Many people can handle working late at night, which is good considering that hospitals and several medical facilities operate 24 hours a day. Of course, in order for a hospital or clinic to remain open late, they need reliable night shift nurses to care for the patients. Night shift nurses primarily work between the hours of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. The shifts vary, and some late night nurses can begin their shift as early as 8 p.m. Whatever the chosen shift, it takes a special kind of person to become a night shift nurse. Their sleep pattern is opposite the majority of the population, and this requires a huge adjustment.

The duties of night shift nurses are similar to the responsibilities of other shift nurses. In some instances, night shift nurses have less work simply because the patient sleeps for the majority of their shift. Still, nurses who work the late shift must continually monitor patients throughout the night and respond to requests. The hardest part about being a night shift nurse is learning to adapt to a different sleep schedule. In many cases, night shift nurses sleep less hours. Shifts typically end at 7 a.m., wherein night shift nurses return home and rest. Unfortunately, sleeping throughout the day is difficult for many night shift nurses, and they tend to receive less rest. Once a night shift nurse wakes up, he or she likely cares for personal affairs and remains awake until their next shift.

One of the biggest advantages to becoming a night shift nurse is working in a calmer environment. Since shifts typically begin after 9 p.m., the hospital or medical facility has few visitors. Plus, the number of telephone calls decreases significantly. For this reason, night shift nurses are able to complete their work and few or no distractions.