Have started nights on my L&D...

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Oct 27, 2006

Glad it's working well for you. I just finished my 2nd week of orientation. I've seen a lot! I have a WONDERFUL preceptor! I'm loving it as well!

RN007 · Oct 28, 2006

I finished my OB rotation today and fell in love. I talked to the nurse manager and I think she's interested in me. Of course, it all depends on what's open when I graduate, etc. I'll have to do nights, too, and am glad to hear you're adjusting well. Nights will actually work better for my family. Keep us posted on how you do! And congrats!! :redpinkhe

nursejenrnc · Oct 28, 2006

Congrats on your new positions... I've been a night shift L&D nurse for 14 years... wouldn't change a thing! I remember my OB rotations, when I made my decision that OB is were I would live, breathe, work and retire from! You're right about the food though, always tons of yummy things sitting around, it's what keeps us going, and what gets us fat, and gives irritable bowel, heartburn, etc (especially when combined with lots of double strength coffee!) Anyway, good luck as you start what I hope will be a long and very satisfying career as a night shift OB nurse! (Mine sure has been):wink2:

LizzyL&DRN · Oct 28, 2006

after 7 weeks of day orientation, have finished my 1st week of night orientation. I was really afraid about nights, that i wouldn't be able to do it, but i have. there's just always something to do so i don't get tired. the nurses are great. its not inundated with 595 doctors all around at once, but, there are always some sitting around and chatting usually. it's fun, and i've really done and seen and learned so much in 8 weeks. (we're a perinatal referral center, so we get a lot of high risk patients) pih, mag, ptl, twins, chorio, vbac, etc.its all funt o learn. had a 2 vessel cord baby the other day,too, hadn't seen that before.
of course, the down side of nights would be that there always seems to be food around! and, i just dont know when to eat dinner. and i'm still learning how to computer chart in the dark. i thought i'd have trouble sleeping during the day, and i did the first day, but its getting better. the dark blanket over the window really helps.
so i won't be asking to be put on the list for days right away. maybe eventually, but for now, it seems to be working well.

Happy,

Just a little piece of advise from one night shifter to another. Put your name on the list for days now even if you don't want it now. At my hospital I felt the same as you after my orientation, loved nights, loved the staff, loved the calmer atmosphere, loved docs only there if you need them... but for me nights got old. Mind you it did take 3.5 years for that to happen. But at that point the list was soooo long I was stuck. A girlfriend of mine who graduated with me and started L&D at the same time, just got days about 3 months ago and she had her name on the list from the beginning. So that goes to show you, sometimes it can take a long time(depending on staffing turn over) to get asked for days and you can always pass it up if you don't want it when they ask. Just a thought. Night shift works really well for some people but others can only do it for so long. Good luck to you. I think nights is a great place to "break in" to L&D on your own.

babynrsrn · Oct 28, 2006

I agree, put your name on the list now. My name was on the day list from day one of my orientation and 3.5 years later I still have several years until a day spot will open for me. I really liked nights at first but now they are really starting to wear on me. Good luck!

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 29, 2006

I've been on nights since August, and will probably continue for about 2 years (not by choice, but simply because that's how it works here). It's actually not so bad. I take Provigil when I work, which REALLY helps me stay awake and alert. I put black plastic over my windows in my bedroom and try to get at least 6-7 hours of sleep during the day. I also work six nights in a row (Thursday-Tuesday), which then gives me 8 days off. It's really not so bad. If it weren't for having children, I might just opt to do nights indefinitely (my husband also works nights as an RN at a different facility). The differential sure is nice!

LizzyL&DRN · Oct 29, 2006

I've been on nights since August, and will probably continue for about 2 years (not by choice, but simply because that's how it works here). It's actually not so bad. I take Provigil when I work, which REALLY helps me stay awake and alert. I put black plastic over my windows in my bedroom and try to get at least 6-7 hours of sleep during the day. I also work six nights in a row (Thursday-Tuesday), which then gives me 8 days off. It's really not so bad. If it weren't for having children, I might just opt to do nights indefinitely (my husband also works nights as an RN at a different facility). The differential sure is nice!

:eek: WOW!! Six nights in a row!! How do you do that?!? There's no way I could have done that. After 3 nights I was hurtin and it took me at least 24 hours to recover. I also couldn't sleep during the days without Ambien. I guess everyone's different in how much sleep they need. Good luck to you. :pumpiron: Don't burn out.

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 29, 2006

welcome to OB NOCs. a unique experience, to say the least. I wish you luck!

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 29, 2006

WOW!! Six nights in a row!! How do you do that?!? There's no way I could have done that. After 3 nights I was hurtin and it took me at least 24 hours to recover. I also couldn't sleep during the days without Ambien. I guess everyone's different in how much sleep they need. Good luck to you. :pumpiron: Don't burn out.

Heh, all my coworkers think I'm insane, too. But it works for me, and I am able to be more well-rested if I just do it in a straight shot. Plus, my ex-husband and I have joint custody of our kids (we switch off every week), so I'm able to schedule my work days such that 6 out of the 7 days I have with my kids, I don't have to work. My manager was skeptical at first, but I think I've shown her that I can do it and it works for me. Everyone's different, I guess. :)

nurse79 · Oct 29, 2006

Congrats to you..sounds like ur fitting in just great. I too just started my L/D orientation, on days though, and luckily i get to stay on days. I did mother baby/nsy for 1.5 years and i am definitely NOT a night person. I didnt like one bit (except i loved my staff) but hats off to you! Much respect to all you NOC Rns out there!!

flytern · Nov 3, 2006

It definitely takes a certain kind of person to fit into nights. Been doing it for almost 20 years. Wouldn't do any other shift. Like the fact that you have more autonomy. It's much more calm (not 50 staff members all talking at the same time) No bosses around to make sure you are doing 3 things at the same time, constantly!

I think the comraderie is different on nights. Since there is usually less staff, when mec happens you're not alone. We all look out for each other.

Welcome to the night!