body’s circadian rhythms – the biological process that regulates sleep/wake cycles – are thrown off balance. The natural routine of day to night can be distorted and lead to feeling tired when you should be alert. This effect can lead to increased stress levels and an inability to focus on tasks, both on and off the job. Nurses working the day shift have a much easier time sleeping during regular hours. To help get a healthy amount of quality sleep, nurses should try to get some bright sunlight exposure in the morning, eat a balanced diet, and aim for at least 6-8 hours of sleep on their off days. It may even be beneficial to adjust their sleep schedule 1-2 days prior to beginning a night shift rotation to try and maintain a degree of normalcy in daily life.
Your Outside Life
Working the night shift can be a demanding lifestyle to live. It is tougher on your body physically and can also interfere with your personal and leisure time activities. It’s crucial for those who work nights to find ways to socialize with friends and family outside of their jobs, such as catching up for lunch on the weekend or attending social events. Day shift nurses may also struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance since many nurses work shifts up to 12 hours in length. That means they spend most daylight hours at work and may be too exhausted to socialize in the evening.
Day vs. Night Shift Nursing: Other Factors
The previous factors are the most obvious ways a nurse’s daily life is affected by whether they work the night or day shift, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Some other common differences between the daily lives of day-shift nurses and night-shift nurses include:
Work Pace
Which shift is slower-paced depends greatly on the type of healthcare facility – for example, emergency room night-shift nurses have a fast work pace – and how well staffed it is at night versus the day. Healthcare facilities are generally busier during the day, meaning a day-shift nurse’s day can be more fast-paced than a night-shift nurse’s. At night, most patients are asleep, their visitors have left, and very few doctors are around since most work the day shift. However, night shifts are often understaffed, and nurses may encounter more unexpected situations since most procedures are scheduled during the day.
Hospital Staff/Oversight
When it comes to hospital staff and oversight, there are vital differences in how nighttime operations are run compared to day shifts. During day shifts, there are typically more nurses, doctors, and other medical personnel on duty, allowing for thorough assessments of patients’ current conditions multiple times throughout the day. Because of the smaller support team available during night shifts, nurses often take on more responsibility throughout their shifts, including tasks that physicians and administrative staff would ordinarily take care of during the day.
Patient Interaction
As a nurse, the type of interaction with patients is vastly different depending on whether you are working during the day or night. During day shifts, interactions with patients tend to be more energetic. Day-shift nurses spend much of their time on scheduled appointments and procedures, meaning that outside of an emergency room setting, they often have a pretty consistent idea of what to expect from patient interactions. At night, most patients are asleep. Night-shift nurses have to wake up patients to check on their status or administer medication regularly, meaning most of their interactions are dealing with fatigued, disoriented patients or patients experiencing a crisis.
Visitor Interaction
Nurses working the night shift will encounter few, if any, visitors, since many facilities have restricted visiting hours and most patients, are asleep anyway. That means day-shift nurses encounter a majority of visitor interactions. Nurses are often the ones who will answer family members’ questions and help ensure they feel comfortable visiting their loved one. This is an integral part of a nurse’s role, and day-shift nurses will experience it more often than their night-shift counterparts.
Cafeteria/Food Access
While some medical facilities limit cafeteria access during hours outside the typical “business day,” many hospitals have taken steps to ensure that nurses on the night shift have the same access to healthy food from the cafeteria as their day shift counterparts. Whether giving nurses meal-preparation options or even developing exclusive menus for late-night meals, these extra measures help night-shift nurses properly care for themselves while caring for others.
Commuting to Work
A nurse’s shift can influence their daily commute. Day shifts will be impacted by typical morning and afternoon rush-hour traffic jams and likely require an early start to ensure you arrive on time, while those opting for the night shift may experience minimal delays. On the other hand, night shift nurses may have fewer public transportation options available to them.
Building Skills/Experience
Working a night shift as a nurse is substantially different from working during the day, and there are plenty of skills you can develop in either situation. On a night shift, nurses are more likely to work independently and be given more responsibility, meaning they must rely on their own knowledge, make judgments and decisions quickly, and stay organized. Developing an ability to multitask effectively can make all the difference when juggling various responsibilities that may arise.
Day shift nurses typically get more experience than their night shift counterparts. This is because there are usually more nurses, doctors, and other medical personnel on duty during the day, allowing for thorough assessments of patients’ current conditions multiple times throughout the day. With a larger support team available, day-shift nurses can also access more resources and work on more complex cases.
Connection to Colleagues
Whether working the night or day shift, nurses often develop a strong sense of camaraderie with their coworkers. They have to if they want to achieve optimal patient care results. However, there are some differences in these relationships due to the nature of the shifts they work.
Night shifts tend to have smaller crews and few doctors working. This means fewer opportunities for night-shift nurses to get to know physicians well. Nurses on night shifts may also have less likelihood of getting to know their fellow night-shift nurses. Since the night crews tend to be less well-staffed, each nurse has a larger patient load and less time for collaboration with other nurses. A smaller team can create the potential for tighter bonds, however, as each nurse could get to know the others on their shift more intimately.
On the day shift, nurses will work more directly with physicians and their fellow nurses. They also don’t have to worry about keeping patients awake with conversations, so they have more freedom to chat during downtime. Because of the higher volume of medical staff present during the day, day-shift nurses may see more variability in who they work with from shift to shift, limiting their ability to get to know any one individual well.
Downtime at Work
The amount of variation in tasks and the need for continuous patient care can make it incredibly difficult for nurses to find any downtime during the working day, whether on the night or day shifts. While working the night shift offers more continuous work hours with fewer breaks throughout the shift, the day shift provides more downtime overall, allowing nurses to rest during breaks between duties and appointments. Regular breaks will help nurses find their rhythm and ensure they’re at their best while attending to patients’ needs.
Nursing Duties
During the day, nurses may be managing medication distribution, helping create patient care plans, assisting with or managing patient appointments and procedures, or even training students who are assisting on the ward. The night shift often requires a different approach – nurses need to maintain a sense of security and safety in their environment, respond quickly and compassionately to any emergencies that occur, and work to adapt the care plan to any occurrences through the overnight hours. Because of reduced staffing, night-shift nurses often perform duties that would be completed by administrative staff and physicians during the day. Regardless of the shift, nurses are responsible for monitoring patients’ conditions and charting care.
Staying Healthy – Day or Night
No matter which shift a nurse works, maintaining their health is critical in providing high-quality, safe patient care. Living a balanced lifestyle, eating right, and staying active will help to ensure nurses have the energy and focus needed to complete their nursing duties. Taking time to get adequate rest, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, finding ways to reduce stress, and maintaining a healthy emotional and social support system can help ensure nurses remain healthy while on the job. It may seem challenging, given the long hours, but taking steps with patience and dedication can make good healthcare choices a part of living each day. And while the lifestyle of a night-shift nurse may be less common than a day-shift nurse, prioritizing personal well-being should remain a top priority for nurses.
Which Is Right for You?
After learning about the differences between night-shift nursing and day-shift nursing, you may be wondering which one is right for you. Consider factors such as whether you’re a natural morning or night person, how you think you can manage either schedule alongside other life responsibilities, and whether the potential financial benefit of working the night shift could outweigh any potential downsides. When in doubt, remember that most medical facilities will offer the option to work a rotation that includes both night and day shifts. While you may wish to have less variation in your schedule in the long term, it would allow you to test drive both shifts to determine which is right for you.
Start Your Nursing Journey Today
Whether you’re leaning toward day-shift or night-shift nursing, a new nurse or a nurse looking to expand and advance in their career, Bryant & Stratton can help. We have a nursing program to meet your career goals, including a Practical Nursing Diploma, Associate Degree in Nursing , and RN to BSN Program. Contact us today or fill out the Request Info form to learn more.
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