What Does a Night Nurse Do?

A nurse is a health care professional responsible for administering professional care for injuries and illnesses. A night nurse is a professional who provides such services during night shifts, usually at hospitals or health care centers. A night nurse is likely to work in an emergency care facility, though other nurses may work in a specific department within a hospital or health care center. Neonatal night nurses, for example, will care for newborn babies during the night hours, especially those newborns who face health issues or life-threatening conditions.

A position as a night nurse is usually offered to professionals who are new to the field, or to more experienced nurses who want to earn higher wages, as these positions generally pay better than day nurse jobs. Of course, the job can be strenuous, not only because of the nature of hospital settings, but also because the nurse must adapt to a schedule that requires him or her to sleep during daytime hours and work through the night. While the specific schedule of a night nurse can vary, many nurses work three days on, four days off schedules. Others may work four days on, three days off schedules.

Many of the job responsibilities of the night nurse will be similar, if not exactly the same, as a day nurse. Patient care is still a high priority, and medications must still be administered or monitored during the night. Patients may have additional needs during the night as well, and if an emergency situation arises during the night, the nurse will be responsible for notifying the appropriate medical professionals and otherwise addressing the situation at hand. Guests are usually not permitted during the night hours, so a nurse must monitor his or her assigned area to ensure it is secure.

Like other types of nurses, a night nurse must go through the appropriate schooling before he or she can work in a professional setting. A four-year college degree is required, and appropriate licensing exams must be taken to certify the nurse as a professional. It is best to research the various requirements in a particular region if a person is interested in becoming such a nurse. A recent graduate is likely to find many night nurse job openings, probably more so than day nurse jobs, as these positions can be difficult to fill due to the altered schedule and relatively high stress level of the job.