Avoid the 3pm-11pm shift !

Being young with zero healthcare experience it was almost impossible to get a job after passing boards.  In a thriving economy it is common for student nurses to secure jobs months before graduation.  With our current economical situation, it took myself and fellow new-to-nursing colleagues at least two months to obtain a job after graduation.  We were even told in school to expect the shifts we don't want in our least-desired position.

Excited to receive my first job offer, I took a 3-11 shift at my current employer.  The pay was outstanding and I was tired of waitressing only make ends meet.  This seemed perfect - great pay, opportunities to grow and learn, and I really enjoyed the population I would be working with.

WRONG.  My life was over.

Everyone I know, and mostly everyone in the US, works first shift.  My six months working second shift did give me experience and income that I needed however my social and family life dwindled to a point that I started on an antidepressant.  I live with my boyfriend and was only spending a total of twelve hours per week with him (at the most).  I saw my family and friends once every two weeks if I was lucky. Anyone my age should not be missing out on such memorable family and social experiences.  And for those of you who have younger kids, please avoid!  You don't want to be absent during their youth and when they need you the most.

Of course there are always negatives and positives to each story.  If you are a parent of older children who don't live at home, take this position.  If you already have a minimal social life and/or already seldom spend time with your family, take this position.  If you're to a point where you're so strapped for cash and you need the pay differential, take this shift.

I spent six months working 3-11 and would never go back.  My happiness and relationships are far more important than the extra $2/hour pay differential.  I escaped by changing to a per diem position at the same company and that decision has dramatically changed my life for the better.

Rude & inappropriate

There is a geriatric man on my unit who is alert and oriented.  After telling my CNAs to "suck his ___" and that his nurse is "probably jerking off," he is by far the rudest patient I have ever come across.

Behavior like this is completely abominable to me and I just do not understand what would compel someone to treat strangers this way.  If you ever find that your relative is acting this way toward their health-care providers (the ones who do the grossest and toughest of jobs) please correct this behavior. It is repulsive, and whether we want to or not it will in some way affect their care.  It sounds harsh, but it is the truth for every healthcare professional.  Never in my life, even at this very moment, would I ever consider treating a patient with less than my absolute best.  However, when you are being disrespected it is difficult to not be filled with anger that makes you feel negative toward that person.  I know it is a flaw that myself and other nurses need to improve on, but the patients also need to develop tact and politeness so we can the passionate patient advocates that fueled our fire to be nurses.

Fabulous website:

10 Amazing iPhone Apps for Nurses

Enjoy :)

Five easy tips:

1.  Help your CNAs as much as possible. If you show them this respect and hard work then they will do the exact same for you when you need a favor.
2.  When asking any of your coworkers for help, do it with kindness and politeness.  I've found I can get anyone to do anything simply by using "please" and a smile.
3.  Never ever ever forget your professionalism.  This is where I made my biggest mistake so far.  In my everyday life I don't have an ounce of drama.  Starting my nursing career was like a new world for me because there is drama and gossip galore. I got caught up in it and there was a wild situation that took away the professional image that my bosses had of me.
4.  Never be afraid to ask, whether it be a knowledge-based question or for help with doing something you aren't sure of.  Everyone will respect you more for not making a mistake and being 100% sure you're doing the right thing.
5.  Do not be late !  We have a CNA who is 15 minutes late for every shift.  How she has not been fired yet is beyond me, but she definitely has lost a lot of respect from her coworkers.

These may seem like common sense but in the heat of the moment, forgetfulness is at its finest.

Intro

I am not a writer, in fact, I suck at writing.  My content will consist of the chaos I experience in each shift along with possible educational information I happen to come across.  I hope to open the eyes of even just a few people to the world of nursing; the hell we can endure, and risks we take every single day.

Let's start off with a simple fact that not many people realize.  Most of you who do not work in the healthcare industry will never experience the amount of stress that we take on in a single shift.  If we make a simple mistake it could kill someone or cause a new onset of chronic conditions. If we make a single mistake, one that seems trivial, then we will lose our license to practice. You make a mistake in your job and you either get slapped on the wrist or fired.  Every move we make is crucial not just for our patients' lives but for our own.  We understand their lives are important and we try our absolute hardest not only with our skills and knowledge, but with our hearts.  The last thing we want to do is harm your loved one.   Please go easy on us when we're taking care of you or your family.