Maintenance?

This morning at work, I had the pleasure of running into a couple of nurses I worked with several years ago. We worked nights together for years. During this time, one of these nurses had mentioned something to me that really made me upset..." night shift was considered 'maintenance'". WHAT?! Now, before I go on, these were not the words of this particular nurse, but of someone else...someone paid to come into an organization and "turn things around"...someone who had a "model" to share. I don't know if this person was a nurse or not, and to be honest, I really hope he/she was not. After all, what nurse would actually say something like that, and think it is truthful? Seriously?!

I worked nights for the majority of my nursing career thus far. I enjoyed the shift, I enjoyed the people, I enjoyed the patients. Not everyone is made for "nights", but I was, as are many, many others who choose this shift. Working nights is not a "stepping stone", and is most certainly not ever to be referred to as "just not day-shift material". What exactly is that suppose to mean? I have heard that a time or two. Let me tell you what these nurses, and many other ancillary providers do at night...the same thing as they would during the day, but with less resources. On nights, you have to think through situations, as you do not have doctors, midlevels, and many other practitioners readily available. We usually worked as a team...a team...and used one another as first-line resources before making those calls at night...it's just what you do. Now, I have worked days as well, and I can say that some places may be better than others in regard to "teamwork". I can say this: in my opinion, the night shift workers tended to exhibit better "team" characteristics and better cohesion as a group. Not saying everyone was perfect, but we all never hesitated to lend a hand. I cannot say the same for day shift...as a whole. I don't want to create a divide here...I do not want to lead you to believe that one is "superior" to the other in any way. I am saying that I have respect for the work accomplished during each shift...along the continuum of care, and that each shift displayed differing team dynamics. That is all.

To hear someone refer to night shift as "maintenance" is pretty ridiculous, and could not be farther from the truth. Night shift does not just sit around, watching gauges, tweaking knobs, and waiting for the "real" workers to get there. The same skills, education, training, and patient-focused care goes on when the "lights are off". Sure, patients may be sleeping...but some are crashing, some are confused and trying very hard to get out of bed, some are having babies, and some are babies that have no concept of day or night. The point is, we should not discount our colleagues simply due to the hours worked. There are some damn fine nurses on each shift, and each one an extremely valuable part of the continuum of care, which we should be focused on.

We all have stories and anecdotes about each shift...and how "night shift did this" and "day shift did that". I have been guilty of this too, I admit it. But I have moved past that. We all have things to get over...so lets just do it. Get over ourselves...our egos...our pride, and put the focus back, once again, on the patient. We all make mistakes, that is a fact. We are humans, and by that very fact alone, are not infallable. Care that is safe, equitable, efficient, effective, timely, and patient-focused (as discussed by the Institutes of Medicine) is a priority for every nurse (or at least it should be).

Sunlight doesn't decide whether or not you are a competent nurse...you do.

Oh, and to the two nurses (who shall remain nameless, but you know who you are), it was nice to see you again, and "thanks for all you do!"  {;-)

Thank you.

Steve