Battle of the Shifts

nckdl · Sep 10, 2007

Oh god, I'm going through the exact same thing right now, except it is in a nursing home. I get so sick and tired of the bickering and the fighting that I literally want to pull all my hair out. Don't you want to just scream at them "DO YOUR JOB AND SHUT UP":angryfire Good luck with your situation and I hope for both of our sakes, it blows over.

wooh, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2007

Everything is hard in it's own way, and I feel if you think the other shift is easier, then get yourself on that shift. I used to work nights, and am now working days. I feel like I do more busy work than I used to, but I'm better rested when I do it. If I really thought that nights was easier, I'd go back. I just try to always leave my shift the way I'd want it left for me. Sometimes I feel that I'm leaving a mess, but it's never something I wouldn't be willing to clean up myself.

loricatus · Sep 10, 2007

I work the 11A-11P shift in a very busy ED. This shift was created because that's considered the busy time. It overlaps with a portion of all the other shifts, so every one does agree that it is the busiest shift and usually won't do it. Stops the complaining, at least to those who have this shift. Our answer was to trade shifts so we can see for ourselves. But, I do agree with you that nursing is a 24 hour profession; &, not always is life so predictable to be able to complete all the tasks in a single shift. I guarantee that those that complain that things are left over for them from a previous shift are not always able to complete everything in theirs (unless they stay late and gluttons for punishment).

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2007

I think most places go through this. In reality we are all busy and a certain amount of the blame for this tug of war comes from administration and their lack of understanding of what really goes on day by day. I know they make "rounds" but it isnt the same as being there actually doing it every day. We all are left short staffed more than anyone of us want to admit and they never want to admit.

That being said,, we had a real issue with this a few years ago. It seemed to stem from a few people who took offense that there was a bit of catch up to do at the end of the shift before them.

The nurse manager has to get on board and make it very clear to everyone that nursing is a 24 hour job and that is WHY there is another shift coming on. Its called continuity of care and it is EVERYONE'S responsibility. Once she takes the bull by the horns and puts the word out that there wont be any more blame game going on people usually will follow suit. We also made it kind of our unofficial policy that if an admit or surgical comes back within an hour of shift change both shifts are responsible for making sure the process is complete. The offgoing shift will take report and do the first post op checks, MAR, etc. and if the patient needs a full admit the oncoming nurse will do that since she has to do a whole body assessment each shift anyway. We get as much done as we can but there are times when it has to be left to the next shift.

Good luck, i hope it resolves itself soon because i know it isnt fun having to deal with that along with being shortstaffed too.

RNview · Sep 10, 2007

"certain amount of the blame for this tug of war comes from administration and their lack of understanding of what really goes on day by day. i know they make "rounds" but it isn't the same as being there actually doing it every day. we all are left short staffed more than anyone of us want to admit and they never want to admit." -meownsmile

it is so easy to point fingers. and where i work, the administration does the "rounds" and listen to the patients complaints and/or concerns and pull the busy nurse in the corner and make her feel so small. and when they get a good feedback, it rarely reaches the nurse.

"i guarantee that those that complain that things are left over for them from a previous shift are not always able to complete everything in theirs (unless they stay late and gluttons for punishment)." -loricatus

i bet! it is so true!

"everything is hard in it's own way." -wooh

exactly!

"don't you want to just scream at them "do your job and shut up" - nckdl

i scream it on the top of my head! in every shift there's always at least 1 nurse who just loves to complain at the beginning of the shift. man, i can't wait for them to quit! they're just additional stressors in the work place.

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Sep 10, 2007

Oh god, I'm going through the exact same thing right now, except it is in a nursing home. I get so sick and tired of the bickering and the fighting that I literally want to pull all my hair out. Don't you want to just scream at them "DO YOUR JOB AND SHUT UP":angryfire Good luck with your situation and I hope for both of our sakes, it blows over.

Omg I love you. Do you want to come to work with me tomorrow?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 10, 2007

I noticed this as an aide on the med-surg floor. The next shift coming in like the A-team, sans green van and Mr. T. Wondering why X shift didn't get this that or whatever done. Rinse and repeat.

By working various shifts, i know now that one shift is not busier or slower than another, they just busy in different ways.

deeDawntee, RN · Sep 10, 2007

I believe this exists to a certain extent in every "industry" that has shift workers. The area where I work now, there has been a real effort to do away with this "shift" bickering. Perhaps you could suggest it to your management? There are good ways to do it, such as having people who would be willing, to trade a shift or two, to experience just what it is like doing another shift. I promise there are difficulties in every shift that other shifts just aren't aware of.

It makes it very difficult to start your shift or end it on a positive note when you are constantly dealing with malcontent between shifts. If you could get your coworkers working on this together, you have no idea how much more pleasant your job will become.

Good luck!! I hope you have a responsive management team to bring this issue to and other coworkers who want to see an improvement!!

Ariesbsn · Sep 10, 2007

I started in health care as a CNA in a nursing home in 1988 and was amazed at how much each shift griped about the other shifts. Now it is 2007, I'm a nurse and nothing has changed in that respect.

In order to make this go away, I certainly agree with having people change shifts for a while to see the chaos that the other shifts put up with. I still think though, that there is a root cause to the problem and that needs to be found. I also think the root cause differs in every situation.

Yes, short staffing plays a part. So does lack of leadership from administration down to the charge nurse. It is also an individual thing. Some people are just more fond of molding chairs than they are of working. The other thing I see is that some shifts and some people are pets of administration and can do nothing wrong. Others can do nothing right, even when, in reality, they do many things right.

Like every other issue in nursing, this is complex. I wish the answer was simple.

island40 · Sep 10, 2007

I work the night shift in a long term care facility (i.e nursing home) and I like that my shift is easier. It is quiet. I have time to do my paperwork without administrative interruption. I have time to talk with residents. One of the reasons why is that my facility does not cross train its employees. The day and evening shift are shown the protocols for intake/admissions- not me. I don't have to do them.

This means that the pm nurse is sometimes at the nursing desk until 2am doing orders and updating the computer system. Not a chance in hell I would want to see what their shift is like. I have worked in many facilities (acute care and long term) over the past 13 years and I like my easy job.

RNview · Sep 11, 2007

yes, short staffing plays a part. so does lack of leadership from administration down to the charge nurse. it is also an individual thing. some people are just more fond of molding chairs than they are of working. the other thing i see is that some shifts and some people are pets of administration and can do nothing wrong. others can do nothing right, even when, in reality, they do many things right.

omg this so true! i think one of the biggest cause of this is the management. one of the nurse on pm shift (she's also one the charge nurses) has this "know it all attitude" and had an exchange of words with one of the nurses on am during the shift change. i don't know exactly the cause of this battle but the pm nurse told the am nurse that "she is the eyes and ears of our supervisor". :nono: knowing that 98% of nurses in our unit can't get along with her, and had a long history of being the supervisors pet, this issue is escalating like crazy. that incident only happened last week, when our supervisor is on vacation. she should be coming back this week, so i don't know what's going to happen. :uhoh21:

some nurses also love to write up people even for little things. they don't try to solve the problem within themselves, or maybe talk to the other nurse first and then write a report if nothing happens. of course this is a case to case basis.

in our sister floor, they have a very good supervisor and everyone appreciates each other there... total opposite of our unit. too bad, they don't have an opening.