Anyone working night 11-7 shift???

caliotter3 · Jun 16, 2010

It can be hard to get that shift for a CNA because the people who work nights do so for their own reasons and stay at the same jobs for years on end. They can't be budged, thus there are only so many openings. You can find lots of threads and posts about night shift CNA duties. In general, it is more relaxed than the other shifts. Basically, you are responsible for vital signs for certain residents, answering the call lights during the night, and doing bed checks every two hours to keep the residents clean and dry.

Ev1987 · Jun 16, 2010

Is it hard to get that shift? Depends on the availability of the facility and if they are hiring or have open space for the shift. What are the residents like? Again, depends on the facility. Some residents are alert and oriented, and some are confused, extremely when the sun goes down. Most residents try to sleep at this time. I perform continence rounds, turning patients every 2 hrs, vital signs, collecting linen, sometimes collecting stool/urine samples for the nurse, charting, ice water and light housekeeping. Along with answering residents call lights all night.

NM nurse to be · Jun 17, 2010

It may or not be hard to get that shift. At my facility, lately they have to beg people to work it. I was full time nights until I started full time nursing school last semester. And that left a big hole as I'm only weekend nights now.

The LTC and skilled floors are very different at night. Either way, I have 30 residents and depending on which 'side' that's doable or not. On LTC, probalby 25 of them are incontinent. So that's a lot of changing but with regular rounds, you REALLY get to know your residents and can predict with a lot of accuracy who will pee by which round. You still have to check but you will have a pretty good idea.

On the skilled hall, 30 is way too many most nights. If they are quiet and fairly independent, it's better. But lately that never happens. Mostly you will be toileting the semi-able ones and changing others. The lights NEVER stop some nights. And for added fun lately, we have at least 4 who are majorly combative. To the point that it is dangerous to do anything with them alone. I'm not sure why we have those, other than census has been down and they want to fill beds. But at night we only have 2 aides to 60 residents, so the combative ones take up way too much time and are very disruptive to the ones trying to rest. Usually it isn't like that though.

On either hall, we have 6 'get ups' each. On the LTC side, that starts early. But these folks have gone to bed at 6p and are ready to get up at 4 when we start! The other side, most don't want to get up and I won't make people. Some aides drag people up but I don't believe in that.

It is not the slack off, easy time that you might hear people talk about. You will WORK on the night shift, same as any other. Sometimes more, because there are fewer aides. And if there is a problem or someone is sick, you have to keep up with the others too.

That said though, I love my nights :) I get to learn a lot and the nurses on nights have time to answer questions or talk about something I came across in clinicals. We often bring potlucks and have treats once in awhile. And I almost forgot to mention what I like best... I have time to visit with my residents. The ones who are awake often like to talk and I can take a few minutes with them at night. We both enjoy that :)

semiranda · Jun 17, 2010

Thank you all for your repsonses.....I have checked out the other posts. I just wanted to get an idea. I am trying to get a night position, because I am just a night person and because my husband works in the day and we'd like to save money on a babysitter since I have 2 children and am looking into to furthering education. I am happy to hear it is not a lazy do nothing type shift. I look forward to interacting with the residents, and I really prefer having time to spend with them if it is possible. Again thank you all for your responses, ever since I started looking into nursing I found this forum and I really love how nice, and responsive everyone is. Thank you so much!!!

Poi Dog · Jun 17, 2010

That shift at my facility is never open. The people who work it know that it is in demand so they hang on to it.

blue cna · Jun 20, 2010

i work 11-7:30.

most of the time im on the dementia side.

pass linens and towel wraps

pass waters

turn residents, change residents at 1, 3, and 5

deal with miscellaneous disasters and alarms. multiple bed alarms going off from people trying to get up, etc.

very hectic.

at 6 you help start getting people up.

its very hard turning residents who fight you, and who are really heavy, and you dread dealing with the resident who spits in your face and eye, kicks you in the head, tries to kick you in the stomach or anywhere she can, tries to bite you with her black rotten nasty ass mouth, swearing at you, telling you to shut up and get the hell out. you wonder how she can still do all this at 101 years old.

you want to throw up your hands and scream when multiple alarms are going off and you cant have a realistic conversation with them because they have dementia.

you want to cry when you are sweating so much youre dripping, and realize that the person who fights you the most or cant get up needs a bed change because they have soaked themselves.

i am alone taking care of 16-21 residents depending on the side im on.

i get 1 half hr lunch break AND THAT IS IT.

the morning people come in and treat you like **** because you dont have time to get up more residents.

you have no social life because you sleep in the day IF POSSIBLE. because work will call you every day asking you to cover shifts.

go home, sleep, wake up, take a shower, eat if you have time, repeat.

people think this shift is easier than the others. think again. i was/am a new cna and i thought this would help me ease into it until i got more comfortable. nope, sucks. hardcore.