mom70409

I've worked nights for 2 1/2 years as an RN and either evenings or nights for about 2 as a nurse tech when I was in nursing school. When I started as an RN, I was originally on a 3/2 split which was horrible because I felt like I was always tired, and I slept away many of my days off. I changed to weekends only for about a year, and that was really easy because I just took a nap on friday before going to work and on monday morning. I've recently taken a CN position and went to a 5/2 split. It's alright because of the long stretch I have off and being off every other weekend. You just have to figure out what works best for you and your body. I will warn you against thinking you can do without sleep and still provide care. I work with ladies who actually work all night and go home and keep their grandchildren during the day! It's not only crazy it's dangerous. They are miserably tired, and it takes a toll on their health. Also, be willing to admit if it just doesn't work for you. I recently oriented a new grad who was soooo excited about working nights, but after about 3 weeks it was obvious it was not for her. She's since switched to days and she loves it. I am starting to think it's time for me to take a break from nights - especially since my husband (also an RN) has switched to days. I hate thinking about him at home sleeping (alone) when I'm at work. Some people do it their entire career, but I think I'll return to the life of the light seekers soon. Good luck!

I took a CN position on my trauma med/surg floor 2+ months ago and there was no orientation. I wish there was a general hospital orientation for the CH role, but I didn't really need it for my floor since I've been here 2+ years. It's not been a great experience so far for various reasons, but I'm not sure an orientation would have made much difference. I generally don't take patients, but I do alot of patient care, and I will take a new admit if we're having one of our "bad" nights and whomever is supposed to get the patient already has alot going.

That sounds promising. We only have the 1st of 7 off to college so we still have a little time, but hopefully one day. Thanks

I don't think you're out of line at all. We have a problems with our tech - not so much doing things out of scope as refusing to do what is in their scope while telling others what to do. My theory is that if they want to provide nursing care or direct others in patient care they should go to school, get a license, and get a different job. PCT's and NA's are a very sore subject where I work, so if i sound a little snippy it's cause I am.

I've called in for not getting enough sleep once. Like everybody else, I can make it on about 4 hours, but if I worked the night before, and I'm not able to sleep during the day before I go back again, I would definitely call in. Not only is it miserable, but I wouldn't want to risk making a mistake.

I can't imagine this situation could ever be worth the money. It's not only stressful it's extremely dangerous. I don't believe I would be willing to put my license on the line with that many patients.

Oh there are definitely a favored few. I normally work nights but I worked an extra shift one day a couple of months ago, and I actually witnessed the "head" PCT pitch a fit, curse, and throw an accucheck machine across a table onto a cart. All this was done in the presence of our NM. Nothing was done.

I've already applied for a position in our IR department. I've always been open with my NM about issues, and I have always made a conscious effort to go to her with suggestions for improvement and change along with my complaints and write ups. I really feel like I've done my best, so if I go it's with no regrets. My husband (also an RN) has suggested that it's the few of us who do put patient care first who are holding the unit together and if we go maybe somebody will be forced to address the issues.

I've tried being a role model for the last 2+ years to no avail. It's just a environment that's been allowed to exist for far too long, and it's become SOP. It's just impossible to handle these issues on a nightly basis and provide patient care. It's frustrating.....

I don't want anyone to loose their job, but I really think that if our NM would just make an example out of the 2 worst offenders, it would have a real impact on the "followers". Just an ironic note.....the 2 worst offenders are the ones our NM assigns to orient/train the new hires. Go figure.

My husband and I are both RN's, and we hope to travel together in the future. One of our dreams is to find summer positions somewhere at the beach and rent a house for an extended vacation with the kids. That's just one of our dreams.......... We're not yet at a place in our lives where this is realistic so we haven't done alot of research, but I'd like to hear if any other RN couples out there are really able to do this together successfully.

I've just recently accepted a charge nurse position on my floor (trauma/surgery), and I'm already regretting the decision. Nursing is my second profession, and I had promised myself I would never take another "management" type position. I wanted to be a nurse and take care of patients. Well.......I was basically the only person available or willing to take the CN position so I went against my better judgement (thinking I could make a difference - Right!) and jumped right in. The problem is that we have a few very professional, hardworking, cooperative nurses who are truly interested in our patients and go out of their way to do anything necessary to provide the highest level of care to ALL patients on the floor - then we have everybody else....... Everybody else is the problem. I would venture to say that 80% of the RN's, LPN's, PCT's, NA's, RT's, and unit clerks on our floor spend about 20% of the shift providing patient care, and the other 80% of the time gossiping, complaining, planning what they'll eat, off the floor, talking about what they're NOT going to do, and generally just doing nothing. They are very unprofessional with language, topics of conversation, discussions about patients and family members, etc. It's very frustrating. Our nurse manager always says "write it up", but nothing ever happens. I feel like I have to convince people to do their jobs on a daily basis, and I'm so frustrated at this point that I've applied for a position in another unit within the hospital. I don't want to leave my floor but when work begins to affect my health and personal relationships, I think it's time to make a change. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is it possible to turn this type of situation around? I'd like to improve things and get to the highest level of care possible for out patients, but I'm truly at a loss as to how to go about it without support from higher up. Also, does anyone work in a facility they feel is able to maintain a high level of professionalism and cooperation? Thanks for any suggestions.