What to do on a night shift.

Posts: 112 · Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 112 Location: Coastal Georgia

I have worked both night and day shift. Let's face it folks... both shifts are uniquely busy. We have to remember that we need to work together and do what is best for the patient. Hey, for all you night shift nurses I know that the idea of patients sleeping at night is a myth, and it rarely happens.

Posts: 1 · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 1 Location: North Carolina

I am not sure what kind of units the nurses work on that have nothing to do on night shifts. I suppose if you have patients that are more stable and sleep for the duration of the shift then it might be quiet. That would be a good opportunity to do some personal advancement, education etc. However I work both days and nights in a PICU and the only difference is the amount of auditory and visual stimulation. Day shifts are louder and have more people wandering around (families, residents etc), night shifts can be very busy and you have more independent decisions to make without having a MD right there. The majority of the time we don't get to sit and take our breaks, so if there is a slow night it feels like a reward. Now having said that payback is a *****.

I can't imagine being that bored, I would feel as though my education and skills would be wasted. As far as the shift differential, studies say that night nurses actually don't live as long....how is that for compensation?

Posts: 4 · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Florida

Well, I find it helpful to do some sort of cross stitching or work on up coming holiday gifts. Although, I only find myself with an hour or two to do so.
As for not living longer, I believe that and have heard the same. I have recently transferred to days and find myself feeling much better.

Posts: 3 · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 3 Location: georgia

I work on a 39 bed medical/surgical/neurology/orthopedic floor.The nights I am team leader, I have to do all the assessments for the floor, plus I have to sign off charts for the lpn's that are working, and have my own team of patients. That doesnt begin to count the non nursing duties that we have. I still try to do what I can for the next shift. Talk about busy!!!!!!

Posts: 1 · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 1

WHAT TO DO??? I work 7p-7a in a 102-bed skilled care center, and I NEVER am at a loss for things to do! We have admissions to finish, treatments to do, meds to pass, skin assessments, the inevitable charting, transfer and discharge paperwork to prepare for the next day, not to metion the sudden temperature spikes, the critically (and often terminally)ill patients, and don't forget the occasional code. We nurses assist the CNT's whenever needed with rounds, turns, and answering call lights. There are STAT blood draws, IV's that need started ( or restarted), confused and sometimes combative patients to pacify and orient, and there's ALWAYS some family members around to complicate things! My question is not what to do with my time, but WHEN DO I GET TO PEE!!!!!

Posts: 2 · Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Earth

What do I do at night? I worked on a post surgical unit and we had "pods" so I would normally break out a book.

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