Oh, you rode your high horse to work today

Published

Venting: I'm so tired of the day shift nurses coming in and during report sneering or making demoralizing comments regarding the night shift nurses' actions. I oriented on day shift and I understand it's busy and demanding. I have never, ever, given a second thought to passing meds you didn't get to or cleaning up a patient's room. Nursing care is 24/7. And when I try to talk to you about it, you become defensive. I'm exhausted and sick of your attitudes!

"Oh, so have you checked the 0530 labs?" Mind you I've been passing meds since routine lab draw and haven't had time to check. They didn't even get processed until 0630 and now it's 7. You have a computer too...check it.

"Why didn't you [insert verb]?" Let's see, I didn't wake Ms. So and So at 2am and bladder scan her because the poor agitated lady was finally sleeping for the first time in days and besides it would interrupt my bon bon eating schedule.

I'd hate to ruin your delusions about what night shift is like, but really we don't sit around all night. When I have four or five patients, three of which are total care I'm running to provide for them. So don't come in all bright eyed at 0700-or 0730 since you're late ALL THE TIME and think you have all the answers. And if you roll your eyes when I try to explain why something was done or not done, don't think we don't see it. Take the freaking chip off your shoulder, wipe the condescending look off your face, and try a night shift sometime so you know what it's like. Oh, you tried night shift and couldn't take it...I see.

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LOL. been there, done that...I have worked eve/noc shift at my hospital, even tho i'm routinely a day shift worker. I have seen both sides of the coin. I try to be understandin with night shift when they've had a bad night, and know just what you mean. I work with some day shift nurses that always make snide comments about the noc shift ppl, but they sure don't wanna come in and work a noc shift themselves LOL.

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Ha! I swear you have been sitting in on report on my floor. I work WEO days and regularly pick up extras on nights so I can relate to bot sides. I'm and OT hog so I like to do my 3 reg days and 2 xtra overnights. I think alot has to do with the nurse. There are some I just hate to follow on days and nights because they leave you hanging 85% of the time. I know nursing ins 24/7, but just let me know what didn't get done so I don't have some prick of an intern or God forbid MS4 in my face. And whats up with people not reading the previous 24 hours orders?

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Can I get a big Hell Yeah? I couldn't have given a better rant myself. There is a reason the night shift gets paid more- BECAUSE IT SUCKS AND YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO DO IT. I spend more time trying to organize absolutely all of my cares and tasks so as to get it all done and NOT have to wake people up at 0100, 0230, 0400, 0500, etc., when they are invariably crabby and angry at you for the interruption. I won't even go into what this shift is doing to my mental health. So funny that this issue- day shift being snotty with the "lazy" night shift- is so universal. Maybe everyone should be required to work some of the other shifts to see what it is like. Now THAT would get everyone's panties in a bunch.

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Three snaps for the ladies (and men) of the night.:w00t:

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Specializes in CTICU.

I think that's a whole other topic!@!

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I have worked all shifts available and to be honest evenings and nights work just as hard as days. I currently work 2nd shift and it just gripes my nerves when day nurses say they couldn't do this or that because it was so busy and could I do it. Wow amazing how when I come in at 2:30 you're sitting at the desk chatting it up with each other and you have an order that was written since 11a.m stat but you pass it off to me at 3 and tell me its a stat order!!!!! Ugh the nerve!

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Specializes in LTC.

Noc nurses are wonderful! I bet its a job just trying to stay awake and function. My mother is a rn on noc and she tells me how busy it can get. I'm sorry you are treated badly.

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Specializes in Occupational health, Corrections, PACU.

loved what you wrote! not that it makes any difference, but i worked in another business before becoming a nurse 15 years ago. i worked in many different departments in that business. no matter what business you are in, it is always the night shift against the day shift....always. the two shifts both think that they are carrying the largest part of the burden, and always want to snipe about the other shift. it always irritated me when, on those many years of night shift work, the day shift said we didn't do .....whatever...fill in the blank. night shift people everywhere are under-appreciated!! not to mention that you don't have easy access to the docs who, during the day, have their office staff to pass along your call and answer urgent requests. you go girl!

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I absolutely despise eye rolling. I consider it a form of lateral violence. I don't mind at all when someone takes me to task for something. At least I know what they are unhappy about. Eye rolling leaves me asking myself, "am I imagining it or did I see Sue roll her eyes, is there something I could have done differently, is she unhappy about something?" It the same as those people that get mad at you because you didn't read their minds. They really leave you out there.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

Oh night shift, night shift! I have such a love/hate relationship with night shift. One of my favorite things that happens on night shift has been happening big time on my unit this week. Sundowning! Day shift will give report that patient is A&O x 3 or 4, a veritable JOY to be around. By 2200, the patient is antsy and forgetful. By 0100 the patient has jumped out of bed and is wandering the halls with foley bag draped over her arm like a purse and trying to hail a taxi. By 0400, she is screaming old lady obscenities at you and the poor intern you've woken up to assess her. Usually you will get an order for Haldol after she has actually smacked someone. By 0700, she will finally be asleep, tucked in her clean bedding with the two new IVs you've had to start (they always begin the fun by ripping out IVs).

When you give report to the day shift nurse, she will demand a sitter for the patient. Based on your report and the poor intern's notes, a sitter will be ordered. The joke is on you, though, because when you come in at 1900 the order for the sitter will have been discontinued--the patient has been FINE all day, a JOY to be around, and anyways we don't have enough staff at night for something as extravagant as a sitter.

Around 2200, the patient starts to get antsy and forgetful...

Lather, rinse, repeat!

There is so much to love about night shift!

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
There is a reason the night shift gets paid more- BECAUSE IT SUCKS AND YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO DO IT. I won't even go into what this shift is doing to my mental health.

Agree 1,000,000%. Especially about the mental health part...:eek:

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