Night shift at a SNF

What is it like? Are you busy at night or is everyone asleep? I currently work in a hospital as a unit secretary in PICU but when I get my LPN, I'll have to transfer to the SNF or be retrained as a patient care tech. Also do you use your nursing skills on a regular basis at a SNF?

I can't say as an LPN, but as a CNA, I was less busy. I know my LPN or charge nurse was ALOT less busy on nites. There are alot less treatments to do. The SNF I worked at had 3 different buildings. All buildings were connected, but they were all different levels of care. I don't know that you would use your skills daily, but even on days the nurses didn't do everything the same every day. There's always a chance to do skills though. There are treatments and dressing changes done at night. The dr. sometimes takes into account the resident and their routine. We had people that were up at nite and asleep during the day. (Maybe they worked graveyard...LOL) But I always hated when we had to wake someone up. It's not like they get to be sound asleep with all the call bells and bed alarms anyway. But dangit, let hem sleep when they can! I know, I know. There's times you can't help it though.

As far as the tech part, my view on that whole idea and why I stay away from the hospitals, Why should you go thru schooling and boards to be called a tech? They don't send Dr's to school for all that time to get their title taken down a peg. Or taken away altogether. So I'll stay away from being called a tech after 2 years of school! Plus, sometimes they pay less than SNF. So if $$ is an issue, you may want to stick with an SNF.

I work second shft at SNF. Often I stay into nights for charting and have done a few doubles. The night nurse has a definite routine. Our facility has a midnite pass (usually only 2-3 res. with round the clock pain meds).. She may have another 2-3 meds to pass at 2am. But her big med pass is 6am. Many synthroid meds/BP checks/Chemstrips. Our night nurse has a BIT more time on her hands and tries to wrap us some loose ends if possible, paperwork wise. Yes, probably fewer treatments, less resident interaction...

You also have to deal with the ones who do not sleep well... and are up frequently.

I think the night nurse works VERY close with CNA and assists with q2 rounds because each unit only has the 1 nurse and 1 CNA, so there are several res. that go easier to T&P with 2 people. Of course all facilities are different... shop around for the right facility.

Nights is just a different kind of busy in my opinion. Things can all go to pot very quickly just like all shifts.

MHO

snickers

Best of luck to ya!