Night Nurses: Why Do You Work Nights?

[stlnurse]

Dear Nursing Colleagues:

We are currently enrolled as graduate students at the University of St. Francis (United States) in the Health Services Administration program. As part of the requirement for the completion of this program, we must complete a survey project applicable to the healthcare environment. We are asking for your volunteer participation in a simple survey. The purpose of this survey will be to determine why nurses work nights. The results of the survey are anonymous. There will be no connection between you and the data you provide. There is no risk to your participation. Thank you very much for your participation in this survey.

Sincerely

C. Guelbert R.N.
A. Hornbogen R.N.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Line Survey

The purpose of this online survey is to determine why healthcare workers choose to work the night shift at their place of employment.

1) I AM:
a. Female
b. Male

2) I AM A:
a. Registered Nurse (RN)
b. Licensed Professional Nurse (LPN)
c. Nursing Assistant (NA)

3) MY AGE:
a. 21-30
b. 31-40
c. 41-50
d. 51-60
e. Over Sixty.

4) I WORK:
a. Full-time
b. Part-time
c. Per Diem (prn)

5) I WORK ____ hours Per Diem a month.


6) I WORK the majority of my night shifts on the following shift:
a. 7 PM to 7 AM (12 hour nights)
b. 11 PM to 7 AM (8 hour nights)
c. A COMBINATION of BOTH

7) I HAVE BEEN WORKING NIGHTS:
a. 0-2 years
b. 3-5 years
c. 6-10 years
d. 11-15 years
d. 16+ years

8) If you work the majority of your shifts on nights, rank the top three reasons why you do this in order of importance. For example, the most important reason being a 1, second most a 2, etc.
Childcare reasons____
Financial reasons____
Night shifts are less hectic than day shift____
I enjoy having more autonomy working night shifts____
I am not a daytime person. My body feels better when I work nights____
I am going to school during the daytime____
My spouse/significant other works night shifts also____
I have no choice, as this is the only job opportunity available at the time____
Other reasons not specified here____

9) I AM a single parent:
a. Yes
b. No

10) I AM the primary wage earner in my household?
a. Yes
b. No

11) Would you ever like to leave night shift and work a more “normal” shift, such as 7 AM – 3 PM?
a. Yes
b. No

Thank you for your responses. This survey is being used to write a graduate research paper describing why nursing staff works night shift. All responses are completely confidential and anonymous.

[Aaron C.]

FYI,

You can use our "survey" software to conduct your survey if you would like.

It's free, and your entire class can use the same survey.

If you need help setting it up just let me know.

[nursinghumor]

I give credit to anyone that can work nights for an extended period of time. I tried it for a summer and simply couldn't adjust. Was miserable at work, was miserable at home.

Eventually, my wife and I decided to work opposite shifts on days to accomodate our daughter and avoid putting her in childcare.

Hats off to those doing it

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursefriendly.com

[yellowrose]

[QUOTE=stlnurse]Dear Nursing Colleagues:

We are currently enrolled as graduate students at the University of St. Francis (United States) in the Health Services Administration program. As part of the requirement for the completion of this program, we must complete a survey project applicable to the healthcare environment. We are asking for your volunteer participation in a simple survey. The purpose of this survey will be to determine why nurses work nights. The results of the survey are anonymous. There will be no connection between you and the data you provide. There is no risk to your participation. Thank you very much for your participation in this survey.

Sincerely

C. Guelbert R.N.
A. Hornbogen R.N.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Line Survey

The purpose of this online survey is to determine why healthcare workers choose to work the night shift at their place of employment.

1) I AM:
a. Female
b. Male

2) I AM A:
a. Registered Nurse (RN)
b. Licensed Professional Nurse (LPN)
c. Nursing Assistant (NA)

3) MY AGE:
a. 21-30
b. 31-40
c. 41-50
d. 51-60
e. Over Sixty.

4) I WORK:
a. Full-time
b. Part-time
c. Per Diem (prn)

5) I WORK ____ hours Per Diem a month.


6) I WORK the majority of my night shifts on the following shift:
a. 7 PM to 7 AM (12 hour nights)
b. 11 PM to 7 AM (8 hour nights)
c. A COMBINATION of BOTH

7) I HAVE BEEN WORKING NIGHTS:
a. 0-2 years
b. 3-5 years
c. 6-10 years
d. 11-15 years
d. 16+ years

8) If you work the majority of your shifts on nights, rank the top three reasons why you do this in order of importance. For example, the most important reason being a 1, second most a 2, etc.
Childcare reasons____
Financial reasons____
Night shifts are less hectic than day shift____
I enjoy having more autonomy working night shifts____
I am not a daytime person. My body feels better when I work nights____
I am going to school during the daytime____
My spouse/significant other works night shifts also____
I have no choice, as this is the only job opportunity available at the time____
Other reasons not specified here____

9) I AM a single parent:
a. Yes
b. No

10) I AM the primary wage earner in my household?
a. Yes
b. No

11) Would you ever like to leave night shift and work a more “normal” shift, such as 7 AM – 3 PM?
a. Yes
b. No

Thank you for your responses. I tried to do the survey but was unable to click to the answers I wanted to put,If you can come up with a suggestion I will do it as soon as I can.

[BigRedNurse]

Let's see if I can answer without the form; I am a 50yo female, in nursing 4 years, have worked nights 5 years. I work 80hrs a pay period, or 160hrs per month. I work nights to avoid the politics of the day. I feel that, if my patients ARE awake, I can give them a little more TLC that the day-shift nurses don't have time for. Hope that helps; now I'm off to work! Have a great night, all! Oops, I'm married, and, of course, my hubby would rather I work days.......

[LynnaeRN]

The purpose of this online survey is to determine why healthcare workers choose to work the night shift at their place of employment.

1) I AM:
a. Female
b. Male

2) I AM A:
a. Registered Nurse (RN)
b. Licensed Professional Nurse (LPN)
c. Nursing Assistant (NA)

3) MY AGE:
a. 21-30
b. 31-40
c. 41-50
d. 51-60
e. Over Sixty.

4) I WORK:
a. Full-time
b. Part-time
c. Per Diem (prn)

5) I WORK ___144_ hours Per Diem a month.


6) I WORK the majority of my night shifts on the following shift:
a. 7 PM to 7 AM (12 hour nights)
b. 11 PM to 7 AM (8 hour nights)
c. A COMBINATION of BOTH

7) I HAVE BEEN WORKING NIGHTS:
a. 0-2 years
b. 3-5 years
c. 6-10 years
d. 11-15 years
d. 16+ years

8) If you work the majority of your shifts on nights, rank the top three reasons why you do this in order of importance. For example, the most important reason being a 1, second most a 2, etc.
Childcare reasons__4__
Financial reasons__1__
Night shifts are less hectic than day shift__2__
I enjoy having more autonomy working night shifts_5___
I am not a daytime person. My body feels better when I work nights__3__
I am going to school during the daytime____
My spouse/significant other works night shifts also____
I have no choice, as this is the only job opportunity available at the time____
Other reasons not specified here____

9) I AM a single parent:
a. Yes
b. No

10) I AM the primary wage earner in my household?
a. Yes
b. No

11) Would you ever like to leave night shift and work a more “normal” shift, such as 7 AM – 3 PM?
a. Yes
b. No

I enjoy the night shift because you have the time to bond with the patient and really give them the care that is needed to help them recover. Also night shift nurses always tend to work better together also...lol

[AnneF]

I don`t, but my sister does !
She works nights as here days are filled with colledge and her other jobs, all to pay her rent ect......

She doesn`t have a problem thou as she used to work strange hours and is a night person...

She has a split shift sleeping pattern thou...

I have no problem in that area as I`m a night person too (identical twins, I can sleep for her !)

[cougarnurse]

On 11-7's, I can get 'a little more' done. 7-3 and 3-11's......too hectic: doctors, residents going to Program, admissions/discharges.....blah!

[CaseyLynn.ER.RN]

1) I AM:
a. Female**
b. Male

2) I AM A:
a. Registered Nurse (RN)**
b. Licensed Professional Nurse (LPN)
c. Nursing Assistant (NA)

3) MY AGE:
a. 21-30**
b. 31-40
c. 41-50
d. 51-60
e. Over Sixty.

4) I WORK:
a. Full-time**
b. Part-time
c. Per Diem (prn)

5) I WORK ____ hours Per Diem a month.


6) I WORK the majority of my night shifts on the following shift:
a. 7 PM to 7 AM (12 hour nights)**
b. 11 PM to 7 AM (8 hour nights)
c. A COMBINATION of BOTH

7) I HAVE BEEN WORKING NIGHTS:
a. 0-2 years
b. 3-5 years**
c. 6-10 years
d. 11-15 years
d. 16+ years

8) If you work the majority of your shifts on nights, rank the top three reasons why you do this in order of importance. For example, the most important reason being a 1, second most a 2, etc.
Childcare reasons____
Financial reasons__1__
Night shifts are less hectic than day shift____
I enjoy having more autonomy working night shifts__2__
I am not a daytime person. My body feels better when I work nights____
I am going to school during the daytime__3__
My spouse/significant other works night shifts also____
I have no choice, as this is the only job opportunity available at the time____
Other reasons not specified here____

9) I AM a single parent:
a. Yes
b. No**

10) I AM the primary wage earner in my household?
a. Yes
b. No
?equal...
11) Would you ever like to leave night shift and work a more “normal” shift, such as 7 AM – 3 PM?
a. Yes**
b. No

[grahamcracker977]

I'm a 30 year old, female, RN and started working nights two months ago. I work 80 hours/2 weeks (4 ten hour shifts 8:30p-7a a week).
I went to evenings to get away from the day shift drama. I work in the OR and I'm sure any specialty can understand what I mean. I also switched for the shift differential.
This is the first time this hospital has had a night shift in surgery. It's still experimental...I've worked nights at a major trauma center before so it's not new to me.
I don't have kids...