While there are unique challenges associated with night work, nurses who work nights can continue to enjoy their hobbies, spend time with family and friends, work towards their educational goals, and advance their careers. It is common for night nurses to feel excluded from activities and events with their staff and from social activities with family and friends. Night nurses must have the opportunity to contribute to and participate in programs aimed at improving patient outcomes, increasing teamwork and morale, and advancing nursing careers. One of the main reasons why most people work night shifts is the higher pay associated with it. Essentially, you`re doing the same job, but at a different time, and you`re getting paid more. This is a great opportunity to pay off debt or save. Luckily for my colleagues and I, we had several academic resources available during our night shifts in case one of our patients went south. We had an intensive care team that we could call at any time if something went wrong – other night shifts are not so lucky. At this point in my life, I was also in school and had to go back to the day shift to feel like a „normal person“ again.
During the night shift, I couldn`t concentrate on school, let alone spend time with my husband. Conversely, night nurses have a lower incidence of certain illnesses than their counterparts who work other shifts: nurses who have worked rotating shifts for 10 years or more are 44% less likely to develop melanoma, and those who work night shifts for more than 15 years are 50% less likely to develop Parkinson`s disease. However, nurses who work rotating shifts have a much higher prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome, and night nurses are more likely than their counterparts on other shifts to suffer from depression and high levels of anxiety. You raise important points and I recognize them all. In fact, I think our system and our planning approach need a complete overhaul. I am not in favour of 12-hour shifts, especially at night, given the consistent and extensive evidence of the health risks to those who work these shifts and the potential risks to patients. The many benefits that come with night work, such as spending days researching outside interests or advancing their nursing careers, balance the challenges faced by night nurses. The resources and tips in this guide are designed to keep night nurses healthy, rested and ready to provide quality care to their patients. As many happy night nurses can attest, it is possible to enjoy time with family and personal activities during the night shift. Whether you are a potential nurse planning your future work schedule or a practicing nurse, we have come to your rescue.
In this article, we compare night services and day care with a focus on the benefits of each. How differential compensation is calculated usually depends on the employer. But one thing is for sure: you will earn more than day shifts and your bank account will thank you. The Confident Voices in Healthcare blog offers advice for night nurses who work night shifts and are looking for ways to meet their family obligations: The biggest threat to the health of night nurses is the effects of chronic sleep deprivation. A study by Scrubs Magazine found that nurses slept one to four hours less per week when working nights. The risks posed by sleep deprivation include doubling the likelihood of having a car accident after sleeping less than six hours in the last 24 hours and quadrupling the risk after less than five hours of sleep. 10. Eat well and stay hydrated. To avoid gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, bloating, constipation, and heartburn, eat a full or nearly full meal just before your night shift. This mimics breakfast for those who are on the day shift.
To avoid feeling lethargic, avoid high-fat foods and limit yourself to two cups of caffeinated coffee in 24 hours. In addition, night nurses are often part of the 12-hour workday model. This leads to a variety of social and professional benefits. An article on RegisteredNursing.org highlighted the following: Ayed A, Thulth AS, Sayej S. Impact of night work and training development factors on the performance of professional nurses in Northwest Bank public hospitals. J Educ Pract. 2015;6(27):50-60. Planning and preparation can mitigate the negative effects of night work. Books C, Coody LC, Kauffman R, Abraham S. Night shift work and its effects on the health of nurses.