Mr RN Guy

Thank you for the response. I know it was a while back now. I have a pretty solid team on nights now. Only 3 different from a year ago but we have undergone a culture change. One of my day shift aids got her RN and took a night position and continually tells me how amazing the team work is at night so I am very proud of them. I did read that article back when you posted. I love the idea of a Night focused shared governance. The facility is big enough to support something like this. Departments are currently so separated. Engaging that house wide teamwork would be very beneficial. I am open to more suggestions. I'd like to hear from more nurse managers/CNOs/administrators.

For about 6 months I've been working between 1 and 3 night shifts per week due to staffing issues in the hospital. I do this so that they understand I'll do what I can to make sure they do not have to work short. Their work flow is very low acuity. There is rarely a discharge. All of the surgeries get admitted during the day. Just a few ER admits and caring for the patients already there. The floor has better staffing ratios than the other medical units in the hospital. On nights I'm there I'm full of encouragement for the staff and try my best to set an example. I know one of the things I need to do is develop effective charge nurses. Right now the culture is to find what's wrong with everything rather than seeing the good in what's right. So I'm looking for help on how to change this culture. I know the staff well. I used to work the unit before going to ICU, then going into leadership. I'll sit down with the complainers but they never have anything to say when it's 1:1.

I bacame a nurse manager a few months ago to a unit that was in pretty bad shape with morale and turnover. Day shift seems to be in much better shape and like to attribute that to my presence and constant encouragement and recognition. They work great together. They work hard and I hear less and less complaints from the group. Then night shift comes in. The entire hospital has a negative attitude at night. Some nurses on the unit complain about almost everything. What are some ways you engage night shift staff and improve morale at night shift when it is tough to be there with the staff? I feel like I am failing when I hear the night shift complaining about everything. Any suggestions or ideas are appreciated.