Day in a Day or Night Shift as a Nurse

Have you wondered what a day or night shift is like for a registered nurse? I have been working as an RN for almost one year now; it's a different world than what most (including myself) imagined.

I work on a bustling medical surgical and telemetry unit at a level one trauma center.

Many people have the idea the working 3 shifts a week is a piece of cake. Another common misconception is that nurses just take orders from doctors without question and thinking critically on their own.

A typical shift can go any kind of way. I decided to share real experiences in the format of each hour of 12+ hour shifts. [The following is a glimpse into what it's like].

✅ Before shift

[Time to get my mind right! Whether it's through prayer, positive affirmations, or listening to music or silence on my way to work. Everyone has their own way of preparing].

It always helps to tell myself that I will get through the day or night, it's just 12 hours, right?!

🕐 Hour 1
Time to put on a brave face and clock in. I wonder what kind of assignment awaits me.

I listen to what updates there are on the unit with others, what the population of patients are like today.

Will I work with someone battling infection, unstable blood sugars, someone with a recently placed tracheostomy, tube feedings, alcohol or drug withdrawal, liver, kidney, or heart failure.

Maybe I'll have someone on contact precautions with a contagious bacteria in their blood or urine or a virus. All of this crosses my mind before getting report from the off-going RNs.

While getting information about my different patients, without fail - my work phone with my assigned number will go off a minimum of three times when trying to learn about the patients!

TBC