Nursing is 24hrs is just an expression

[angelique777]

Nursing is 24 hrs is just an expression.............

I was always told that what one shift can not do the next shift does cause nursing is 24hrs

Yet I have learned that this is just a saying cause God forbid you should leave something on my unit for the next shift whether you missed it or whether you just did not have the time ..........no one wants to hear it......

I came here to talk ........really just needy a place to talk to other experienced nurses both day and nights to just talk about this concept .....with years of experience under your belt how often do you forget miss stuff or do not get to complete stuff on your tour and what kinda of stuff have you missed and what was the response..........just would like to know what some of the seasoned nurses have to say about it ........I used to love my job now I really detest it because dread the change of shift........is there no hope is every where you go like this in nursing .........

I never pay attention to what another shift does not get done .......I do not keep a mental log of times when meds are retimed or when IV can not be placed or when dressing changes not done or anything that has to be passed on to me...........I see my coworkers as part of a team and if they do not do something .....I do not see them as dumping.....cause I know how stressfull a tour can be and how demanding patients are and well you can not .translate what you do to anyone on a shift so why ask them to explain ...yet have learned that this is just me cause someone is keeping a log and and they are going to give you hell...........I am new just completed my first yr out and still lots to learn.......at nights I usually get a tough assignment or people who are not doing well..........I am very busy at night .......I help out my coworkers at night as well yet my most dreaded part of my shift is the shift change ...

It seems they come in hostile and ready to fire at you and if you miss anything or did not have time for something its like a big thing.........I have lost my taste for this job just from this interaction cause I have a great group of people who I work with on my shift and we are very supportive of each other........not this is not so true of the shift you give report too......sometimes treat you like you did nothing all night....not the same sentiment at all as how I used to percieve them......not in all the staff but many.......the other thing I noticed is that more gossiping occurs in that shift the are constantly ragging on you complaining about the night shift just complaining...................I do not have time to be thinking about gossiping to the night staff about the day staff..........if they are so busy in the day how they have time to spend it complaining so much.............please know I am sure it not like this in all day shift I am saying only at my place............at nights there are a lot of very strong nurses and I know the dayshift would not dream of talking to them or attacking them in the way some of them talk to me..........

Any way just was curious about your experiences

[jessnurse05]

Hi,

I feel your pain. I'm new and I have exactly the same experiences as you do. Usually it's something that came up right at the end of my shift that I couldn't have planned for earlier in the night. We start giving report at 0645 so if an IV goes bad at 0600 it's hard for me to restart it along with the other end of shift things that I need to take care of (meds, I&O's, etc), yet there are nurses who will make me stay late and start the IV because it happened on "my shift" so it's my responsibility. There are some who are worse than others, and sometimes I can chalk it up to they are having a bad day, but there are a couple nurses who always seem to find something wrong with my work.:angryfire I know that it sucks to start your shift off behind, so if it's something that I really should have done, I will stay and do it, but if it's something like the IV going bad, then I think it's valid to let the next shift do it.

I'm sorry you've been having such a bad time too.

Just a note, please don't write in all italics, it's really difficult for me to read. Thanks!

Jessica

[Dorito, ASN, RN]

I remember when I started in nursing on night shift the day shift was pretty unforgiving to me as well. When I think of the saying " Nursing for 24 hours" I think of the fact that once a nurse/ always a nurse. Whether I'm at work, or at home, or out with friends, if there is anything medical (human or animal) you are the first person they turn to. My best advice about the shift problem is just hang in there, do your best. Maybe keep a log of any tasks that you have to hand off to the next shift so that if someone complains you have the documentation. Otherwise, maybe you could approach that staff person in private in a very polite manner inquiring. Make sure you are complimenting their experience and ask for input. Maybe they would have some ideas for you to become better organized. Hang in there and good luck!

[angelique777]

I am pretty organized ......often times the night staff jokes that if they need anything .if they ask me I have it in my bag...I have premade IV kits made up ......made my own very organized report sheet........I have a to do list........not an organizational issue....stuff happens ........

I did think today though before you posted that I should make a checkoff list to double check certain things before the day shift comes on .........was thinking of doing that.........as much as I am a person who does not mind constructive criticism or being told something I do not see my self asking the day shift for anything they are so full of themselves and how bad they have it that I feel asking them anything just feeds there arrogance and just leaves you as a person feeling lousy.........as if they are smart and your stupid and you must come to them .....I do not mind ever to come to my own coworkers cause in general they are helpful..........but guess the most I can do is come hear and let those who share there experiences help me see how others live and experience this........I can only imagine that I will sleep and this will pass........unfortunately tonight I have to go back and endure another day of someone who I do not enjoy having to interact with....understand do not dislike per say the person its the mentality they have and the attitude in which they talk ....I will swallow deep and get ready for work and pray pray pray for a good night and thats all I can do whats most important in all this is caring for my patients and not having to be helping others feel better about themselves while they boast of how good they are and talk loudly about what they percieve you did not do .........ugh........Lord get me through this night........cannot imagine doing this to someone.......guess I am stressing cause have to go back to work today and really do not want to be there today........pray pray pray for me to have a good experience soon could use a break.......

[Dorito, ASN, RN]

Often times the ones complaining or "eating their young" are the burned out nurses- some of which may actually be intimidated by your zest for the profession. I remember how I felt as well and it can be depressing....just don't let the actions of others take you away from a profession where you know you do a good job with the patients- that is our number one priority and we need you. Maybe you could talk with your Supervisor about this and maybe set up a meeting- otherwise it makes you feel like you are walking on eggshells. After the way I was treated I had a whole new respect for new nurses and more often than not they were assigned to me as their preceptor. You sound like a compassionate nurse that our profession really needs!

[MarySunshine]

I let that sort of thing roll off my back. And I'm happy to do something another nurse didn't have time to get to. I think that the attitude you are describing is very poor, and I won't stoop to it or be made to feel bad about it. With the nurses who have acted like that around me, I even more insistant that they "go home and enjoy your evening. Don't worry about that...I don't mind getting to it at all." I hope it makes them change their tune.

[Town & Country]

Angelique777, you have expressed way better than I could ever HOPE to, just how DRAINING and pointless it is, to have to face these early-morning inquisitions!

I am so tired of dealing with this attitude. Apparently, it is pretty wide-spread in nursing because YOU are enduring it and I have encountered it numerous places.

I think the nurses who do this are LAZY and don't want any "extra" work to do.

I don't know what the answer is but I'm not going to be the scapegoat any more, never again!!!

[melanie1126]

I've been a nurse for about the same time and I can relate to your feelings. I try REALLY hard not to pass anything on. One night when I managed to get everything done I've had a nurse comment on the fact that I'm a very conscientious new grad, yet later on when I had a night when I just couldn't do it all, the same nurse complained about me. For me, getting report is still a completely overwhelming experience. Like you, I often have 6-7 really sick patients, all monitored and there are procedures, pathology, etc. that I am still unfamiliar with. I chalk it up to the fact that nursing on our floor is so stressful that most of us are dreading the shift they are coming on to and are just going to have attitude period (not necessarily b/c of me, b/c of the job). These same nurses are completely different 12 hours later when I come on and they are leaving. But back to your situation, I have stopped saying " I didn't get to .....". I now say "The patient needs.....". If they say "You didn't do it?" I simply repeat again "They need it". If they press the issue I will just say " I did my best". From your post, you say that you are staying busy the entire shift and trying to avoid passing things on, that's all anyone can ask. Beyond that, they'll just have to get over it. As you get more experienced you will get faster and more efficient and be able to do more. But for right now, while your still getting acclimated try not to put any added pressure on yourself by worrying about what the day shift thinks or says. You need this time to learn, and I'm sure you'll never treat a new grad the way you've been treated. Best of luck

!

[Jo Dirt]

I've seen other nurses gripe and gripe and rant and rave all day over something that didn't get done on the previous shift, when they could have taken the 5 minutes and do it than make a big issue out of it.

I think some nurses just like to b^%&*.

[jillyk*rn]

hi,

this is something that has been going on for years. i must confess, it used to drive me up the wall!!:angryfire :angryfire

being a little older & wiser (and some meds;) ) i try not to let it bother me.

day shift likes to see me walk in, i don't get stressed and just try to take things in stride.

there are always going to be those who want to chew you up and spit you out. :argue: they won't change. you just have to try to change how you react to them.

it is hard as a new nurse, but it will get better .

:icon_hug: hugs to you!!:icon_hug:

[grentea]

I've seen some of this at my hospital. Sometimes it seems like people just want to pick apart my work because I'm a new grad. It's like a shift against shift thing a lot of times. I don't even have the time to do that to other people when I'm working! When I have free time, I'm adding up my I/O's, writing notes, and trying to eat. I'm always kind to the nurses who work with me and I put in some honest hard work, and I can only hope that they will give the same respect back.

[MommyandRN]

This is true. I've experienced it from both sides. I always try to do what I can, stay busy. If I am having a slow day I try to think of what I can do, that doesn't HAVE to be done, that would be easy for the next nurse. I appreciate when poeple have done that for me. I also notice when someone has had a slow shift and done NOTHING to help out the next shift, left a mess, etc.

Just try and do wha tyou can, clean up the room, dont leave a mess, don't leave 100 things to get done. But when you ahve ahd a busy shift, just explain that, and maybe stay and extra half hour or so to finish up and help the next nurse out.