Whats Night shift (11pm-7am) like?

AnonymousNurse45 · Apr 7, 2010

Hello.

I worked night shift for a whole year in a LTF.

The night shift for me had several benefits over the DAY and EVE shifts.

Benefits:

1. Less people - less problems

Working with a smaller crew of people creates a relationship with your co-workers that you will not see on the other shifts. Obviously, there is less personalities and egos to deal with, thus lesser chance for personal problems.

2. Autonomy and time management.

I, personally, find it easier to work when i am my own boss. At night, there is no families, PTs, and RCM, and you can prioritize care as you see fit. For example, on day shift activity or PT takes people that you know are due for toileting. At night, if you know your residents well, you can be very effective at what you do (providing toileting/changing in a timely manner). You can manage your time better since you are pretty much in-charge of your unit/section.

There are also downfalls to working night shift:

1. I developed social anxiety(partially caused by dark circles under my eyes), and my social life fell apart as a result of my schedule.

2. I developed chronic fatigue (we human's were not meant to stay up at night), night shift is hard on human body. In theory, you will have whole day to sleep/do your errands, but in reality, toward my 1 year anniversary, I was sleeping pretty much all day in between the shifts.

As far as a night shift as a whole:

I was constantly busy. In my view, there is no such thing as heavy wetters and light wetters. Incontinent people will pee up to 3-4 times a night. I was busy changing and turning people. In the facility where I worked, the req. was 3 rounds. My aim every night was to complete 3 rounds.

I hope this helps

LG

CoffeemateCNA · Apr 7, 2010

At my facility, night shift is responsible for a few more things than just changing briefs, repositioning residents, and answering call lights. They generally are required to do some "basic" cleaning such as mopping; disinfecting utility rooms, the nurses station, and all of the patient lifts; and scrubbing the railings in the hall. They also fill out the basic resident info on all of the new urine output, meal intake, ADL sheets, BM records, etc. every month during changeover. Each night they switch out all of the water pitchers with clean ones.

tokidoki7, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2010

At my job, the 11pm-7am shift goes by very quickly. You do vitals, accuchecks, answer call lights, and maybe bathe a few patients. There's a lot of down time as well.

JDZ344 · Apr 8, 2010

What I do:

- Round on the patients

- Vital signs as directed by RN (I've found that at night they have more time, and do there own usually)

- Refilling water, toileting, turning, cleaning various stuff, stocking, etc.

I find nights much quieter, it's rare we get any admissions, no discharges, no family or management around.

Ev1987 · Apr 15, 2010

I personally enjoy the night shift better than am shift because the environment and building seems much more peaceful and mellow. My co-workers and I work at a steady pace, instead of rushing and running around trying to bathe and dress 10-12 residents before lunch. No family visits and no state inspections at this time (from what I've luckily experienced). I do at least three rounds in my shift, along with re-positioning. Vitals, removing trash, stocking diapers, medical supplies and gloves in resident's room. Water and ice pass, charts and getting 2-3 patients up for the morning. Along with answering call lights all night long.

christy k. · Apr 15, 2010

Doesn't the janitorial staff do the floors except if a patient didn't get to the bt in time or a spill ect. ?

CoffeemateCNA · Apr 17, 2010

Doesn't the janitorial staff do the floors except if a patient didn't get to the bt in time or a spill ect. ?

Not always. There is a "movement" (if you will) in LTC towards "universal workers." These people are cross-trained in different positions (CNA, housekeeping, laundry, dietary) so that one person will be able to work in any department. It is supposed to be "more efficient" and make scheduling easier. For example, if you are working housekeeping one day and a resident has to go to the bathroom, you would in theory be able to toilet the person then get back to cleaning. This way the resident does not risk having an incontinence episode, and you don't have to leave and wander up and down the halls trying to find someone to care for them. There are a lot of issues to be worked out, including the huge infection control and cross-contamination risks.

I'm not a fan of it.

azcna · Apr 17, 2010

I hadn't heard of the "universal worker" thing, that's interesting. I'm not sure how many people would enjoy doing that, though.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Apr 17, 2010

That sounds horrible. I am a CNA because I WANT TO BE A CNA. If I wanted to be a housekeeper I would have applied for that job. That'll just be one more excuse to keep paying us like crap too while forcing more work on us. Not to mention the lazy people would get lazier and assume that since all the extra people on the floor are CNAs, that they can answer lights and toilet on top of their other job for the day.

If my facility ever starts using this system I'm quitting.

Tricia76 · Apr 18, 2010

I want to work the night shift once I am trained..I hear it is easier but I am just a night owl anyways so I choose that shift..but seriously is it easier? I will be working 10 to 6.

MyschelT · Apr 18, 2010

I work 7p-7a in a hospital setting, however our unit is basically a LTC facility for ortho patients doing rehab. I absolutely love night shift, especially my 12 hour shifts! I work 3 days a week, and pick up hours when I can. I pass fresh water and towels, take vitals, and toilet people/answer call lights, it's a great position! All of the big time managers/etc are on dayshift, and we don't have to deal with nearly as many of the know-it alls and egos.