Night shift vs day shift

dknunges · Feb 23, 2005

Could someone tell me the main differences in work that a night shift CNA/RN does as compared to day shift? I am currently in day clinicals but do not know what night shift is like. I am wondering because after this semester I was thinking about getting a night shift CNA job, and was wondering if there would be extra time to study then? That would make a big difference as to whether I go part time or full time. Could anyone tell me what a normal night shift schedule would be for a RN and CNA? Any help would be greatly appreciated -- thanks!!

I work days when I first became a nurse but then switched to nights, which I dearly loved. The reason is not because night shift nurses don't have anything to do! During the days you had to deal with multiple physicians, all the tests/procedures,therapies (OT, PT) visitors etc as well as provide patient care. On nights for the most part physicians do not make rounds,and unless you have a new admit/surgery etc you didn't have to worry about patient's being off the unit. Though you did not have to deal with the above, there were certain things that the night shift was responsible to doing. Check new MARS against what was ordered (or not) by MD and send changes to pharmacy file old MAR in chart. Answer call lights. Change out Nurses notes, tally 24hrs totals, replace with new day's nurses notes file old one in chart. Answer call lights. Bathroom break. Review chart for any lab/tests that are ordered by MD for next day make sure they are ordered in computer. Answer call lights. File lab results from previos day in chart. Answer call lights. Make sure all patients that are suppose to be NPO for am procedure are in fact NPO after midnight. Answer call lights. Draw AM labs, start IV's/give pre-op to surgery patients. Answer call lights. Review AccuCheck results, give insulins. Answer call lights.

These are a few of the duties. Not that either days or nights are not busy, each shift is busy but with different tasks that must be completed in order for the next shift to run smoothly. Some nights patient's DO NOT sleep, have many admission either direct admit or from ER or OR so night shift is just as busy as days. Some days and nights it seems like all I got do was answer call lights, hence every other tasks was answer call lights!

My problem with working nights was during spring and summer I had a really hard time sleeping during the day, because I wanted to be outdoors swimming, gardening etc. instead of getting my beauty rest!

Hope this helps answer your questions

Donna

Ayvah, RN · Feb 24, 2005

Great! That helps out a lot, thanks so much =)