Night Shift Group Hug =)

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN-CMC-CSC.

com·mis·er·a·tion (kəˌmizəˈrāSH(ə)n). Noun. Expressions of sympathy and sorrow for another.

I'm finally "getting it." Perusing the myriads of posts on AN from other nightshifters who are losing their sanity, health, and emotional well-being over the demands of the job, I used to be that eager rookie who denied that I would ever succumb to the stresses of night shift.

Now, a year into working endless nights at a busy critical access hospital and attached ER, the young warrior's once-brilliant warpaint has become streaked and faded after seeing my comrades fall at the hands of depression and stress one by one, leaving my little hospital for greener pastures.

I'm beginning to understand the feelings of isolation, the stress of feeling stretched far too thin. Perhaps I'm at a loss because I am now one of the only two remaining licensed RNs on the night shift calendar - we used to have 8. Perhaps it's just the exhaustion talking - I'm currently on my 10th consecutive 12-hr night shift, because there are no other night nurses available. Perhaps it's my frustration with management, who will pull a night nurse to cover a sick day nurse's shift but expects the night shift to "buck up" and either work through the illness or work short-handed.

The "Kudos" board that praises the selflessness of the day nurses who have come in to work on a day off when staff was low, while the dismally understaffed nurses on the nights are lucky to get a day off and work endless back-to-back shifts without relief or recognition. The already-skeletal night staff shrinking to a mere handful because the other nurses couldn't take it anymore, and no new staff are willing to work under such conditions. Yes, I'm starting to understand.

Why am I posting my commiseration for the world of AllNurses to see, you might ask? Because the stories I have read here about the night shift woes have also been laced with hope and inspiration. Through my exhaustion and silent tears of desperation, the words of encouragement posted long before I became a nurse have been a source of comfort for me as these past 10 shifts drudged on and on. And so I would like to offer my gratitude to the many who have gone before, and my encouragement to those who will follow.

Night nurses past, present, and future, consider this a giant group hug that exists outside the constraints of time and space! Others have survived night nursing, and so can you!

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WOW! That's a lot to write after working 10-12s in a row! Hugs back to you too, now please get some sleep!

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Hugs to you too, as I need it through this night shift :)

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN-CMC-CSC.
WOW! That's a lot to write after working 10-12s in a row! Hugs back to you too, now please get some sleep!

Wish I could! Thanks for the encouragement - I've still got 2 more shifts ahead of me (silent scream)! :)

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Specializes in NICU,ICU,ER,MS,CHG.SUP,PSYCH,GERI.

I'm about to shoot myself in the foot here but....does the hospital close down if you don't work 10 12-hour shifts in a row? Is that even safe? Does your manager not arrange for enough staff because he/she doesn't have to because the night shift will work ad nauseum? It is good, I guess,that you and your crew are willing to work beyond the realm of mental health and safety...I kind of don't know what to say. Set a limit? Define a boundry?No one can MAKE you work like this.

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN-CMC-CSC.
I'm about to shoot myself in the foot here but....does the hospital close down if you don't work 10 12-hour shifts in a row? Is that even safe? Does your manager not arrange for enough staff because he/she doesn't have to because the night shift will work ad nauseum? It is good, I guess,that you and your crew are willing to work beyond the realm of mental health and safety...I kind of don't know what to say. Set a limit? Define a boundry?No one can MAKE you work like this.

No, it isn't safe. I've had conversations with my manager (who is also the DON) multiple times about this, and her response was that there simply aren't any other nurses to put on the night schedule. The shifts that left only a single LPN to manage the entire facility (22-bed CAH equipped for critical care and a 24-hr ER), I and/or my coworker felt obligated to volunteer for at the last minute because patient's lives are at risk. After nothing continued to change, I went straight up the chain to the CEO. The schedule for next month shows a slight improvement in the strategic placement of staff, but still not within what I would consider a "safe" boundary.

I have already given notice that I will not continue to work under these conditions and have a new job lined up for in the near future, but I'm strongly considering simply handing in my badge. The one thing keeping me from doing that is the fact that the only other RN on the night calendar is someone I had tutored through nursing school and have since become a mentor to. If I leave, she will be the only night RN at the facility. I would feel awful leaving a good friend to completely hang out to dry. At the same time, though, it may (doubtfully) force a paradigm change and some major renovation of the management structure might ensue. It's a very difficult catch-22.

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Specializes in Neonatal.

First of all, lots and lots of hugs. Hopefully you read this after some sleep, in a nice cool room w/ a fan and black out curtains...

Secondly, I applaud your commitment to your unit but you are stretching yourself way too thin! Your unit's lack of NOC staff is your management's problem, not yours! 10 shifts in a row may be nice for the wallet but if your emotional and physical banks are depleted, what's the point? Don't be a martyr, your management won't care...

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I did nights for over 4 years. Hear ya. Hugs to you all fighting the Good Night Fight.

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Y'know there's the good night fight and then there is absolute dropping the ball on managements part. 144 hours? That's insane. I truly admire you not letting co-workers out to dry (I feel the same way) be careful you don't wind up a patient. (Did that last week too).

Hopefully the new job is better...

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Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

Unfortunately this is what happens on night shift. The ship is not taken care of by the manager and people start to quit. Once it starts it just keeps on going.

For her to say there is no one to put on nights...of course there is!!! What about those days shift nurses...who are NOT working 10 12's in a row like you.

I had a similar situation in the first hospital that I worked in. We lost many of the night nurses, the NM would ask for volunteers from day staff to come in...none would. So we were expected to work multiple days. Well I like you gave my notice. Guess who worked the night shifts after that....yep the day staff...it was made mandatory.

She told me to try to keep me but I already had another job.

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

Hugs from a night shifter of 8 years. But man, that is not safe! Time to get to that new job and take your other night shift coworker with you.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I work my three understaffed and overworked. That's the reality of nights. I won't volunteer for anything more. I don't answer the phone.

My compassion for my fellow nurse is trumped by my responsibility to myself and my family.

Secondary are the dozens of cars I pass every morning half awake, on my bleary eyed 40 minute drive home.

I don't expect my fellow nurses to fill the holes on my night to work. Just as I won't fill theirs.

Our physical and mental resources are finite, and I won't squander them on a job that pretends I'm expendable.

On that really sour, bad attitude post, I wish the OP all the best.

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