Mandatory daytime meetings for nightshift employees

[BizzieRN]

I have recently started working for a rapidly growing research company. I am the only full time RN on the night shift, and usually the only nurse for the facility on those nights. I have about 25 patients in house every night. In addition to my full time night schedule I am required to attended mandatory staff meetings at 2pm approximately every two weeks. This cuts into my sleeping time, and I am usually scheduled to come back that same night as the meetings to carry out another night shift. I do not feel comfortable working under my nursing license after those staff meetings. After several conversations with my managers about this issue, they still haven't changed the policy, or made special arrangements for me and my support staff. I am seeking some help on laws and regulations that I can bring some serious attention about this matter. If anyone knows of any resources I can use, I would be greatly appreciative. Also if anyone has some extra guideance on what else I could do besides quit. Sometimes I feel because I work night shift my demands are ignored. Do any other night shift nurse's get that impression?

Thanks

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

It's true what they say....night shift people are a different breed....nobody can understand what we get done, and how BUSY we actually can be! And power's that be usually want to have meetings during the day....when we need to be sleeping....Short of actually saying that you can only come to 1 out every 2 meetings, etc...nothing to save on sleep....

In terms of laws/regulations...nothing comes to mind unless you are talking about a specific situation in these meetings that deal with actual P and P....if things aren't working, and they won't listen to you....I would simply say "Well, I'm not getting any feedback here, nothing is being done, all we're doing is discussing issues not ACTING on them. I could've stayed home for this. If you don't think my concerns are valid, I will be more than happy to find some other night shifter to come for me...."

[Katnip, RN]

As a manager with a very small night staff, I do hold meetings during the day. But I also make sure I go in early so I can meet with the night staff and have the same meeting. I do think it's unfair to have people coming in during the day, especially when they're working 5 nights a week. I used to work night shift, and it's hard.

[daisybaby, LPN]

Katnip, I wish you were my manager when I worked nights!

[MikeyJ, RN]

They hold the meetings at 8:00 a.m. so the night shifters can attend; however, they are not mandatory to attend. It is however mandatory to read the sign the notes/minutes that were taken during the meeting.

[TX_ICU_RN]

I will not attend regular "mandatory" meeting if it is not scheduled at the beginning or end of my shift time...regardless of if I work days or nights (I do work nights). I am paid hourly, not on salary. There are pros and cons to both, but for this purpose, if you are going to pay me hourly...then if I am not on the schedule I will not be at the hospital.

[barbyann]

Have you tried teleconferencing? That way you can be a part of the meeting but not have to get dressed and out of the house.

[BizzieRN]

I have offered to buy a tape recorder, a video recorder, and send one night shift representative to these meetings, but they are still mandatory. I guess I will try a professional letter next.

My managers put on our evals how many meetings we missed. To be honest these meetings last 20 minutes and can be put into an email. I am to the point of calling the State Board of Nursing and seeing if they some sort of law/regulation protecting night shift workers against things like this. If there isn't there should be. We have people'e lives in our hands and if we only get 4 hours of sleep, because of a mandatory staff meeting, a serious error can be made. Pilots and truck drivers have laws about sleep, why not nurse's? Maybe there is one, I just have not found it in my research.

[nightmare, RN]

I have the same problem here in the UK! I only go to meetings if they are on my days off.The same goes for training sessions.I can see no value in going to a meeting and being so tired that I don't remember a thing about it afterwards.

[kayla123]

When I worked nights, our NM would come in and have a staff meeting at 1 AM. She always said better one tired person then a whole floor.

[Midwest4me]

That sucks. I'm sorry they are not listening to your suggestions. I don't have any idea on laws or regulations; like you said there SHOULD be. We, on nocs, at our hospital are "invited" to attend nursing mtgs(and OT will be paid if we do) but not required...the minutes of the meetings are sufficient.

For some time I've felt that there should be a rotating schedule at our hospital so that the other shifts would know what it's like to work nights...with a drastic cut in staff yet the same number of pts to care for...of course that would never fly and I honestly wouldn't like a rotating schedule any more than the next person.

[Jolie, BSN]

So many managers (and family members) are clueless as to the sleep needs and schedule of night shift workers. They just think it's no big deal for a night shifter to come in at 3pm for an inservice (or teacher conference). If your manager refuses to make alternative arrangements for your meetings, I would suggest calling her at 3:00 am and asking her to conduct the meeting by phone. Perhaps that would get the message across.