[Butternut]

What can you tell me about Acute Rehab nursing on the night shift?
How does it differ from the usual busy floor routine?
Any info appreciated.

[mom and nurse]

Hi - in our rehab hospital I've only done nights once so I'm not the best person to answer this. I know that the nurses had to pass the nightime medications as well as do what is called a "24 hour chart check" in which they double checked the medication records for the next day against the old medication records and made sure any new doctor's orders were put into the computer and/or on the new medication records. They did this for each of their assigned patients. Then they helped the CNA to get up their patients in the morning.... I hope this helps. I also know that some of the patients could be up all night .......

[Chaya]

Hi Butternut-

At the place I work nights involves more paperwork, fewer sched meds and NO ADMINISTRATORS! (YAY!). We still have a few meds and IV's and do the AM glucoscans. Plus we give PRN pain meds and may have emergent situations occur.

[SandraJean]

I am curious, too, as I am thinking of a night position on rehab....

[natkat2816]

I have never worked the night shift but I presently work D/E in acute rehab. What I know of about night shift is that in our place they have 7-8 patients per nurse, they have a few meds and IV's but not many, they have to manage pt's who have trouble sleeping, pain, etc... They also have to do some straight cathing if someone is on bladder program (we have a lot of paraplegics and quadraplegics). They also deal with repositioning throughout the shift. Hope that helps some.

[MNlpn]

I've worked nites on our ARU now for almost 5 years. The nites are much quieter! Thank goodness, cuz we also do the 24hr chart checks and the new admits from the previous shifts can sometimes require some close scrutinizing of the orders. IE: making sure everything was done and entered into the computer etc. We do hourly rounds, turn patients PRN, bowel and bladder programs, meds (oral, IV), set up the next days self administered med boxes. RNs do a.m. blood draws for pt's with PICC lines, we also do the a.m. blood sugars. There are only 2 of us on right now, myslef and an RN. We don't get an CNA unless our census is over 12. It can get pretty busy in the mornings! Seems they all want to poop or pee at the same time The best thing about nites is not having everybody and their brother running around and pulling you in all different directions! PLUS, ya get paid a little more working nites (here anyway). So anywho....hope that helps some.

[SueIP]

I have been working Rehab for about 4 weeks now and we do basically what everyone else says, pass scheduled meds, give pain meds prn, toilet anyone who needs it, turns, bladder scan and do PVR's and ICP's. A lot of the night is taken up 24 hour checking the charts/orders. We have the odd IV but that is about it. Like someone has said it can be hectic in the morning as they all want to pee and poop at the same time usually when I am doing the 6am meds!!!
In our facility we dont do the accuchecks as that is for the 7-3 shift and we dont get anyone up unless they specifically want to.
I can have up to 15 patients with one tech but the norm has been 10-12 at night.
Also again as someone has said you dont have the DON and Administrator breathing down your neck!!!

[lhathaway]

Hi, I have worked at nights on my rehab unit for approx. 8 years. I like it because you have more atonomy and don't have to worry alot about people in the way. The patients sleep for the most part and there are indeed fewer meds to pass. It is a lot of peace and quiet.

[meme39]

Hi there, I love doing nightshifts because there is plenty of time to go through the charts, in that way you get to really know the patients. I normally look after 16 patients. I am in a 30 bed ward which takes care of Acute stroke, Medical outlies and rehabilitation pts. There is always another RN with me or either a EN (LPN) or a AIN (CN) I have requested to do more night duty that is how much I love it.

[arichardsonlpn]

Hello, I have worked Rehab for almost 3 years. I am an LPN and in my facility there is virtually no difference in the roll of RN to LPN. I do all IV starts, IV push meds, Initial assesments, careplans, FIMS, Blood- You name it I do it. The first 2 yrs. were all day shift. The last year I have filled in doing 1-2 nights per week. In addition to everything everyone else said, these are a few things I have found helpful for night shift to do for day shift. Most of the pt. and family education is done during days. So if you find information on disease process or meds the pt. or family needs, get it all prepared for day shift. Setting up med programs, or self med boxes for next day. Continue to encourage the pt. independence. I know they are sleeping and it seems like torture to make them get up and walk all the way across the room to go to the bathroom. But, this is what they will do at home. I find at night I have more time to talk with my patients. During the day between therapy schedules and Doctors rounding I don't always get as much time as I would like. Take advantage of this at night. Good luck, Angie