Many travel nurses dread impending night shifts, which is understandable as they can sometimes disrupt a sleep schedule or make it harder to socialize with friends. However, there is a select group of people with healthcare careers who actually look forward to these all-night workdays.
While they may be rare, these nurses have found ways to handle night shifts, and we can learn a lot from their approaches and little tricks. Here are some ways to tell if you fall into this category and, if not, some tips to help you improve your own all-nighters.
The beat of your own drum
Many people enjoy going against the grain, which is especially easy if you regularly work the night shift. The mirror-image schedule afforded by late hours makes it possible to shop in nearly empty supermarkets, easily handle routine tasks like visiting the post office and watching recently released blockbusters in desolate movie theaters (and at the reduced matinee rate, no less). If these perks appeal to you, you may be perfectly suited to fill your schedule with more night shifts.
Different schedule
If you don’t walk to the beat of a different drum, you may still function at the the tick of a different internal clock. Sleeping habits are notoriously individual, and many people find that they are most energetic at times when many others are fast asleep. If waking up in the morning is an eternal battle and you are commonly called a “night owl,” night shifts may be for you.
Quieter work environments
In general, night shifts are quieter and less eventful than traditional workdays. Most patients are asleep and fewer visitors stop by. If you thrive in a more subdued environment, the relative peace and quiet of a night shift could be the perfect way to achieve this in an otherwise hectic setting.
Extra care
Some travel nurses pride themselves on the high level of care they lavish on every patient. Of course, during peak hours – like the middle of the day and early evening – this is not always possible. During the night shift, though, it is much easier to devote your full attention to a patient’s needs. Many nurses find that this characteristic makes night shifts more appealing than day shifts, because they can more fully exercise the tendencies that got them into nursing in the first place.