[BayouLPN]

Originally Posted by Brita01

It's hard to believe that this thread was started way back in 2002 and people are still finding it. Not much has changed in six years, it seems.

I didn't know it started that long ago. I have worked 6a-6p for a long time. I found it chaotic and grueling. Never enough time to get done what needs to be done. Now I work nights 7p-7a or 11p-7a. I like it so much better.

Nights are not less busy. NOT in the least. Staffing is cut and alot of tasks are added because of the perceived "less work". But, it feels less chaotic to me. No back to back scheduled surgeries and sections. No md's buzzing around your head like flies. Fewer family members (esp. those with the darling children who run relays up and down the halls while squealing at the top of their lungs) and emptying the pantry and making request for themselves (you think you could get me bag of chips and a soda?, I have to be up at 5 in the morning, will you make sure I am up?) and let's not forget the students who are asking questions and looking for procedures.

Students: Don't take offense, you are doing what you are suppose to do. Just for me personally, more people equals more noise and chaos. I wish I had a few students at night.....

I believe each shift has it pros and cons. I, also, believe that EVERYONE should be on a team. Having worked both shifts...I know both are busy. I just find nights are less chaotic.

[GRASSCUTTER]

[quote=grace90;1315442]I can relate to A LOT of this, since I work on nights in med-surg. *Mandatory* inservices and educational classes are *never* offered on our shift- usually they are scheduled right after our shift- starting at 0730 when our shift is supposed to end. We usually don't get out right on time, and after being up all night most of us could not sit through a 2 hour class and comprehend it all. Or else they are scheduled in the middle of the morning or afternoon when we are sleeping.


This burns my hide. I am an Educator. I work in a rural community hospital. I have tried every schedule I can think of and night shift at my hospital responds as above. Come in on their shift, they don't have enough time to attend, not enough to cover the floors. Okay, start at am shift change--They can't come, kids to get off to school, or too tired. Come in an hour early before shift start, They can't come, have to spend that time with family, can't--makes my shift too long. Okay schedule on days off--"Can't, it is on my first day off, Can't it is on my only "feel good" second day off.--Scheduling inservices for night shift is a PAIN. They cannot be pleased, no way. I asked them to choose and I would accomodidate them, they never did get back with me after 3 weeks. Well, now (after 4 years of trying) I am over trying. I schedule to my hours now.

[Ginger45]

I don't. I have worked nights as well although I now work days. Most of your codes happen at night, you have less staff, and more pts.

[class 5]

I have been a night nurse for 4 years on a med- surg floor 12hr shifts..and for some reason there is the misconception that night nurses have it easier.. and that patients sleep nice and quiet all night..I am here to say we do not have it easier at all from my experience.. my patients with dementia love to try and climb out of bed and become combative around 2-3 am.. the foleys get pulled out,iv's get pulled out, never mind the 10pm,12am,6am meds and once in a while 2am meds and iv piggybacks to be hung..patients tend to call more for pain meds,( esp.my sickle cell pt's.. )spike temps, have blood sugar drop, fall, code and feel anxious during the night... residents changing orders....The ER is buzzin and admissions coming I usually got 1 -2 per shift..and my facility is still writing everything!!! one ward clerk floating to all the 4 floors on nights..and having to help cna with am care at 5am especially with my vent patients, or pt. who had wound care, inc.care, etc...night nurses can I get a witness? Respect to all my day and night nurses we all work our butts off and are never truly given the respect we deserve!!!

[Jessy_RN]

Originally Posted by class 5

I have been a night nurse for 4 years on a med- surg floor 12hr shifts..and for some reason there is the misconception that night nurses have it easier.. and that patients sleep nice and quiet all night..I am here to say we do not have it easier at all from my experience.. my patients with dementia love to try and climb out of bed and become combative around 2-3 am.. the foleys get pulled out,iv's get pulled out, never mind the 10pm,12am,6am meds and once in a while 2am meds and iv piggybacks to be hung..patients tend to call more for pain meds,( esp.my sickle cell pt's.. )spike temps, have blood sugar drop, fall, code and feel anxious during the night... residents changing orders....The ER is buzzin and admissions coming I usually got 1 -2 per shift..and my facility is still writing everything!!! one ward clerk floating to all the 4 floors on nights..and having to help cna with am care at 5am especially with my vent patients, or pt. who had wound care, inc.care, etc...night nurses can I get a witness? Respect to all my day and night nurses we all work our butts off and are never truly given the respect we deserve!!!

Amen!!

Plus, reporting off to 4 nurses in the am because they have 3 pts a piece and I have 8. Always the same on my floor.......no secretary, no sitters, 2 aides for 46 pts, no transportation aide, housekeeper. As opposed to 5 aides in the day, 2 secretaries, 4 transportation aides, no chart checks required, etc.

I'm convinced that the reason we make it through the night sometimes is by the grace of God and the outstanding teamwork we have. If we didn't, we would never make it.

Oh and after I'm done with report at 0800, off I go to a mandatory staff meeting or inservice. Only to get out of there God knows when and come back to work that night. Burns my bottom!

Sorry for the vent!

[nurseknowsbest]

maybe somebody can tell me why nurse educators want night nurses
to orient on days? I am a 20 year veteran of nights. I only want to work
nights, so why do educators want to mess up my bio-rhythm to orient
on days, when I was hired for nights? I do not like days for several
reasons. Days has too many people just walking around. I don't like the
distraction. Also as I have gotten older, getting large people up for meals
by myself is exhausting and a danger to my back. Anybody have a
suggestion on how to approach my educator to tell her to get me off
of days? The CVICU where I transferred is just as busy on nights as
days. Help!

[nelcoy4]

[quote=GRASSCUTTER;2800889]

Originally Posted by grace90

I can relate to A LOT of this, since I work on nights in med-surg. *Mandatory* inservices and educational classes are *never* offered on our shift- usually they are scheduled right after our shift- starting at 0730 when our shift is supposed to end. We usually don't get out right on time, and after being up all night most of us could not sit through a 2 hour class and comprehend it all. Or else they are scheduled in the middle of the morning or afternoon when we are sleeping.


This burns my hide. I am an Educator. I work in a rural community hospital. I have tried every schedule I can think of and night shift at my hospital responds as above. Come in on their shift, they don't have enough time to attend, not enough to cover the floors. Okay, start at am shift change--They can't come, kids to get off to school, or too tired. Come in an hour early before shift start, They can't come, have to spend that time with family, can't--makes my shift too long. Okay schedule on days off--"Can't, it is on my first day off, Can't it is on my only "feel good" second day off.--Scheduling inservices for night shift is a PAIN. They cannot be pleased, no way. I asked them to choose and I would accomodidate them, they never did get back with me after 3 weeks. Well, now (after 4 years of trying) I am over trying. I schedule to my hours now.

My unit clinical specialist is good with this. She comes into work at 6am everyday. When she has to do little inservices for night-shift, she comes in at 5-5:30. My nurse manager does the same for our unit meetings. When new products are being introduced the people come in, in the middle of the night and teach us. Sometimes she just prints the mins of the meeting and have us initial that we read it. Now the hospital inservices or confrence(sp), not to many night-shifters attend because it is not night shift friendly. That's like telling a day shift person to wake up in the middle of the night to go to work to sit and learn. These confrences are usually 8am-4pm. Since the only shift I do is nights, my body is programmed to sleep during the day, even if I'm off.