In a galaxy far far away, on the planet Hospital a young Jedi nurse reawakens from her long slumber and jumps into her pod racer and arrives to the galaxy home unit. This Jedi day shift nurse armed with a fresh cup of coffee and a light saver, approaches a tired night shift storm trooper nurse. They arrive together in the galactic republic to get report………
Why yes, this blog is going to involve me nerd-ing out over Star Wars, but is also going to talk about the differences between night and day shift. So many young nurses and students will ask me, “which is better – days or nights?” The answer usually depends on my mood. Just kidding, I really tell them that there are positives and negatives to both. Just like the light and dark side!
Our story continues during report with our storm-trooper dodging a light saver blow as the jedi day nurse asks, “why wasn’t this done?” The storm trooper shoots his light gun and explained that on the dark side – we try not to wake the tiny humans or patients in pain, for non-vital things.
Now, most of the time our nurse colleagues are understanding of left over tasks for the next shift. In fact, many understand that we work in a 24/7, 365 day facility. Sometimes, nurses are overwhelmed with the tremendous feats they must overcome during their shift that they might feel frustrated at something that could have been done the last shift. However, a great unit or “galactic republic” is one where each “side” or “shift” understands the dynamics and difficulties of each shift.
Our mission: Understand differences between the “dark” and “light” shifts….
Night Shift (The Dark Side)
We are going to call night shift the dark side, not because it’s “bad” but because it’s dark out (and it makes easy Star Wars analogies, because I’m a nerd).
We travel to the Empire, where the all and powerful Darth Vader Charge Nurse is filling his cup of coffee of mass proportions ready to start the night shift. He has had to sacrifice time with his twins Leia and Luke in order to sleep during the day to prepare for this shift. It can sometimes feel like Luke and Leia don’t even get to see their father or know who he is because he is sleeping during the day and working during the night.
Yet, when he is awake, he and the storm troopers work like a super effective team, helping with each other’s patients, looking out for one another – that’s how the battles are won. The dark side is organized, knows the orders inside and out, sometimes have the time to look over all of the notes or “evil plans” and knows the plan for the patient better than anyone.
Darth Vader is able to sometimes have the time to sit down and creatively think of anything else that the patient needs, and to take a step back and look at the care as a bigger picture.
Yet when things are chaotic, it can feel like we are under attack, and since there are few of us awake we sink or swim together as an empire. There is no obi-wan to call (like a clinical nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist, PT, OT, Speech, Lactation, Dietary, ect.) and although we are not afraid to call the attending at 2 am, we get ready to have all of our information and questions ready because calling the Emperor at that hour is a big deal.
Speaking of chaos, think about trying to do meds, assessments and vital signs on little Ewoks all before 1030pm, because if these Ewoks fall asleep before you complete you mission, and you wake them up…you will hear the call of Chewbacca. ALL. NIGHT. LONG.
Alas! Our ship has returned to home base. We have made it through the night. Our mission is accomplished, and we get to now sleep! Darth Vader does an evil laugh of joy when he remembers that he will have a quiet house, bed all to himself as all the rebels are now working and he gets to finally rest.
Day Shift (The Light Side)
The Jedi nurse re-awakens. She gets report from the dark side, and is getting ready to take on the missions of the day. Jedi nurses like the light side because it works with their natural circadian rythms, and social schedules and that is an important benefit in the galaxy. Also, the little Ewoks are awake, and want to be awake, and there are villages of people now to help with their care!
The light side is in many ways the rebel army. Sometimes it can be 4 pm, and you see a co-worker rebel nurse and you say, “Hey! I didn’t know you were working with me today!” This is because day shift is chaotic, and busy and there is hardly organization like the storm troopers on night shift. Also, on day shift there is a lot more turnover, and you could discharge 4/4 of your patients and get 4 new ones all in your 12 hour day shift. In Star Wars the rebel army is from all different planets, are all different creatures, and have different ways of doing things. This is exactly like day shift….so let’s review some planets of the light side/ day shift rebel army:
- The physicians from planet MD (and each sub-specialty has their own tribe for example: ENT, Surgery, General Peds, Respiratory, Endocrine, Ortho, Oncology)
- Obi-wan tribe (clinical nurse specialists, clinical nurse educators) from star Know
- Physical therapists from planet MoveIt
- Occupational and speech therapists from MoveIt’s sister planet Function
- Jedi Nurses and LNAs from PatientCare
- Chaplaincy from the GreatStar
- Nutritionists and Dieticians from Nourish
- Nurse Managers and Supervisors from Oversee
- Respiratory therapists from Respire
- Volunteers from the star Helper
- Child Life Specialists from the planet OhSoFun
- Care Managers from the star InsuranceTalk
- The Unit Secretary Assistants from planet Resourceful
Each rebel clan has their own personality, way of dressing, way of speaking, and way of explaining how their mission is the most important for the patient.
Day shift can be so truly chaotic when these rebels are all doing their own missions, but when re-united and when working together, the FORCE is GREAT with the rebel army and amazing feats can be accomplished.
During the day, the control center, or charge nurse’s desk is constantly making noises and announcements. Call bells, computers on wheels (COWS), phone calls, pumps beeping, bed alarms and more can make it seem like BB8 or R2D2 won’t stop yelling at you!
During the chaos of day shift, if you are a jedi nurse in the rebel army, you will have to seek out yoda or your charge nurse to ask for help when you need it. Yoda nurse will respond:
“Help you, will I. Yes, hmmm”
The light side goes by FAST, and hopefully you have speed like BB8 going through the dessert, because you will be on your feet all day. The light side will also make you feel like you haven’t seen the light of day, because you arrive when it’s dark and leave when it’s dark – and you think to yourself, “I thought I chose the light side?’
The jedi nurse gives all the Ewoks dinner, checks their meds, finishes their documentation and then is excited because the mission is completed, and she can go to sleep at a regular hour, and not feel too groggy the next day.
Light Vs. Dark: My Preference
Personally, I like both the light and dark side. When I work days, I like being on a schedule that sort of matches my husband’s, and I actually get to see him. I like that my patients are awake and their parents are awake, and we can work together. I like my resources on days, and I never feel alone. I like the satisfaction of being able to discharge a patient knowing that they get to be at home and not in the hospital one more day. I like they energy and change that is created on days. I do not like when I feel like I’m drowning. Or when my documentation is so behind, I know I will have to stay late to finish. I don’t like when I don’t see co-workers because we are all so busy. When I’ve had a few busy days, I seek reprieve from knowing that I have a night shift coming up.
On nights, I like that I mostly have the same patients through my shift. I like when my patient’s are comfortable and sleeping. I like when I have time to get my documentation done, and get out at a normal hour. I like having the time to read the notes in-depth to see if there is anything I can recommend to the team the next day. I like the snacks – the dark side has awesome community snacks – trust me. I like the “teamwork” of the night shift – we are all in this shift together kind of feeling. I don’t like when I accidently wake a patient up when trying to get vital signs, or if they need to have meds at an awful hour. I don’t like when nights are so busy and there’s no extra hands or resources to spare. I don’t like when I am too sleepy to drive home in the morning that I have to pull over at a park and ride to nap. I don’t like when my off-schedule means I don’t see my husband for a few days. After a weekend of nights, and not feeling like part of society, I do look forward to the next day shift, where I can join my rebel army during normal hours.
Whether you prefer nights or days, the light side or the dark side – it is essential to understand the struggles of each shift, and to have understanding for each other. Nursing care is 24/7 365 and we need to realize we are an amazing force to provide compassionate care every second of the year. What remains truth is that when you unite resources and co-workers in a “mission”, AMAZING FEATS can be accomplished….and…..
“Remember….the Force will be with you, always” – Obi Wan Kenobi
~ Keep on caring
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