Care at Madonna doesn’t pause when the sun goes down. Our night shift nursing staff keep patients moving forward through evenings, weekends and holidays. For many, the night shift means more autonomy, strong teamwork and new opportunities to lead. We sat down with several nurses to learn what makes nights rewarding and why it’s a shift worth considering.

Thank you all for talking with us! Can you tell us a little more about yourselves, what your role is and how long you’ve been a nurse?

Caitlin G., RN, BSN: I have been a nurse for seven years and have worked at Madonna since graduation. I work night shift in the Omaha Specialty Hospital as an RN, and sometimes I serve as a relief charge nurse.

Ashley F., RN, BSN: I’ve been a nurse since 2007. I took the nurse aide class here at Madonna and started working in 2003. I started in long term care as an aide and worked part time while going to school. After I graduated, I started full time as an RN in the Lincoln Specialty Hospital on dayshift and then started nightshift in 2014.

Joshua S., CNA: I have been a CNA for 8 years, and I will have been with Madonna for 6 years as of December. I rotate between units in the rehabilitation hospital in Omaha.

Dhan S., RN, BSN, CRRN: I have approximately 20 years of nursing experience, and I have been employed at Madonna for the past 3 years. I currently work nights as a nurse in the Specialty Hospital in Omaha. My responsibilities include delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care to a variety of patients, documenting and communicating updates on patient status, and supervising and supporting nurse aides to maintain high-quality care and safety overnight.

Heather S., RN, CRRN: I started as a nursing assistant at Madonna 17 years ago when I was in school to get my LPN. I had my LPN for a few years before I received my RN. So, I have been a licensed nurse about 16 years, and all that time at Madonna in Lincoln’s Specialty Hospital. I currently primarily work as a charge nurse on the night shift. In addition, I teach Advanced Cardiac Life Support and work with the education department as needed.

What initially attracted you to nursing?

Caitlin: I have wanted to be a nurse since my freshman year in high school. My favorite subject was science, and it was interesting learning about the human body. I got my CNA at 16 to see if nursing was the right career path. When I worked as a CNA, I loved helping and learning about the residents. After working as a CNA, it made me want to be a nurse even more.

Ashley: When I was trying to decide what I wanted to major in for college I knew I wanted to help people. I tried teaching for a short period, and it wasn’t a good fit for me. I’d seen my grandparents have health concerns and medical issues and it interested me. I decided to try nursing.

Joshua: What initially attracted me to nursing was the aspect of helping people. I’ve always been the kind of person to help others out when they need it.

Dhan: I’ve always wanted to help people, and nursing offers a powerful way to combine that passion with scientific knowledge. This alignment between my values and the profession attracted me to nursing from the start.

Heather: I became interested in nursing after giving birth to my first child and seeing what an impact a nurse can have on a person.

Why have you chosen to work night shift?

Caitlin: I initially chose to work night shift because it was not as fast-paced as day shift. I had recently graduated nursing school and wanted to be able to learn skills and gain experience without feeling rushed.

Ashley: I said I’d never work nightshift when I started. I worked dayshift for 6 years. When we had our 3rd daughter our daycare bill was ridiculous and there was a weekend program night shift spot open. It allowed me to make as much as I was on dayshift and be at home during the week with my kids. 

Joshua: I chose to work night shift frankly because I’ve never been a morning person, and I love sleeping in late. 🙂

Dhan: I chose to work the night shift because it aligns with my family responsibilities. With my children in school, the night shift allows me to drop them off and pick them up, and I can rest during the day when they’re in class. This arrangement supports my work-life balance and ensures I’m rested and alert for patient care during the night.

Heather: I originally chose night shift because it worked well with my family’s schedule when my children were little. I always thought I would go to days when my kids grew up, but they’re 17 and 20 and I’m still on nights.  I like the people I work with, most of them I have worked with over 10 years.

Madonna is currently hiring CNAs, LPNs and RNs for a wide variety of shifts. To learn more about our mission, benefits and career opportunities, visit madonna.org/careers/nursing