tantarosa

I too love the night shift. A few years ago I worked the noc shift in LTC it was very rewarding my kids were in school so I would come home and sleep while they were in school. Then I went back to days and a management positon it was O.K. not to incredably stressful. Then I moved across the country went to work in managment again in LTC 8-5 m-f. it sucked. Very difficult to get time off and meetings,meetings,meetings, where is the patient care? I never worked in a hospital went to the local one was hired med/surg night shift. I have finished my day shift orientation and now work nights and I couldn't be happier. 3 shifts a week is fulltime with bennies. I have lots of 3 and 4 day mini vacations every month. The group I work with is tight and we are a team. My kids are grown and out of the house

I also love my employment as a nurse, you notice I didn't say job. Being a nurse over 20 years I have found most agency nurses are there for the paycheck only, just the other night I asked an agency nurse for help and the response was "That's not my patient." To me those are the worst words a nurse can say. Aren't nurses suppose to help people reguardless? Does that mean you walk past a room with a beeping I.V. that is probablty driving the patient crazy when you could take 2 minutes and solve the problem? Some agency nurses are terrific. There are good and bad employees no matter what you do. Our hospital just axed all the agency workers (YEAH) as I have also found agency workers with bad attitudes can affect an otherwise pleasant envionment. Maybe you should find a nice steady job somewhere ,it is so much more rewarding. Maybe i'm crazy but money is not everything enjoying where you work is a big plus. I wish you luck.

I am a lefty and proud of it, after all I am in my right mind.

I'd like to add my 2 cents worth. there are many very good nurses. in my career of 20 years I too have come across nurses that have respoded like you have experienced. My advice is, I know that I have high morales and a high expectation as a nurse. I feel all nurses should be like me,unfortunately in the real world there are plenty of bad nurses. I just left a job because my DON wanted me to turn a blind eye to some horrible nursing practices that were going on. I said I cannot do that and gave my notice. When I care for people I always think of them as my family member and how would I treat my own family, I treat my patients the same way. You need to get a good mentor or find a nurse you feel safe asking questions. Always follow your gut feeling. Good luck