Night Shift Nurses

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RN to BSN Program

University of Houston at Victoria launches an innovative RN to BSN program: one day a week, one year to complete. The RN to BSN program at University of Houston at Victoria was developed to address the needs of its future students including nurses working in the community and wanting to further their education. The university designed a unique nursing program that requires students to be present on campus a single day each week. Another outstanding feature of this program is that it can be completed within a single year, giving nurses the opportunity to apply their new knowledge and skills as quickly as possible. Graduates of this nursing program develop a broader understanding of nursing as a profession and are prepared to assume leadership roles at the facilities where they are employed.

Texas DNP Program

The School of Nursing of the University of Texas at Houston has launched the first Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program in Texas. Interested applicants must be advanced practice nurses holding a master’s degree and be licensed as nurse practitioners. Those admitted will be prepared to become clinical scholars and leaders of nursing practice. This doctoral nursing program is only offered part time and applicants are being admitted only once per year.

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Night Shift Nursing Jobs

Night shift work is a reality for many nurses employed in the hospital setting. New graduate nurses are often faced with the decision of whether to work steady nights or to alternate between day and night shifts. For many, the decision to work night shift only comes from the desire to have a somewhat stable schedule when all day shift positions are filled and the other alternative is to work both days and nights. Working the night shift has many advantages but it does not come without a price. Nurses must be able to weigh the positives against the negatives when deciding which shift suits them best and find ways to cope and adjust to a night shift schedule.

What are some of the benefits of working as a professional nurse on the night shift? The night hourly pay rate is higher since many hospitals and health care facilities offer a so called shift differential. A nurse working nights may obtain around $3 more for every hour worked, therefore earning a higher yearly salary than someone on day shift. There is a slower pace and significant reduced pressure on night shift as compared to day shift. Many nurses find that the unit is less crowded with health care personnel or family members, making it easier to provide nursing care without disruptions.

For those who have families the night shift may allow them to spend extra hours with their children during the day. The traffic is less hectic during the night and it may take less time to get to work when a longer commute is the norm. During the day, when everyone else is working, it is much easier to take care of other activities without facing crowds and prolonged waiting time. This includes shopping for groceries, stopping at the bank, or seeing a movie.

Working the night shift does not come without some disadvantages. One must learn ways to adapt to a completely new schedule but still find ways to enjoy life. Multiple studies have been done to look into the effects of working the night shift. The research data shows alterations of circadian rhythm, sleep patterns, and overall level of energy of nurses working during the night time. Furthermore, the results have shown disturbances in family life and decreased social interactions.

Nurses working nights and shift work are more prone to making nursing errors as they find it more difficult to keep alert and focused, especially after 4:00 AM. Sleep deprivation has been shown to lead to obesity due to an increased urge to eat in order to stay awake as well as decreased energy and time to exercise.

Driving home after working the night shift puts some nurses at risk of auto accidents, especially those who work 12 hour shifts and who suffer from sleep deprivation. One study performed by the Institute of Medicine regarding patient safety has concluded that night shift work combined with long hours will result in decreased reaction time, insufficient attention to significant patient details, errors in medication administration and nursing notes, low levels of motivation and lack of energy.

How can one cope with night shift work and maybe even learn to enjoy it? First of all you need to learn how to manipulate and adjust your internal body clock so that it will function optimally during the night shift. To reverse your circadian rhythm you may want to consider the following suggestions:

Stay away from caffeine after the first six hours into your nursing shift
Do not consume fatty and heavy foods which may upset your stomach, and simple carbohydrates which tend to deplete you of energy shortly after consumption
When possible take a short nap during your break time
Wear sunglasses while driving home
Avoid exercising when you get home but get some rest instead
Make sure there are no disturbances such as TV or phone calls once you are ready to get some sleep
Do not have an alcoholic drink before bed because your sleep is not going to be as restful as it could be without it
Keep sleeping pills for emergencies only
Maintain a regular sleeping schedule

Additional Nursing Resources

Night Shift Nursing

night shift challenges and survival tips