They say that one thing in life that is for certain is "Change". Working in health care is no exception. I have worked as an RN for over 20 years and in that time I have certainly seen my share of change. With the continual technological and pharmaceutical advancements in health care one sometimes feels overwhelmed with the attempt of trying to stay on top of current treatments and drug regimes.
With the advancement of technology nurses are forced to learn and maneuver their way through the world of computers. For younger nurses this is almost 2nd nature. Many nurses now entering the health care field grew up using computers and think nothing of searching the Internet to research a medical issue. When computerized documentation for nursing came into vogue many senior nurses were intimidated. They were or are winding down their nursing careers and are forced to learn not only the nuances of the computer but for some the basics of "typing".
This post however, is not about technological or pharmaceutical changes in health care but rather change as a whole and the impact it has on the aging nursing population.
Nursing is still predominantly a female profession. However, over the past years with the improved wages and benefits nursing has become an attractive employment option for many men. They say the average age of the nurse today is 48 and most nurses at that age have been nursing for 20 plus years. We also know that at that age women themselves are going through some major hormonal changes. These changes can run havoc for anyone, but you add those hormonal changes to someone who is working shift work and for some it is a recipe for disaster. Sleep deprivation is a major concern.
In the area that I work most of the nurses are female, most of the nurses are 50 plus, most of the nurses have worked in nursing for over 25 years, most of the nurse are looking at retirement within the next 5 - 7 years. In the recovery room we work a variety of shifts. Our first shifts starts at 0800 but we are put "On Call" at 0600 which means we can be called in at 0500 to start work at 0600. Our latest shift starts at 1600 hrs(4pm) and goes until 2400 plus "On Call" until 0600 the next morning. I have worked many 14 hours shifts as a result of the "On Call" portion of our rotation. Our employer is now wanting to initiate a Night Shift from Tuesday to Saturday. Most of us on our unit are not in favour of the Night shift primarily for the fact that it would mean 5 night shifts in a row. I personally I won't be able to do that. Not at this stage of my life. I have worked my share of 12 hour nights and I would be more in favour of doing that with extra days off, but to come off of 5 night shifts and turn around and have to do day shifts with only a day and half off is not enough recovery time for me or for most nurses.
6 comments:
It would be a huge decision to give up nursing, good luck with whatever decision you make. I know it will be the right one.
You need to give all this very careful thought, as it appears you're doing already. You mention the acute care facility in your area. Could you work in a doctor's office or as a community health nurse driving to shut-ins? Whatever you decide, do consider your own health first. Good luck, Mary Anne.
Any type of work that involves shift work almost always brings with it that thing called sleep deprivation! I don't understand why employers who require shift workers don't first take into consideration those individuals who are accustomed to working certain hours. Not everyone is a "day" person or an early morning person just as there are many who can not handle working afternoon or the graveyard shifts either. But for those who function better on those off shifts (afternoon or overnight), why not give them those shifts on a permanent type basis? People who have to work in an environment where they are constantly changing shifts from week-to-week or even day-by-day, really take a beating in the rest department because your system never gets a chance to recuperate fully from the changes of one shift to another. Much of my work life, I worked either afternoon-evening shift or the overnight shift and usually enjoyed those hours. Getting up early in the a.m. was always a killer thing for me -mainly because I never had the good sense to go to bed early! Always have been a night owl since I was a little kid! So many jobs though involve way too many hours on duty -not just nursing -(truckers take a large hit in that department) and yet, if someone makes a mistake, causes an accident and it appears they have been not well rested, not alert, etc., they -not the employer who forced those hours on them -are the ones who also take the punishment after the fact too! One would think with as much documentation there is about sleep deprivation that employers in the medical community would be much more aware and take that issue into consideration in their scheduling but sadly enough, they seem to be less in tune with the facts than lots of other employers, don't they?
I do home care and I believe I do a good job. But there lot of complaints I have how it's ran. Not sure what size of hospital (beds are at your hospital)
Could you transfer to anther hospital or possible work some where else that requires an RN.
But in general I don't believe the work environment is all that good at this time. I know it not here.
Coffee is on.
My dad worked on the railroad for 50 years and he suffer from sleep deprivation. Simple he was balance around the clock.
Coffee is on.
Pretty effective data, thanks so much for your article.
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