I started night shift about two months ago. I came from bussy day shift and before that I spent two years on my most favorite shift - swing (Oh how I miss you, my cheerfull, sometimes b****y but allways lively swing shift girlfriends!)
My question is, what the heck am I missing on Night shift???? All my colleagues are extremely quiet, they are keeping to themselves (Geez, there's one or two that I havent hardly heard to speak yet!) and please forgive me for saying this, the only theme that seems to be comming up for casual conversation (if any), is church.
Sofar I wasn't able to establish a comunicative relationship with them at all and it bothers me because that is SO not me... ...And besides, it sure would help if one had someone to talk to at four or five in the am, when the "critical hour of sleepyness" hits.
Is this a common phenomenon, that night shift nurses are much "quieter" (I don't mean volume level) and less communicative?
is there anyone else who switched from days/eves to nights who went through a similar experience?
...But my REAL question is: What the heck are they doing all the time??? I mean, even if I draw it out, the 24 hour chart check and gathering all my info, H&P's, labs, reading the previous nurses' notes, communication sheets and progress notes doesn't take longer than three, maybe four hours tops... And there are nearly no meds to be given,no treatments, no procedures, radiology,CT's, MRI's, the doc's are not around to write orders...Usually most of the patients are sleeping, and those that arent, are at least trying... So what am I missing?? They seem to be able stare into the chart, and into the computer (not browsing, mind you, but actually looking at pt. info) ALL NIGHT!!! I don't mean to be mean at all, but are they memorizing the chart or something??? I just can't figure this out.... I just can't pretend all night, like I'm doing something really important, so I read a magazine or a book or surf the net, in order to not fall asleep... I tried to go around and ask if they need help, but they hardly ever do.
No one seems to mind when I obviously am not doing anything, everybody is very nice to me and I continuously am getting praise on my performance as a nurse, but still, I feel so bad... I feel like I am missing something or doing something wrong by not doing anything when there's nothing to do....
Please help me with any kind of input, or I'll go nuts over this...
I've been working midnights on a surgical floor for 6 years and I love it. We all get along and if one of us is done we will go around and ask if anyone needs help, answer call lights and anything else that needs done. We don't seem to have the "that's not my job" mentality that the other shifts have. It does tend to be quieter because we don't have to deal with doctors, family, etc. the way the other shifts do; but, we generally keep busy all night. If not, we sit and talk. We (nurses and aides) all work well together. You couldn't pay me enough to work days or evenings. None of them get along and no one wants to be there. I like my night shift co-workers and wouldn't trade them for anything.
I couldn't sleep at work; when I go to sleep, I STAY alseep! :chuckle
You'd have to feel out your coworkers, Estrogen, but if it really is quiet during your shift, it would be silly for them to just expect you to sit there twiddling your fingers!
OT aside, anyone know how twiddling your fingers is done?
Where I work, we take a one hour nap in the night, as long everything is under control. It really helps me a lot, and I wake up without too much trouble. Most nights we are able to do this. There have been studies indicating that night workers are more productive if they are allowed a nap.
Well the other night I worked with a float who was non stop blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah all night long and went from one subject to another. I. am. not. kidding. There I was trying to do paperwork and she was in my ears, computer work...in my ears, pt care ...in my ears. No matter what I did she followed me around and was...in my ears. I'm at he nurses station on the computer, she was sitting on my right blabing away and here comes one of our very verbose residents who constantly talks about everything and anything just like her and he's on my left...in my ears. :stone: I finally had to get up and walk away and hide in the BR for about 15 min to keep my head from blowing up! It was mind boggling. At least the next time if I see her coming to the unit to float, I'll know enough to pop a few Tylenols as a nursing measure to myself. I would have given my left arm to have a night like the one you're describing. Consider yourself lucky. Other than that, I find things to keep me busy when it's a quiet night and I'm bored.
I was actually happy that for the first time since I started working NOC shift, I finally got my lunch break last night. I worked at a Skilled/ Rehab Facility were most of our patients are post ops needing PRNs. By the time I am done with my assessment and passing meds, it's already 3 in the morning. Then I have to do 15 medicare charting plus 10 more that are COC's(my charting can go up to 30 at one time) I still do GT care , scheduled treatment (now why do we have treatments at night when patients are asleep?),fax lab results, f/u on care plans, check equipments and what have you. Day and Eve shift nurses always say that NOC shift is the easiest. I say at least they have no problems contacting the MD without being screamed at. But I love my shift. It's peaceful once all the residents are settled in( Then I can chart). No families present to nag(question) you when they can actually see that both your hands are full and that you just answered the same question or heard the same story 5 minutes ago. But don't get me wrong. I love it when families call in the middle of the night and ties you on the phone for the next 30 minutes. At least I get the update on what's really going on with the patient. I mean, we don't really get an accurate report all the time especially if your supervisor is breathing heavily on your back because OT is not allowed anymore.(But hey, we are always mandated to stay after the shift when necessary and would benefit them, right).
But anyhow, all shifts are different. But us nurses still extend that same nursing care no matter how as long as it's within the guidelines and policy.
Well the other night I worked with a float who was non stop blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah all night long and went from one subject to another. I. am. not. kidding. There I was trying to do paperwork and she was in my ears, computer work...in my ears, pt care ...in my ears. No matter what I did she followed me around and was...in my ears. I'm at he nurses station on the computer, she was sitting on my right blabing away and here comes one of our very verbose residents who constantly talks about everything and anything just like her and he's on my left...in my ears. :stone: I finally had to get up and walk away and hide in the BR for about 15 min to keep my head from blowing up! It was mind boggling. At least the next time if I see her coming to the unit to float, I'll know enough to pop a few Tylenols as a nursing measure to myself. I would have given my left arm to have a night like the one you're describing. Consider yourself lucky. Other than that, I find things to keep me busy when it's a quiet night and I'm bored.
:rotfl: hah hah, I sure can relate to that! It's awful when co-workers are too chatty! They think the main reason they are there is to socialize, :cheers: with no regard as to the needs of the recipient of their verbosity!
...And besides, it sure would help if one had someone to talk to at four or five in the am, when the "critical hour of sleepyness" hits. 
BeccaRN
22 Posts
I've been working midnights on a surgical floor for 6 years and I love it. We all get along and if one of us is done we will go around and ask if anyone needs help, answer call lights and anything else that needs done. We don't seem to have the "that's not my job" mentality that the other shifts have. It does tend to be quieter because we don't have to deal with doctors, family, etc. the way the other shifts do; but, we generally keep busy all night. If not, we sit and talk. We (nurses and aides) all work well together. You couldn't pay me enough to work days or evenings. None of them get along and no one wants to be there. I like my night shift co-workers and wouldn't trade them for anything.