Tension between AM/PM shifts

[chloeysmom]

I know that almost everywhere, in every hospital there is tension between the "Dayshift Babes" and the "Midnight Crew". Here lately though where I work, it has become so unbearable, I actually have panic attacks before I go to work --- and I use to LOVE MY JOB!!!!

It seems to primarily be about dayshift thinking that nightshift is the one who needs to keep up the routines of the unit (nightshift restocks, cleans, readies the MAR's and charts for the next day, prints graphics, does our own charges, and much more). And the communication or the lack thereof from Administration. Our main communication from the "Higher ups" is an intrahospital email system. Well, this is ok, however, our manager never responds to his emails!! He instead, passes on info to dayshift, not nightshift so when they tell us the new policies, mistakes, risk report details, they relay it in a "bossy, I am better than you" tone. There are two nurses whom have taken it upon themselves to try to run the unit. Problem is they are the laziest two people I have ever seen. They will set and read a book before restocking, cleaning, organizing the unit and before bathing patients---and I'm being 100% truthful! We are a small hospital, where we have 5 beds, and we watch 24 telemetries for the floors, and have no monitor tech, or aide or secretary, so we do it ALL by ourselves. Problem is: Dayshfit doesn't do the things I said above, they say it is nightshift responsibility. I have even sent an email to everyone asking they pitch in a little more to give nightshift a break........lol......and it has gotten worse. Anyone have any ideas/suggestions as to how to handle this? We have tried talking to both our Manager and the Director of Patient Care and they both rolled their eyes and told us to stop being babies. All of nightshift is thinking about actually leaving!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS Thanks for reading/llistening to my rambling........

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Sometimes these back-and-forth arguments between shifts can really destroy morale. Why not just focus on what you have to do? Lead by example, in other words, and try to let the rest go.

[dorimar, BSN, RN]

My friend and i have worked nights for years. She has lately been picking up bonuses on day shift. She just told me today, "I don't see what all the fuss is about day shift being so much more busy than nights. We have to do the same stuff and more on nights. The baths were all done for me by the night shift , as is the norm. Yeah there is more doctors on days, but that is to our benefit. They never have to question if it is reasonable to call a doc or not at this hour". She is acutally thinking of swithching to days. As far as your management not listening, maybe you SHOULD all leave. Maybe that would open their eyes. Laziniess irks me to no end.

[jellenRN]

I am a new graduate working on a cardiac step down unit. So far my worst experiences by far have been when I'm giving report. For the most part the people that I work with on day shift are helpful and understanding that I'm new to all this and patient with my questions. But I've been completly chewed out by nurses coming in on night shift for the most insignificant things! For example, I had just gotten an admission an hour before shift change and the nurse taking the patient for night shift had a fit (raising her voice, telling me this was totally unacceptable, etc) because I had not called the MD to have his home meds list signed. The meds were digoxen (pt's HR was in the 40's), a blood pressure med (pt's BP was 81/40), and zocor. I am in my last two weeks of orientation and did not have any idea that it was my responsibility, not to mention I wouln't have had time to do it if I had know. I don't know how to respond to these tirades, I don't want to make any enemies, but I also don't want to let people make me feel like sh*t when there's no reason for it. Does anybody have any suggestions? Will this continue throughout my career or am I being taking advantage of because I'm new and quite young?

[ALCCRN]

I hate to sound cheesy...but, you must take these things you don't like and use them to mold yourself into a better nurse. I remember what it was like to be the new kid on the block, so now when we get a new kid I treat them like I wanted to be treated. This will only help you in the end. You'll be the best preceptor one day and you'll be orienting all the new kids to be like you and you'll be getting the $ to do it. Nobody ever said good nurses had to be rude. Most of the time personality is to blame for rudeness.

[km5v6r, EdD, RN]

The on going war of night shift vs day shift. After all everyone knows that ALL pt's sleep ALL night with a stable b/p and rythmn. OTOH everyone knows that day shift sits around all day drinking coffee and gossiping with the docs.:icon_roll Reality is that days and nights have advantages and disadvantages. Both shifts have the potential for being busy and both have the potential for being slow. Day shifts comes in in the morning and act like "Now the work will begin." By 0700 the chaos is pretty much cleaned up and it is usually the first time you have sat all night. Since things are finally calmed, the sedation caught up with the sun downer climbing over the rails, the GI bleed is down being scoped etc the appearance is deceiving. OTOH the pt that got scoped and bronched at the bedside and had a line change done took a bit of time for the day shift nurse too. You can ask day shift to kick in and help with clean and stocking but it isn't going to happen and will make nights look whiney for asking. It's not fair. More of the piddling, stupid paperwork aspects of the job get pushed to nights that has the least amount of support. While rotating shifts shortens life spans it does combat the us vs them attitude.

Unfortunantly, about the only part of the whole mess that upper management will address is that of your manager not utilizing the e-mail system. The next time your manager tries to pass on necessary information through the grapevine e-mail him asking for clarification. Copy your e-mail to his managers expressing concern about "rumors" and "speculation" taking place amongst the staff. As the information came through unofficial channels you are hesitant to act on the unsubstantiated rumors. In my personal experience the mere hint of the word "rumor" gets results. The info may be true and accurate but you have no way to varify it and every reason to not act on it. If you want changes to occur then e-mail your manager what you would like to happen and state in your e-mail that unless you hear from Mr Manager DIRECTLY by a specific date you will assume he agrees with the changes. When you impliment these changes and compliants happen look very innocent and say "Well I e-mailed Mr Manager these changes and he agreed with them." When he complains pull the original e-mail and show him. Tell him you were left with no alternative but to take his silence on the issus as permission. Hold his feet to the fire and make him respond to you. You don't have to accept his lack of management/communication skills.

Good Luck

[km5v6r, EdD, RN]

I don't know how to respond to these tirades, I don't want to make any enemies, but I also don't want to let people make me feel like sh*t when there's no reason for it. Does anybody have any suggestions? Will this continue throughout my career or am I being taking advantage of because I'm new and quite young?

I wish I could say they will stop but I can't. Some nurse's are jerks. Over the years I have found a couple of things that help. First I apologize. It may be through clenched teeth but I apologize. I don't try and justify or rationalize or become defensive. I just apologize and offer to stay and do the task. After things have calmed down I will go back and make a point of saying something like "This is the first admission I have gotten at shift change. Which should I focus on first, getting the orders taken off, filling out the admission paperwork, doing the assesment, calling the doc, stabilizing the pt, what should my priority be?" Usually by the time you start listing the things that you did do they acknowledge you did everything you could. Things will be left for you from the previous shift. When it happens smile and say "That's why we work 24 hours, you can't always get everything done." Say it loudly and frequently. Again, sometimes through clenched teeth.

[RNforLongTime]

One of the "day babes" in my unit (a 6 bed ICU) doesn't see the need in bathing her patients saying she's too busy. Yet, she has time to access the internet and balance her checkbook during her shift. And she constantly makes mistakes. I am fed up with her and wrote a letter to my boss and my bosses boss about this nurse. She's horrible to work with, is about as dumb as a box of rocks (she actually asked a doc what procardia was for---duh!) and is only there to make money as she has so much as said those exact words. She left a bag of nipride uncovered and her excuse was it came from the ER that way. I wrote her up for that. All the boss did was tell her that it needed covered and 'to be more careful next time'. None of us like working with this lady. She has no right being a nurse. She makes mistakes galore and our boss doesn't care a whit!

I for one cannot STAND dayshift! Working at a smaller hospital, there's no orderlies to transport patients, so if my pt has to go to CT scan, OR, Endo or X-ray, I have to take them myself. Not usually an issue on night shift cause unless it's an emergency, the pt's stay put. Plus there's all the Dr's, Students, interns, residents rounding during the day. It gets awfully claustrophobic in the unit at 8am! Can't get your hands on your charts to save your life. Currently our day shift unit clerk is out on medical leave, so that leaves even more work to be done on the day shift. Our boss runs 3 units so doesn't hae a lot of time to help us out. Been working nocs for three weeks straight now and haven't been happier. Plus the noc shift differential makes a big diff in my paycheck.

It's just ridiculous that we all can't get along. But some people, like my above mentioned co-worker, make it soooo difficult. Good luck getting your issue resolved.

[keeli]

Wow

And I only thought it was a issue in at my hosptial. I currently work on a step down floor. And there is tension b/w day shift and nights. However we just got a new manager and he has organized task forces. Meaning that there is a committee for certain issues. For instances night shift and day shift tasks. The committee has came up with tasks to be checked of by the night and day charge rns. That the staff nurses are to do. They have to follow up with those nurses and pcas to make sure the duties are complete. There seems to be no accountabilty when there is tension b/w who is to do what. So now people are held responsible for the tasks. As far as communication goes we huddle before every shift. 7pm and 7am. So anything that needs to be communicated to the staff we discuss with the alloated 5-10min. Before the shift. However there is still some tension.But this has helpled.

[k3immigrant]

I hate to sound cheesy...but, you must take these things you don't like and use them to mold yourself into a better nurse. I remember what it was like to be the new kid on the block, so now when we get a new kid I treat them like I wanted to be treated. This will only help you in the end. You'll be the best preceptor one day and you'll be orienting all the new kids to be like you and you'll be getting the $ to do it. Nobody ever said good nurses had to be rude. Most of the time personality is to blame for rudeness.

you are certainly right!4 years ago, i was a new kid on the block, got chewed on by a night shift nurse, i cried but i tried all my best to show everyone that i am a good nurse, a year later, i got nurse of the year award & guess what, one of the first nurses who congratulated me was the nurse who chewed me & treated me like @#*%@.

since then, i am the first choice to precept newbies, though that means more money, i get more satisfaction that i am a part of a newbie's career.