what is it like working nights?

dscrn · Sep 23, 2009

First of all, there are ususally fewer staff assigned to the night shift, depending on the department. Actually, there is usually plenty to keep busy with. Transfers, admisssions, medications, treatments-also, patients are ill, need assistance , IV's hung....often it can become VERY busy

sharpeimom · Sep 23, 2009

patents sleep?? you mean close their little eyes and actually snore?:rotfl: :hehe:

not on my shift -- or it never seemed as though they slept much but then i worked the longest in a state psych hospital.

i'd talk with patients, calm them down, listen to what they were really saying between their words, try to exorcise some demons, listen some more, give lots and lots of prn meds on full moon nights, catch up on

seemingly endless paperwork, do and review and update careplans, and pray to my g*d that would never ever ever end up there too.

there's a time of night that you'll probably get very very sleepy and queasy:sstrs: but it soon passes and you'll get a surge of energy:smilecoffeecup: that will let you finish your shift, give report and make it home before you fall asleep.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

Markis · Sep 23, 2009

I know it must be quieter. but what do you do all those hours while your patients sleep? file charts and just walk around?

I'll let you know when all of my patients sleep, lol. Last night I was lucky and 3 of my 7 patients slept comfortably. At our hospital, patient load is greater for night shift nurses, and may times I have total care for my team.

Your question assumes an ignorant myth about night shift, and has the tone that many day shift nurses convey about night shift.

esthomprn · Sep 23, 2009

Oh there's plenty to do. Its the same as working days except for its night time. I worked the ICU for a short time and most of my patients were not sleep. They were all awake. When the few times i did get those patients that were sleep I read their H&P, read more about there disease and there medication (there is always something for you to learn), or read a good book.

Blackheartednurse · Sep 23, 2009

What about peds patients,how does the night look like on a ped wards,do most kids sleep through the night?:loveya:

Guest296136 · Sep 23, 2009

I just switched to night shift and I love it!!!!!!!! It can be busy but less stressful for me, my zone phone isn't ringing off the hook and my patients aren't always leaving the floor, my charts are were they should be and I don't have the bullsh** of management around interferring with my patient care. I have more time to spend with my patients.

UnionRN2 · Sep 23, 2009

First of all, it is NOT true that patients sleep at night. I have worked nights for 25 years and have never had patients sleep through the night. Some nights there are just fewer call lights.

You have less staff to do everything you do on days.

We have tons more paper work to do: check and verify MARS, check crash carts, write daily goal sheets (takes about 20 mins per pt), etc. Also, we re-stock kitchen (no, the cups don't just grow in there), restock drawers in pt rooms with syringes, needles, and tons of other stuff.

As a CICU nurse, I run to codes or take care of another nurses patients while he/she goes to the code. Drop lines. Take patients to CT, US, etc. Draw all AM labs. Re-start all IVs that will outdate before I return tomorrow night. Perform glucometer controls and restock glucometer. Admit patients, which requires about 3 hours of work due to our wonderful computer charting. And the list goes on.

And I am usually too busy to get a break or lunch on my 12 hour shift. I am lucky if I make it to the bathroom.

Advantages: I am home through the day for my children if they need me. I don't have to put up with the suits who have business degrees but no clue about what actually is involved in nursing. And I don't have to put up with the attitude of some (not all) docs.

Hoozdo, ADN · Sep 24, 2009

I know it must be quieter. but what do you do all those hours while your patients sleep? file charts and just walk around?

My patients are lucky to know who they are, let alone if it is night or day. It is a bad assumption to make that patients sleep at night.

Yeah, I walk around and eat bon-bons from the vending machine all night.

Chewie_123 · Sep 24, 2009

I know it must be quieter. but what do you do all those hours while your patients sleep? file charts and just walk around?

Hahahahahahahaha!!! :chuckle

I wish!