Any experienced nurses still have bad shifts?

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Specializes in ER.

I am in no way a new nurse but I had an awful shift the other day and need to vent. Not a thing went right and I felt like I was a new graduate all over again. I feel bad that my coworkers had to pick up some of my slack, but all of my patients were sick sick sick. Please tell me I am not alone and nurses with decades of experience have off days too!

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It's true, nurses with decades of experience have bad days too. You are not superhuman.

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Sometimes, shifts just are awful I guess.

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I still have bad shifts. Patients are sicker, and there is less support staff. It can be rough. Glad your co-workers pitched in to help.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Yep.................................................

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Everyday I clock in it's a possibility, and unfortunately it happens.

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Of course they do, the longer you do it the better you get at handling the bad ones but they still come.

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Specializes in ER, cardiac, addictions.
I am in no way a new nurse but I had an awful shift the other day and need to vent. Not a thing went right and I felt like I was a new graduate all over again. I feel bad that my coworkers had to pick up some of my slack, but all of my patients were sick sick sick. Please tell me I am not alone and nurses with decades of experience have off days too!

Oh, yes, I still have bad shifts! No matter how skilled you get, patients' bodies (and minds) don't always respect unit staffing plans. And, once things start off bad, it sometimes seems to have a domino effect for the rest of the shift. :hdvwl:

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

course you do I had the night from hell the other night as well. It was partly because I was on with a lousy grad who couldn't manage the sickies that we had. So I and the other nurse ended up with a lot of sick patients. Plus her patients when she couldn't manage the load she had.

Sorry personal vent but cause you are not a new nurse you get the sicker patients! More chance of things going wrong!

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a bad shift can happen due to nasty family members, obnoxious physicians, lazy co-workers or just luck of the draw. The thing to remember is that it is only 8 or 12 hours and you can leave it all behind and the day you turn up for work things have to get better. Anyone can shine on a good day, but it takes real skill to make an ugly day bearable and to be that nurse who helps out a co-worker who is having a really bad day. Sometimes just the offer of help makes the world of difference!!

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Yep. Been a nurse for 9 years and while I'm a little less frazzled than I was fresh out of the chute, there are some shifts where I barely keep my head above water. Or the ones where I swear I'm going to quit on the spot if one more thing goes wrong. You are most definitely not alone. Hang in there. :)

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Specializes in Geriatric Nursing.

I do still have bad shifts.... and its awful...

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