Day shift or Night shift? which do you prefer?

@Wyldrose (1216)
United States
July 21, 2008 4:23pm CST
I work night shift mostly at our local hospital in the emergency room and I love it. I am a receptionist and we work twelve hour shifts so I am there from 6:30pm-6:30am. Working nights is like a whole different world at the hospital. There are not hundreds of people milling around, no visitors, no bosses, just a few people in each department doing their jobs. I do work occasional days but much prefer the night shift. When we aren't busy we go out in the lobby and watch TV or just get together and talk and joke around.I have to sleep during the day which is hard for me sometimes because my husband and I also own our own business, but I manage to get enough sleep. So I was wondering, what do y'all prefer? Day shift or night shift?
10 people like this
44 responses
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I am definately a night person,and I have always been,because I rather be up at night doing things,and sleeping during the day,and I seem to think more clearly during the night hours,so I would definately prefer to work the night shift aka third shift, because it would be more fun,and a lot less stressful,than working a day shift aka first shift job,that and I hate with a passion having to get up early in the morning and it always makes me cranky.
2 people like this
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I still find it hard to sleep during the day because most of my life I've been a day person. When I started working nights I realized I loved the atmosphere much better. :) Thanks for answering. :)
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I can tell you that yes he does hate getting up early in the mornings and he is a bit cranky when he does, but I nonetheless love him (Am I safe? lol)
2 people like this
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
LOL...I take it you two know each other? thanks for responding. :)
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
21 Jul 08
My fiance and I are currently unemployed. We are finding it hard to find jobs with where we live and the fact that I do not have a car. I use to work in another county as a banquet server. This job would entail some days being as long as 6 AM to 2 AM the next day, and would really be a very tiring experience. There were weeks when I only got two hours of sleep each day. I think that the night shifts are the best though as you are right in saying that it is a whole new world. Hope your having a lovely day!
2 people like this
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I don't mind at all. We have a tax and accounting business and are getting ready to open up another small business..
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Thank you, I am. :) I agree it's so hard to find a job nowadays but when you do, you need to hang on to it. Those hours you worked are killer hours, I agree and only two hours of sleep a day would do me in. lol...I used to work fast food when I was younger and I worked evening hours ...5-close and that meant not getting home until around two or three in the morning. That was realllyyyy hard because I had little kids at the time...
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Yes I know it must have been hard for you to work those hours and only have a few hours of sleep before waking up and caring for your children. What kind of business do you and your husband do you if you don't mind me asking?
2 people like this
@n30wing (4767)
• Philippines
22 Jul 08
I still want morning work for reason that I could be with my girlfriend at night and we have the same schedule cause she works in the morning too. And working in the morning I have my normal sleep and I already got used to work in the morning it's gonna be a hard time to adjust if I'm going to work at night. Have a nice day!
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
That makes a lot of sense to me!! Thanks for answering. :)And you have a great day too!!
@Mat_keane (236)
• Malaysia
22 Jul 08
Hai, That ok. What we must do is working. Before this i'm working in night shift like u. But just maintain for only 6 month. Now, im work in Day shift. Whatever we work is same target to make money.
1 person likes this
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Makes sense to me!! Thanks for answering. :)
@nasohail3 (355)
• India
22 Jul 08
i don't like night shift because god made night specially for sleep and god made the day to work and any how every one has a style to do work depending upon our minds they do work but i prefer to work in day shift specially
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I totally understand. :) thanks for answering. :)
@Jose92 (18)
• Portugal
21 Jul 08
I personally prefer night shifts. i mean all my life i've been living during day light and now i just cant sleep during the day. its like anti-natural for me.
1 person likes this
@Jose92 (18)
• Portugal
21 Jul 08
sorry i meant day shifts...
1 person likes this
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I agree, it's hard to sleep during the day. My husband puts blankets over the windows for me to make it even darker. It really helps out. Thanks for answering. :)
1 person likes this
@mnflower (1299)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I prefer to work first shift but have also worked the night shift when I was younger and I didn't mind it, but for me now these days I do prefer the days...I do appreciate the work you do tho, I know you have a very hard job and are always so busy, why i know I just got my mother out of the hospital and she spent 2 weeks in icu. Bless your heart for your job
1 person likes this
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Thank you, I appreciate that. :) I hope your mother is well now? And yes, there are nights when we are terribly busy but it passes the time. I don't like seeing all the sick and injured people but it's all par for the course.
1 person likes this
@vicky30 (4766)
• India
22 Jul 08
Here in India most of the work goes on in the day shift.In the night shifts there are few people working.I prefer night shifts because there is not much pressure and i spend most of the time sleeping in the night shift.
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Wow...sounds very stressful!
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I'm sure shift work is different in other countries. What type of work do you do? Just wondering.. thanks for answering. :)
@vicky30 (4766)
• India
22 Jul 08
I was working in the IT helpdesk as technical support,handling users computer problems,making escalations about problems.
• United States
29 Jul 08
I definitely prefer to work night shifts over days! The bosses are not there to criticize during the nights and there is less paperwork! Most people are sleeping, so only the people that really do need you are around and you can take more time with them! I am a night person!
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
29 Jul 08
My sentiments exactly!!!! thanks for responding..have a great day :)
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
22 Jul 08
hello,i prefer night shift! i am not a nurse but i heared with my closed friend that she prefered night shift coz its not busy as during the day and not many visitor i meand night shift if more relaxing.
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
My feelings exactly. thanks for answering. :)
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
22 Jul 08
welcome and have a nice day.
• Malaysia
22 Jul 08
Hie Wyldrose, I prefer the night shift too and like you mentioned, less human traffic and hassles. I used to work in a health care centre and I did very frequent nights which I actually didn't mind. As a night person myself, I enjoyed it and I would get so many off days accumulated with my annual leaves. And during the off days I could have more time to do my personal stuffs One thing I couldn't stand was the air condition which was extremely cold at night, really stone cold. And nowadays I have more flexible hours, work when my service is required only. Cheers and best wishes.
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I totally agree with you. :) It is cold, no not just cold, freezing, in the ER I work in. I think they forget to turn the thermostat up at night or something so in the summer I am always wearing sweaters. LOL..Now THAT looks wierd but I hate being cold. Thanks for answering and have a great day. :)
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
26 Jul 08
You are welcome. Over here could be sunny outside but so cold inside the building even in the daytime due to the AC system. And most will be wearing long sleeve blouses, blazers or cardigans at leastNot crazy though Cheers and happy posting.
• United States
21 Jul 08
I would perfer night shift because that is when i am most active.. Aand night arn't so busy so i perfer nights...
1 person likes this
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Exactly, and I think it also depends on the type of job that you have too. I work in a hospital and there is always something going on. What type of work do you do?
1 person likes this
@lixiaos (17)
• China
22 Jul 08
when i was young, i prefer night shift, because i was so energitic that i need free time during the day to consume my energy. After 5 years' work, i went to a college to seek a doctor degree and i usually sleep late reading books. when one day i suffered serious stomach disease, i know that it is not good to go to bed late.
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Sorry about your stomach disease. Did you get your doctor's degree?
• China
22 Jul 08
thanks to the technology that i didn't need an operation and i recovered 2 weeks later. until now i soldem eat spicy food and give up the habit of drinking tea. i will graduate 1 year later. i believe night shift will not do harm to one's health. but lacking of regular and enough sleep does.
• China
22 Jul 08
i hope that you can sleep more than 8 hours a day regularly. And i believe eat something at night will be helpful. Beacuse there is more stomach acid at night. i was quite strong and i never expect i would suffer serious disease. But the pain remind me how important to maintain healthy. best wish to you.
@tigger44 (144)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I work in the hospital myself and in ems and a paramedic. You are right it is a different world at night in the er. I persoanlly love the night shift both in the hospital and on the road working. It is hardly ever busy during my twelve hor shift either. I am more of a night person anyways so I have always enjoyed working nights.
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
18 Aug 08
I enjoy it too mainly because it IS like a whole different world. Sometimes it's just more laid back the people are easier to get along with. Thanks for responding.
@pitstop (13723)
• Australia
29 Jul 08
Although it is quite exciting, I wonder if it is healthy. Some people say that the altered biological rhythm is not good for the body. Also you tend to miss out on the daytime activities with family and friends and meals seemed out of sync. For these reasons I prefer a daytime shift, although a night shift once in a while is OK. I too work at a hospital and have done night shifts!
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
29 Jul 08
I hear that a lot too...It's true, it does mess up one's system and sometimes takes me a day or two to get back to "normal." But, all in all, I still prefer nights over days. :)
@rsa101 (38126)
• Philippines
23 Jul 08
I work on day shift and so far I like it. My job requires me to work on daytime. That is why I am used to this kind of work. I do think that doing a night shift may have some bad outcome in the long run. As biologically your body is made to rest at night and should be awake at the mornings. So there may be some complications to your natural body clock.
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
23 Jul 08
Good point. :) Thanks for responding. :)
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I myself would rather work the evening shift, you know the 3 to 11 shift. I worked the night shift for 2 yrs one time and I didn't like it too much, it was hard for me to sleep during the day, I had things I needed to get done and you can't do them when your sleeping. I also had a car accident that time, because I didn't get enough sleep the day before, so I fell asleep driving home that morning. I don't like the day shift because I'm not a morning person, and I don't like having to get up early in the mornings, I'm not a happy camper if I have to get up early..lol. My sister is a nurse and she works the night shift, I guess she likes it, she's been working that shift for a long time now, but the thing is, all she does is sleep and eat, she has two boys, 7 and 11 yrs old, they complain because she doesn't do anything with them, they say all she does is sleep, and she don't take them anywhere, but you can't tell her anything, she likes the money. I do think she still needs to find time to spend with her family.
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I can understand that. When I had kids at home, the evening shift was better for me because I got to do things with my kids, then I had plenty of time to sleep and get rested up after getting home after the evening shift. I wouldn't work nights at all if I had kids at home.
@Elixiress (3878)
22 Jul 08
I have only ever worked day shifts, but the hours of my shifts can vary throughout the day as I tend to just do four hours a day as it is only a part time job. Sometimes I work 8am - 12pm while other times I can do 5pm - 9pm. I prefer doing the 10am - 2pm shift, because then I do not have to get up really early like the I do with the 8am shift, but I also have most of the day ahead of me to go shopping or do whatever I want.
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
That sounds good to me!!!! Thanks for responding. :)
@xsquid (111)
• Indonesia
22 Jul 08
I also work on night shift on a international company as customer service. Yeah I also prefer night shift, because like you said, there are not many people and no boss around also we can chit chat with friend when there is no work. But working night shift also have bad side, to our health I supposed. Because after I work on night shift I notice my face begin to grow acne, and also I'm experiencing low on stamina and easily get flu/cold or something. Did you experience the same?
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
To be honest with you, I haven't had that many problems. I take a lot of vitamins, tho, and that seems to help. Last winter when most of the employees were getting colds/flu, etc, I never once got sick so I give the credit to my taking vitamins. I get low on stamina once in a while but when I do, I just get a little more rest or take a B12. :)
• Jamaica
22 Jul 08
I love the day shift because I love sleep and in used to getting up and going to bed with the sun. I stayed up until 7 once and I will never do that again! It took me a week to get back to my normal sleep pattern.
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Thanks for your response! :)