Night Nursing at Crouse

For many nurses, the idea of working overnight can feel daunting. But for some, like Katie Rippentrop, RN, the night shift is not just her schedule, it’s a preference. 

“When I first started at Crouse, I wasn’t even in a nursing role,” she says. “But once I transitioned into nursing, I realized nights gave me something I wasn’t finding during the day.” 

What drew Katie to the overnight shift was simple: time for deeper patient care. “With reduced discharges and fewer interruptions, I’m able to spend meaningful time with every patient,” she explains. “I can focus on clinical assessments and build stronger connections – and that’s incredibly fulfilling.” 

For her, nights allow for a level of undivided attention that doesn’t always happen during the hustle of daytime transitions. “The night shift develops a unique culture,” she shares. “We operate with a higher level of autonomy, but we also rely on one another. There’s mutual trust and that makes all the difference when handling patients’ needs.”

Even with leaner staffing overnight, support is always close at hand. “Our nursing leadership is amazing. Supervisors are accessible, ready to guide and willing to jump in when we’re handling high-acuity situations,” she says. 

Another benefit of the overnight schedule? Flexibility. “The night shift lets me integrate work with my life in a way daytime schedules never could; I can take care of my personal responsibilities during the day and come into work feeling recharged.” 

And yes – there is a financial benefit too, with shift differential pay. 

What would Katie say to someone thinking about overnight nursing at Crouse? “Try it, it’s less about the hours and more about the care you’re able to provide.” To learn more about nursing positions at Crouse, visit crouse.org/careers/rn

Bianca Morales is the Social Media Coordinator at Crouse.