hate night shift

flyingchange · May 31, 2011

Shift differential makes nights great! Sorry you're having such a rough time with your preceptor.

caliotter3 · May 31, 2011

Count the paychecks until you can transfer to days if you can't stand this. Hope you can put up with it that long. You don't describe a very inviting environment. Maybe it will get better when they start to know you better.

Overland1, RN · May 31, 2011

Looks like the problem is more than likely a preceptor thing rather than just being on the night shift; check your P&P's to see if just shooting a med or micro-dripping it in is really OK... if not, then watch your back. Having said that, I prefer the night shift, even back when I worked ER's; far fewer administrators around but generally better teamwork and more "hands-on" care.

Your experience with the (night) preceptor reminds me of some I have observed and vowed to never emulate. Still recalling my first week in a small ER when a more experienced nurse (who was trying to exert her self-perceived importance) said to me, "the nurses here will eat you alive."

I smiled and replied, "ooh, baby, ooh!" - her attitude toward me lightened up after that. Afterward, I wondered if she would complain about my "sexual harassment, especially considering her husband's "extracurricular" (so to speak) activities. Had she carried it farther, I was locked and loaded, and ready for whatever.

For those who are preceptors, remember that the new staff are not there to replace you, but are there to learn and provide excellent patient care. If you are really doing something wrong, then there are better ways for the preceptor to handle it, but (unfortunately) there are still some who prefer to get nasty in one way or another. My method of 'precepting' includes a concept that I learned in business many years ago - be careful how you treat others; the person you mistreat may someday be your boss (or at least be in a position to make your career less than happy).

Hang in there, kiddo, and show them by the care you provide that you are as good as anybody else there.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · May 31, 2011

Depends on so many things...the environment, the people you work with, your attitude...unless you leave, the only thing you can change is the last one..

EmergencyNrse · May 31, 2011

Odd, it's usually the night shift that runs smoother than the day crew.

With admin-types running around the stress level is worse on days. Night people tend to stick together and work better as a team.

I think yours is the exception not the rule.

As for cutting corners on procedures and giving medications you will have to "feel" your way. I don't recommend doing anything you're not comfortable with...

Sure, 20mg Pepcid needs to be given slowly sure but do you save any time by mixing up a piggyback? I wouldn't think so.

Most all cephalosporins (Rocephin, Claforan, Ancef) can be pushed rapidly but Zithromax and Levaquin can cause bad reactions if infused too quickly. I wouldn't trust "eyeballing" them and certainly nothing that is considered microdrip. Your cohorts are setting you up for failure.

The pace will get you if you let it. It can overwhelm you. If you're not in your comfort-zone then it's time to step back, catch your breath and resume things the way you were taught. It's too bad that you are getting so much flack by asking questions and help doing things.

You aren't as experienced with many things and asking questions is the right answer. No one knows it all (even the experienced ones) not knowing can be dangerous for you and your patients. Move forward at YOUR pace. Find the reliable people on your shift that don't mind helping you along.

Cheer up. It's not that bad and you will get better. I promise.

Good luck.

KayRN910 · May 31, 2011

I agree with EmergencyNrse about the infusions! Always run levaquin on a pump. Depending on the dose, it has to go in over an hour or an hour and a half. And when it comes to things like,"Oh, that's not how we do it on nightshift", you have to say,"This is how I was taught to do it... why do you do it this way?" and use your judgement as to who is right and who is wrong.

I had a similiar situation happen when I was precepting in the ED. I will tell you, it gets BETTER when you get on your own, because you dont have somebody constantly judging the way you give your patient care. Just find that one person who you can trust to go to for questions (because you will have a lot of them) and forget everybody else. Just make sure you know when to ask questions.

Good luck. I hope it gets better, because I remember the days of dreading to see my preceptor. :-/

brownbook · May 31, 2011

No I'm not eating the young!!! However I can't help wonder if you just hate working nights and will find reasons to complain about working that shift.

If your point was a bad preceptor that is one issue. If your point is working night shift sucks for you and your life style that is another issue.

I worked nights 17 years and as other posters have mentioned found a lot of camaraderie and working together spirit. Yes there were some jerks who worked the night shift as there are jerks who work every shift! Maybe your preceptor sensed your "this shift sucks I hate it" attitude?

And I honestly feel your pain about messing up your life style. I also honestly believe some people just can't work night shift, they said, and I believed them, they felt physically ill.

You can, maybe, eventually, will get a day shift positin. Platitudes don't usually help much, but try to turn a lemon into lemonade. Change your attitude, unless you want to quit you will have to find a way to endure this part of being a nurse, (didn't you know when you got into nursing most positions would be in a 24/7 facility)? Did you think as a new grad you would get right into a 7 - 3 position?

taalyn_1, CNA · May 31, 2011

ask your preceptor why they do it differently than you were shown on days. There may be a good reason, there may not be, then you can use your own judgement to decide which "rule" to follow. I hate it when you get told 15 different ways to do something by 15 different "bosses". Hang in there, it will work out eventually. Nights are rough cause its not what you or your body are used to, but it can be fun once you get in tune with the night owl schedule.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 31, 2011

nightshift can work for almost anyone who approaches it with a good attitude. if your complaint is the shift itself, make sure you get plenty of sleep during the day time, exercise and eat right. there are plenty of threads on this forum with great information for sleeping during the day.

if your complaint is about your preceptor, that has little to do with night shift. sounds like you're just generally unhappy. i'd have to agree with brownbook -- didn't you know night shift was a strong possibility?

Nrsstudent09 · Jun 1, 2011

I was aware that night shift was a possibility, however I was told I would be put on a 10-10 shift and at last minute was put on night. I'm trying to go at this with a good attitude and trying to learn. Basically I ask why on the things that seem like "short cuts" and get the response that nights move quicker and we do things different. I just don't want to shortcut and lose my license I worked so hard for. I had a different preceptor last night who let me do my own thing and just kinda sat back until I asked on things I wasn't sure on. I felt so much more at ease and she told me I did a great job. I know it will take some adjusting, I just feel like things are literally night and day.

KayRN910 · Jun 1, 2011

Just hang in there! You know how you felt better last night? When you took care of your own patients and didn't have somebody right up under you? That's what most days are like, when you are off orientation. So it will get better. Good luck!