Night duty: it’s the shift few outsiders see, and fewer still understand. While aged care doesn’t stop at sunset, the personal cost of working through the night often goes unnoticed, even within the sector itself.
We spoke to members of our community who’ve lived the night shift life. Some for months, others for decades. Their stories reveal a common thread: night duty doesn’t just reshape your sleep. It reshapes your life.
Sleep? It’s complicated
There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy to surviving night shift. Some sleep in blocks, others in naps. A few have developed carefully timed routines to manage sleep between drop-offs, appointments, and household responsibilities. “I sleep 9–1 then 7–9 most nights unless I wake before my alarm,” one member shared. “The first week I cried a lot. I thought, ‘What have I done?’”
Another said, “I’ve been doing nights for 15 years and still only get four hours sleep.”
Some stay up all night before their first shift to help their body adjust, while others swear by mini naps and black-out masks.
But most agree: without a supportive partner or family, it’s nearly impossible to do well or safely.
Your body clock isn’t the only thing that shifts
While clinical work remains constant, the real impact is on the body, mind, and relationships. Many workers describe juggling night shifts with family life, housework, shopping, and parenting.
“It’s hard work,” one contributor wrote. “It affects your family, your social life. I crash after four nights. I have to push myself to stay awake just to spend time with family.” Even the basics – eating, hydrating, and staying active – can become difficult. “The eating part was the hardest,” said one nurse. “But you adapt.”
Some say the shift fits better with parenting. You’re home when the kids wake up. You can do school runs. You sleep while they’re at school. But for many, the emotional fatigue and physical burnout build over time.
What keeps people coming back?
Despite the sacrifices, many still prefer night duty. Reasoning varies from enjoying the peace, the pay, or the ability to work while family sleeps.
“I loved night shift when my kids were young,” one carer said. “It gave me the flexibility I needed. And there’s something special about driving home on a frosty morning knowing you’re heading to bed.”
Others are more candid. “I’m overweight and tired. I don’t go to the gym. But that’s life right now.” Many note that the choice to do night shifts comes down to priorities — for some, it’s income. For others, it’s lifestyle. But very few said it was easy.
A call for understanding
What comes through clearly is that night workers aren’t asking for sympathy. They’re asking for recognition. That what they do takes resilience. That good sleep is not guaranteed. That family support makes all the difference.
Most of all, they’re asking the broader system – from management to policymakers – to understand that night shift isn’t just another time slot. It’s a different way of living, and one that needs to be supported, not just staffed.
Have your say: Are you currently working night shift? What works for you? And what doesn’t? Join the conversation over on the Aged Care Support Worker Facebook page (if you work on the frontline 😉)
I have been working night shift for 6yrs. Originally it was for my children, school drop off & pick ups, then it became about financial reasons. Other people don’t understand the fatigue, brain fog, stress of being a nightshift worker. Management expect us to get up in the middle of our sleep to go to ‘mandatory education’ putting more stress & fatigue on our shoulders but they wouldnt even fathem coming in at 9pm for a staff meeting with nightshift. They don’t understand our needs & most don’t care. We sleep less than other people, our brain & body are constantly fighting nature that tells us it is dark so you should be sleeping. We work with less staff so it is a constant ‘think on your feet’ situation, we don’t have the safety net of higher up’s coming in & taking over a situation & the responsibility’ it falls to us & leaves less staff on the floor to the other residents, sometimes leaving 2 staff to 100 residents while a situation is stabilised. All the other shift think we sit around drinking coffee & are lazy. We are not lazy we are unique, mentally strong, problem solving, loving humans that do the job noone else wants to do. We care while the world outside sleeps. We tuck residents in & help them to feel safe, we hold them while they cry because they miss their partner of 50+ yrs. We calm & reassure the minds that are confused &/or don’t remember what is going on.
We clean up messes that other shifts leave behind & do jobs that will help the next shifts if we can (without running to management & dobbing), we complain less then other shifts & are often forgotten in recognition/awards as we are the forgotten shift.
So please don’t think we are the lazy shift. We are night shift, we are different & we all work towards making our residents happy & comfortable.