Whats it like to work at a Skilled Nursing during the NOC shift?

[newcalvn]

Hi,

I am a new LVN. I have been working on-call at this facility for about 2 months now. I am going to be orienting to the NOC shift soon and just wondered what its like? I know there is more paperwork involved and other duties. I have also heard that more patients die at night ...so, I am a bit hesisitant because I have not dealt with this yet. Other nurses have said you are pretty much on your own and there are not many nurses to come and assist you if you have emergencies. I know that this maybe true but the main reason why I am choosing the night shift is because of my kids and their school schedules, plus you get a noc differential.

What is your experience working NOC shift and are you a new LVN?

[CynicallyVexed]

I'm a new LPN as well. And honestly nights are not that bad as long as you are confident with your facilities procedures and protocols.

Where I work at 11-7 LPN usually takes 1 hall that has between 45-60 patients. This is a skill floor to so you have med passes at 12, 4, & 6. These are not large med passes though. you will find the meds you give at 12 & 4 are antibiotics, pain killers, and psychotrop drugs and anything PRN that is requested. The 6 a.m. med pass usually is BS, Insulin, and any meds that are required to be givin an hour before breakfast, again usually less than 10 people in my group. You will be required to labs, mostly urine cultures/straight caths.

Charting/paperwork again not that bad. Your skilled patients which may be 5-10 patients on a 50 patient hall you will chart nightly on. Usually they have certain nights you will chart on certain patients (like you may have to chart the sleeping habits 3 times a week on one patient 2 times a week on another, your facility should have this scheduled for you), and skin assessments are broken down as well only between shifts.

If you are still on paper mars, you will be required to help check those off, but this again is distributed between usually 2nd and 3rd shift.

from when I was a CNA in a nursing home, I've usually had more people die on days than nights, so just take the whole 'dieing at night thing' is a myth

Get to know the other hall's nurse's as well. Find out which one can be a resource nurse if you have questions. Ask them if there's any advice on how to plan your night out or any tips.

I wish you luck, I believe you will find yourself quite bored at first, but there will be some nights when another hall nurse will call in sick and can't be replaced and you are having to help cover it too. But hang in there, that won't happen all the time, and you can work with what you are given and your supervisors will be glad that you helped where you could instead of looking down upon you for not even attempting to help.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

It's quiet until my 6 am med pass, which is huge. Closer to 30 than 10.