OMG! Why??!!

[cna23]

Ok, I'm just gonna vent, I have been working 1st shift for like a week now at my rehab center, and today, I found out that they switched me to 2nd shift. I have pretty much gotten into the swing of things during the morning. I'm not sure how different its gonna be, but I do know its gonna be much slower, being that the pts will get settled in for the night, and nobody going to therapy, and no doctors running around. I just don't wanna be standing around and doing nothing all night. Does anyone have any suggestions on 2nd shift?

[NurseKatie08, MSN]

Rehab...sitting down? Yeah...not gonna happen. At my rehab, we get probably 95% of new admissions on evening shift. Thats on top of having no unit secretary, phones ringing off the hook, patients getting sick & sent out, calling docs, pharmacy, families visiting and taking time with questions.

Sorry that your facility switched your schedule w/o notice...however, show 2nd shift a little love--we work hard too, just like every other shift!

[al586]

You would think so, wouldn't you? In reality, many of my patients don't sleep at night and/or experience sundowners, we have less staff, Doc calls to make (ever interrupt a Doc at home during their dinner? Not pretty!) and leftover paperwork to clean up, stock to replenish, etc. Every shift has their work to do!!

[suanna]

If you find a job that has a lot of standing around and doing nothing (and getting paid for it) PLEASE SEND ME A MESSAGE. If you don't want it, I'll be happy to apply. I'm sure once you get on 2nd shift you will appriciate the unique needs of the patients in the evening. On 3-11 a lot of anxiety sets in, patients feel homesick and alone, fears that had no time to be expressed in the hustle of 7-3 become paramount. Families are in that need instruction, support or just a shoulder to cry on. There is a lot less "tasking" on 3-11 and 11-7 but a lot of nursing process. I found in my career- I can do my best care on the off shifts. That's why I've worked nights for almost 30 years.

[Cinquefoil]

Also - consider that the regular doctor's offices are closed by 5pm, so you can't benefit from the Dr's knowledge of their patients to evaluate them, even by calling. Your facility may just need someone they trust on this shift.

[Hygiene Queen]

I worked evenings in LTC for 11 years.

I can tell you:

You can put them in bed... but they don't sleep!!

You'll be busy!

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

If your shift starts at 3 you will still be getting people going to therapy or coming from. We also get all of the admits...sometimes up to 10 pm at night. You might also be dealing with all of the orders that were written on days and following up on labs. We have all of the treatment orders to do also. Oh...you will have less staff around also.

If it is a 7pm start...you might have less of the above, but still a good bit to do and then the other duties and even less staff.

Trust me and all the others...you will have plenty to do.

[cna23]

Ha typical dayshift thinking we do nothing on nights!! Sometimes I only stop to go to the bathroom once in a 12 hour shift and NO LUNCH. Yep just standing around! haha

I never said night shift doesnt do anything. I said I don't know what they do since pts are pretty much sleep. I've only been a CNA for maybe 2 weeks. So I'm only used to what goes on during the day:confused:

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I have worked in rehab units on both 7-3 and 3-11 and 3-11 is actually much harder because there is less staff around and none of the patients are at therapy. So it's call light city aaaaaalll night. More of your patients will be cranky and/or confused than during the day, too. And since they are not your typical LTC population they are used to staying up later, unlike the long term units where everyone is falling asleep in their chairs if you don't get them all into bed 20 minutes after dinner.

[KellyRPNinOntario]

I never said night shift doesnt do anything. I said I don't know what they do since pts are pretty much sleep. I've only been a CNA for maybe 2 weeks. So I'm only used to what goes on during the day:confused:

Ok fair.... but you did say you thought you'd be standing around for hours.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

My aunt asked my mom how I liked nights since "everybody's asleep." As far as I can tell, nobody sleeps, and I am lucky if I get to eat or pee. The docs, however, do want to sleep. Get used to people cussing you out for waking them up.

I've seen several people from dayshift switch to "nights" because it's "easier." Usually, if that's their motivation, they switch back before the next schedule comes out. I like nights because of the autonomy...if a patient crashes, we've got them back or they're not coming back by the time a doc wanders in....

[TooterIA]

Come back and tell us in a week if they sleep all night. Becuase they dont where I work.

[BluegrassRN]

I never said night shift doesnt do anything. I said I don't know what they do since pts are pretty much sleep. I've only been a CNA for maybe 2 weeks. So I'm only used to what goes on during the day:confused:

Okay, well here goes, then. On my floor, in my hospital, day shift aides have 8-10 pts. Night shift aides have 10-15. On nights, you are responsible for getting some of the vitals, all CBGs, and all hygiene. In theory, half of the pts should have baths on nights, although only if they want them (many walky-talkies don't want to shower until morning). The aides are also responsible for turning and changing all incontinent pts at least every two hours. They help get the continent patients up to the commode or bathroom whenever the pts call. In their "downtime" they are responsible for stocking and cleaning equipment.

That's what you'll be doing on nights.