Published Oct 23, 2020
JustAnotherNursemaybe, BSN, MSN
23 Posts
I started January in a community hospital mixed ICU. We are a stroke center, level 3 trauma, no open hearts. I signed a new to specialty contract for 2 years, so no running off to the big city hospitals. Although in talking with travelers, I think I like getting a bit of everything vs just cardiac or just neuro?
I currently work night shift, which I prefer. I've always been a night shift person. But on nights, we don't really get into the plan of care and making changes. It's basically just "keep the person alive" we have actually been emailed reminders by management to not bother the docs unless we NEED something. Plus side- I've gotten pretty good at figuring out when I do need something and what it is vs the drs being more on top of things. On nights we are pretty short staffed, so I get patients that my cohort peers on dayshift don't seem to get. Post arrest, proned, multiple pressors, etc. I'll likely get trained to CRRT, Ballon pump, impella, and charge (eventually) sooner too.
But the dayshift people seems to have a lot better knowledge of what we are doing, why we are doing it, where we go next. I try to dig into the chart, but so often it seems like I just never have enough time. I went into NICU as a new grad and this is my only adult experience. So much is new and just... adults are wierd.
I have the senority to pick whichever shift I want. So which is better?