Advice on overnight?

[mag426, ADN, BSN]

I just got hired as a PCA at one of the local hospitals in my area and because of the fact that I'm not a morning person, can't stand the 3-11pm shift I went ahead and choose overnight 11-7am to be my shift after training. Any advice for a newbie going into the medical field and working this shift. I also worked retail before so my shifts were all over the place, like 9-6 or 12-9 so this hospital shift is going to be very new to me. Thank you.

[northernguy]

What is a PCA exactly? Are you a CNA? Im assuming PCT(patient care tech) and PCA are the same thing, but I get confused with all these different names. I can tell you what a CNA and PCT does on the overnight shift.

[mag426, ADN, BSN]

Yes, I think they are very similar roles just different abbreviations depending on the facility or hospital your at. I think a PCA or PCT perform all the tasks that CNA's do but are trained to do a little bit more, i.e; draw blood and such. Please I would love to know how the overnight shifts run since this will be my very first time doing anything like this.

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

My best advice to you is this....

Don't get caught up in the whole day shift vs. night shift thing. Day shift is hard. Night shift is hard. Some tasks are different and some are the same. Do your best to not leave anything for the day shift. When it can't be helped, say I'm sorry but "such and such" still needs to be done. I had a hard night and was unable to get to it. That being said, whenever day shift doesn't get something done, just say..."that's ok. I know how those shifts go. That's why we have two shifts; so one can take over where the other leaves off and we can both get everything done!"

The rest is just doing your job. Being there for the patients and your co-workers. It is a team effort.

I wish you all the best!!

[kzens, LPN]

yup exactly! its a team effort! just have good communication and let the morning shift nurses know when something wasnt done! its so much nicer hearing it when you're starting your shift, so you can go and get it done and over with, rather than finding out when you're in the middle of something! then it gets crazy!