Just a little night shift venting about day shift...

[iLovemyJackRT]

A few things that I don't understand and that bother me to no end. If day shift shows up at 7:05-7:10, it's excusable and no one says anything because "they had to wake up so early," and it's morning, tougher to get stuff together...etc. etc. Gimme a break. If night shift shows up anytime past 7 everyone just says oh we're flat out late. Which I never am late, but it seems like day shift is always strolling in 5 after with a cup of freshly brewed Starbuck's in their hands.

The other thing that bothers me sooooo terribly bad is this. Nurses who don't come find you to get report. When I come in on night shift I seek the day nurses out like hawks so they can get out. I work a lot of agency and prn so I rarely know who I am giving/getting report from. I always always look for them, and if they're in report from someone else I quickly say, "I have one of your patients" so they know who to look for when they're ready for me. Rarely is someone looking for me. I could sit at the nurses station until 8am until someone would say "does anyone know who Brooke is?" And last, but not least, some nurses go right into their rooms and basically start assessing their patients before they get report from you. Umm hello...why aren't you looking for me or hanging around till I'm ready for you. Make me search a floor of 30 beds for someone I don't even know at 7:20 when the hustle and bustle of the days began with about 20 doctors and 50 nursing students roaming around. Thanks.

I just think it's incredibly rude

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I agree with the other posters that chronic lateness is a product of poor management. I address this with the perpetual offenders (after trying the direct "speak to them" route) by detailing on my paysheet or exception sheet for payroll every time I clock out late "Clocked out late d/t J. Doe RN late for shift" or "J. Doe RN unavailable for report until 0725". Payroll department will eventually force the manager to address this if you have a paper trail.

Now there is something I have not thought of. Yeah, if you stay late because of this stuff, you have to cover for yourself........otherwise they'll be saying you cant get your work done on time at the annual review.

[kcochrane]

wow....we clock in....10 unexcused tardies and HR has you take the long walk down the hall.

The problem is that they clock in, go down the to lounge, talk a little bit and than wander onto the floor. Now mind you, the regular nurse I work with at nights does the same thing to evenings. So I end up always counting narcs when I work so that evenings can leave on time. There are a couple day nurses that actually try to get things rolling early and I really appreciate them. We tape report, which really helps not having to wait around for someone to report off to. The biggest problem I have now is that flex nurses that start 1/2 hour to an hour later than days start. I'm all for flex time, but not when it requires me to stay late...especially when I was never asked if it was ok for me to stay late.

[Batman24]

We had a night shift nurse fired last week for chronic tardiness. Day and night shifts are very nice and very professional so she really was a exception to the rule. We all get along well and help each other out. This one night shift nurse had been late time and again and they cut the cord. The night shift nurses were happy she was gone because it seems like she was slacking a bit on them too. The day shift nurses are thrilled because you cringed when she was taking over your patients. I'm glad I work for strict management because too many times these issues linger months and months on end. This one didn't.