Are you bothered by the noise of the AM shift staff?

[tiroka03, LPN]

As soon as PM shifts leaves, the night shift immediately lowers the sound level on our unit. We keep it quiet during the night. We are careful not to talk or laugh loudly. We use carts, but don't push them so fast that the wheels clack. As our shift comes to a close, and we are tired and sometimes stressed, the AM shift people come in and have no understanding or care for the order we have kept overnight. People yell, slam doors, make all kinds of noise to the point we can't even hear the person next to use during report. Patients are woken by the loudness of it all, then the AM shift are angery and demand to know why we planned that everyone wakes up all at the same time, just as they arrive.

Personally, in my own house, I would be very upset if the noise levels ever got as loud as it does on the floors. But, day after day this happens. I have worked days for years, and I never needed to yell and make a lot of noise just because it is morning. I find it annoying and difficult. Am I the only one who feels this way. And if not, what can be done to lower the noise levels to a nicer level?

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

Noise at 3pm shift change in my facility is unbelievable. Not many patients are sleeping but the noise and all the activity aggravates dementia patients.

I am very bothered by it. It stresses me out and I hate starting my shift stressed At 11pm shift change things are much quieter.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

At shift change it's chaos, no matter who is coming or going. I drives me nuts when days flicks all the lights on after we've had them dimmed. It's got ot be done, but sheesh...my eyes...and my poor sleep deprived brain.

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

Really good point OP. I am having trouble understanding why others wouldn't find merit with your argument. Since the patient's would be sleeping prior to breakfast and the oncoming shift could start their morning reviewing charts rather than fetching COFFEE!

[Davey Do]

Many is the time when MN shift hit the ground running due to behaviors, late visits by Docs, or Patients in need of care. Report is taped or recieved on the run. Charts are in disarray and Patients have had a bed swap that is not reflected in the paperwork or on the census. Newspapers, magazines, and food remenents are left strewn about the Nurses Staiton.

I've been met at the door by Staff with the keys looking for a quick exit while acting out behaviors are in the process of being manifested by Adolescent Patients.

However, when Day Staff enter the unit, carrying their breakfast trays, they expect everything should be ready for them to take report, eat, and tell Patients to wait for anything until report is over. And they're loud and obnoxious. Bunch of Prima Donnas.

But I wonder if this is just a day thing. On my way home, I've often stopped at the library and had to SHOOSH! some Librarians.

Hey- thanks for letting me rant. That was fun.

Dave

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

We have the exact opposite problem. NIGHT shift are the noisey people. We have had multiple complaints about the noise during the night "it sounds like a party going on".

[socks341968]

Dave, I swear you work at the same place that I do...LOL. It sounds EXACTLY the same.

[backinwonderland]

We have the same problem. I always feel terrible for the patients whose rooms are closest to the nursing station and report room. And I get that to the oncoming nurses it's 7am and time to start your day, but to the patients it's 7 in the freakin' morning and way too early for that kind of chaos!

[scoochy]

Noise at 3pm shift change in my facility is unbelievable. Not many patients are sleeping but the noise and all the activity aggravates dementia patients.

I am very bothered by it. It stresses me out and I hate starting my shift stressed At 11pm shift change things are much quieter.

I agree 100%; I have no problem reminding people they are not at a party, or in a bar; rather they are working in a health care facility that just so happens to be a person's home........

[coolpeach]

I am a new nurse and thought it was just me. It is so calm at night. The lights are dim, and we softly communicate to each other. I did orientation on days, and its always loud and crazy. Even our emergency RRT at night are calm. In the day time there are 20 nurses, and a ton of people rushing in and out. At night its a couple of nurses and the respiratory therapist, and we manage to stabilize the patient without a lot of excitement.

Then all of the sudden the lights click onto bright. You will notice a Dr coming and going quietly here and there. And then BOOM Nurses and Techs are rushing around, talking loudly, clipboard on table (BAM), Footsteps down hall (clop clop clop). They are just loud people.

[DC Collins, ASN]

Have y'all who have this problem brought it up in staff meetings, personally or anonymously?

DC, ED RN :)

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I don't think there is any difference b/w noise level days/nights. Pts c/o constantly that we are too loud at night. And I don't blame them for c/o, we are loud. For one, I have the works loudest coworker. He only knows how to shout, lol. Our unit is right next to the ED waiting room which is in chaos 24/7 and the sound carries. The staff bathroom and break room are adjacent to the unit and the doors open and slam all night long, lots of talking, laughing, etc. Plus we have open visiting and other family members are loud. And, the piece de la resistance, we have fire drills once a week on night shift. Alarms, lights flashing, etc for at least 10-15 minutes. All the lights stay on 24h/d, we don't have switches to dim them even if we wanted to. this is not a place to try to get any rest.