Shift v. Shift

[JaneyW]

Do any of you have this problem? It seems at our facility we have some real second guessing problems between the shifts (we are 12 hours). Dayshift can't understand why we do things as we do and vice versa. We even had a traveler recently that commented that it was worse at our hospital than she was used to elsewhere. I try to stay out of it, but it is hard not to get frustrated when you 'inherit' patients with sloppy charts, care, etc. I could be more forgiving if they weren't so quick to criticize us! It's like a viscious cycle.

I know in theory things should run similarly on days and nights in a labor unit but they really don't. Especially with inductions and those in early labor.

Have any of you had this situations and climbed out of it?

[riern]

I use to be one of those day shift nurses who wondered exactly what night shift did all nite. Well, now I work some of both and I have a much better understanding. The policies don't change but the situations do. I work in a small facility and nights and weekends are pretty slim. If there's a major trauma or emergency in another dept we may be pulled to go help. I do know that there are nights when nothing.......I mean absolutely nothing gets done......and there's no good reason except tiredness. We've all become more forgiving since we all work a little of both. I must admit.........I hate the night shifts I have to pull and thank goodness they have been few lately.

[JaneyW]

I use to be one of those day shift nurses who wondered exactly what night shift did all nite. Well, now I work some of both and I have a much better understanding. The policies don't change but the situations do. I work in a small facility and nights and weekends are pretty slim. If there's a major trauma or emergency in another dept we may be pulled to go help. I do know that there are nights when nothing.......I mean absolutely nothing gets done......and there's no good reason except tiredness. We've all become more forgiving since we all work a little of both. I must admit.........I hate the night shifts I have to pull and thank goodness they have been few lately.

EXACTLY! The tiredness factor is definitely at play, but our patients are also tired. I don't get the point of pushing a woman through labor all night so that they are too tired to push the next afternoon. They act like I'm lazy when I let my moms get a little rest.

[SmilingBluEyes]

this is an age old problem. don't feed into it, and just press forward, doing your job. you are not likely to solve the problem any time too soon, but if you do, tell us how you did it......cause it's universal. hang in there.

[nursemary9, BSN, RN]

You know, I've been nursing for almost 38 yrs---This has always been a problem. I've been at both ends

[BETSRN]

this is an age old problem. don't feed into it, and just press forward, doing your job. you are not likely to solve the problem any time too soon, but if you do, tell us how you did it......cause it's universal. hang in there.

I agree. Stay out of the middle and let the petty nursews feed into it themselves. Just do what you need to do and get on with it. It's a waste of your time! :)

[JaneyW]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I just needed to vent. We had one of those crazy nights where it feels like patients just keep coming in and there is always something to do and help with and I don't think I sat down more than a few minutes. Then the dayshift comes in and does the little 'knowing looks' and head shakes during report because I had to let a patient rest while I attended to my other's delivery. I wish there were two of me, but this just isn't so.

[BETSRN]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I just needed to vent. We had one of those crazy nights where it feels like patients just keep coming in and there is always something to do and help with and I don't think I sat down more than a few minutes. Then the dayshift comes in and does the little 'knowing looks' and head shakes during report because I had to let a patient rest while I attended to my other's delivery. I wish there were two of me, but this just isn't so.

I don't like to make a global statement but I think most off shift people would tell you that day shift people always have the looks. Nothing is ever right for some of them and they are bigger whiners than anyone on other shifts.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I don't like to make a global statement but I think most off shift people would tell you that day shift people always have the looks. Nothing is ever right for some of them and they are bigger whiners than anyone on other shifts.

Not true of where I work - just the opposite. Although the truth is both shifts do it and it helps to remember that NO ONE IS PERFECT. :)

steph

[SmilingBluEyes]

I guess the nurses I work with know better than to give me that "look". And I agree, it's not just limited to day nurses doing the whining......its universal, like I said.

[Hairstylingnurse]

Hi all, I just wanted to say that I have worked both. I worked 11p-7a up until about 7 -8 mos. ago and I don't get it when night nurses say thier tired. They have the same opprutunity to go get thier 6-8 hrs. of sleep just like day or evening nurses. I have a husband, 2 kids, animals galore, and everything else that everyone says they have problems with. I only had an issue with tiredness the first week I ever did it.I never let it affect my quality of work. I chose to work that shift so no need to whine. Let me also say I never got to sit down on that shift because it was sooooo busy, but then there were those nurses that slept for 1hr or more but did half@*! work. Those kinda nurses that no longer take pride in thier work. I'm not trying to tick anybody off, but if your not happy on the night shift then move to days or evenings. Your no more tired than I am.You can still buy a Coca cola in the middle of the night, and your never too far away from a coffee pot in a health care setting.:) just like the day nurses do. And as far as the different shifts always bickering go, I think it's ridiculous. We as nurses have the same goal, to provide the best care possible for our pts, so what is with all the bickering and pettiness??????????

[JaneyW]

Hi all, I just wanted to say that I have worked both. I worked 11p-7a up until about 7 -8 mos. ago and I don't get it when night nurses say thier tired. They have the same opprutunity to go get thier 6-8 hrs. of sleep just like day or evening nurses. I have a husband, 2 kids, animals galore, and everything else that everyone says they have problems with. I only had an issue with tiredness the first week I ever did it.I never let it affect my quality of work. I chose to work that shift so no need to whine.

I'm not whining about being on nights. I also choose to work them and try to get enough rest. Maybe it's more of a 12 hour shift thing? The last 2-3 hours can be tough, but I don't feel it compromises my patient's care. I was talking more about the differences in patient's needs, etc, over a 24 hour period of time and being open to more than one way of reaching the same goals.