Nights are finally here!

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 22, 2009

welcome to nights... i hate days too but for a different reason. in fact, i find that nights are as busy as days because i work a busy medical surgical floor.... i have worked until 9 am on nights several times despite being scheduled to return that night to work another shift! docs can and do come by late to write orders an see patients... i assisted with a throcentesis last week at 23:00!!! not to mention getting several admissions, having a bigger patient load then the day shift, and having to do chart and mar checks (more paper work).

the positive difference i find in night as oppose to days is that there are nurses who may feel overwhelmed but are willing to help out. i had a patient who was crashing on me and i needed to get her to the icu. several nurses helped me get that crashing patient transferred even though they were busy. on days i felt alone. in fact, though many nurses want to help out and are good people, they are so bogged down by having administrators looking over their shoulders that they do not dare help out and risk getting behind! :twocents:

btw, the other professionals on nights around the hospital are usually less stressed... they do not give much attitude when they have to come up to provide a treatment or service! on the other hand, your cnas might be lazy! i have two i cannot stand working with and hate it when they are the only two working my shift! but that is another story for another time. good luck!

NC Girl BSN · Jun 22, 2009

I am a new grad three weeks in on the night shift. I really like it and it is less chaotic than days. I oriented 5 weeks on days and hated getting up so early in the morning.I am adjusting to the sleep pattern and like the idea of getting $6 more an hour.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 23, 2009

I am a new grad (now RN) on nights- have been for about two months.

I would not do days... only kicking and screaming! Getting up and having to be conscious at 0630 is a bit much for me.

I find I really enjoy the camaraderie with the staff. Our hospital ENFORCES visiting hours.. no visitors after 20:00!

As long as you can find what works for you sleep-wise, I think it's a great shift to start out on!

best to you :) From one night shifter to another....

-Diane

rayshanna · Jun 30, 2009

Thanks for the encouragement. I wish the two of you many blessings. I'm back on days, do to a scheduling issue, but it's cool. Today I took carre of 3 patients all by myself, talk about happy. I was beside myself. Had to look up hospital policy on suction care for trache's. Lol. The last time I suctioned a trache was my 1st semester of school, over 1 1/2 years ago. i learned alot today, so I'm actually enjoying days. Best wishes to you two though.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2009

After I am off orientation/internship I will likely be nights. Our ICU has a more laid back feel without a bazillion case workers, administrators, students, and doctors moving in and out, but it has it's own sort of busy flow. Most of the ER and PACU ICU admits hit right after shift change and there's a lot of catch-up to be played.

I'm interested to see how I'll do.

NightNurseRN · Jun 30, 2009

I like nights over days. If I wake up at 5 am to get ready for work I feel like the first half of the day I'm half asleep. I guess I'm just a night owl. I also find night workers to be more laid back...just in my short experience anyway.

rayshanna · Jul 3, 2009

i have noticed the same thing about night nurses being more laid back. in many ways starting off as a new grad on nights is beneficial but in many others days are better. for example, nights are beneficial to learn documentation and charting and your facilities systems, but days are better for skills and one on one interaction with doctor and other disciplinary members. i hope you like nights; sounds like it'll be a perfect fit for you.