A co-worker peeve- VENT!

Nurses Relations

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Okay, this is just at my facility, and I am not generalizing to your experiences or your facility at all, so please don't take it that way. I just have to say it here so I don't scream it at work.

If I hear the "More money, less work" phrase about night shift from ONE MORE day shift co-worker, I don't know what I might do. If the pay is so much better for work that is so much easier and we just don't know how good we have it, please, come join us- why isn't there a waiting list for day shift to transfer to nights? Put up or shut up. (And yes, I HAVE worked day shift as well at this facility.)

Also, please stop scheduling semi-mandatory classes or meetings in the middle of the day and being surprised when almost no one from night shift is there!

Also, please don't tell patients' families- "I used to change diapers when I was a PCA, but now that I'm an RN, I don't do diapers any more."

And please, understaffed unit elsewhere in the hospital, PLEASE hire some more staff so every one of our unit's nurses doesn't end up floating there at least once every two weeks!!!

Whew. I feel better already. :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Oh, and please LISTEN when I give you report so that 12 hours later, you are not reporting to me the EXACT SAME info that I gave you earlier as if you just found it out and it's something that I am a horrible nurse for NOT having told you!

(sorry... guess I am on a roll today for some reason... yikes)

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Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.

I can relate. Deep breath...

:uhoh3:

Hope you don't have to work tonight. Sounds like you could use a night or two off. Hang in there. Just think of it as ignorance. But, you definitely need to let management know about meeting times. There should be at least one opportunity either right before or after work to attend these.

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I sooooo agree!!! I feel like night shift gets treated like we are just babysitting the patients until the "real" RNs come back on the day shift!!!

Don't they know that patients go downhill in the middle of the night when there is less staff, no docs, and no pharmacy support????

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Going exactly through the same thing! Let's not forget about our sundowners that just make our night that much longer! And no not every patient sleeps throughout the night!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Haha thanks for listening and understanding guys. I never talk like this!! I don't know what came over me. But I do feel much much better about all of these things after writing them out and just getting them out of my system.

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They use the word 'diapers" to the families?:eek:

Our night shift nurses keep our unit from falling to pieces, I have nothing but respect for them. I've worked more than a few night shifts in my day, it's just as hard as days. And my opinion is they deserve the extra pay -- when you think about it, even with the incentive of more pay, most nurses won't even consider nights. It's just too hard and too much of a personal sacrifice.

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Yes, night shift is just as hard as days-just in different ways. You deserve the differential just for the fact that you are having to fight against the body's natural circadian rhythms. Did it briefly and never want to do that again. Hats off to all the night shift nurses.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
They use the word 'diapers" to the families?:eek:

The OP lists her area of experience as "peds" so I'm assuming she still works with kids...

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I love those meetings! I get off work at 7AM, am supposed to come back at 7PM, and am supposed to be at a meeting at 1PM on the same day. My meeting attendance is about 10%, maybe even less. And I don't get any useful information from the few meetings that I do attend.

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I'm sorry! Nurses that have done third know how it is. I have done all three shifts and I can tell you each have their good and bad points.

When I did 1st shift it was so much politics, and phone calls, and following up with issues

Second shift it's all admissions and sundowners

Third shift-lots of cleaning and paperwork

I have to say, even though I was never able to get used to third shift, I really liked it. I was able to actually be a nurse when someone needed it. Every shift has there good and bad, but you are right, if it is so easy why isn't everyone lining up lol?

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The OP lists her area of experience as "peds" so I'm assuming she still works with kids...

Oh, OK. Phew!

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