Safety Tips for Nurses Working Night Shift
Nurses working night shift have numerous safety concerns. Many safety tips are simple common sense, but self-protection of nurses who work night shift, is important.
In this era, the safety concerns for nurses who work night shift are on the increase because of a marked decline in the economy and the rapidly growing population. There is also a reduction in the number of nurses and other health care givers on all shifts, including night shift. Many nurses have to work alone at night. Many hospitals and nursing homes are growing in size, as well as in terms of patient volume. Numerous social concerns loom large on the horizon and potentially affect night shift nurses, as they travel to and from work alone, as well.
When is a nurse the most vulnerable and why?
One must suggest that in terms of personal protection and safety, a nurse is always vulnerable, because of the nature of the work and place of employment. Nursing is always a risk to some extent, in terms of potential accidents and injury to both patients and nurses, as well. Working night shift presents unique problems related to the cover of darkness.
Many people with serious social behavior problems related to the abuse of alcohol, nicotine and other substances are out at night. There may be night prowlers who seek to break into people’s homes, particularly when someone leaves for a night shift. There are also others looking for narcotics and addictive medication available from hospitals and nursing homes.
Consider the following safety tips for nurses working night shift.
When leaving home to go to work:
Make certain that your home is well lit up at night. Check security and fire alarms regularly. Do a double check on locked doors and windows before you head for work, particularly if no one is going to be home.
As a rule of thumb, do not carry medication, syringes, etc. or anything unnecessary or valuable, in your wallet or purse. Make certain that you do have everything you need, before you head for your vehicle, so that you will not have to return to your home for anything. Carry a flash light and a cell phone for emergency purposes.
Check your vehicle and the area around it, before unlocking and getting into your car. Keep your car locked when you are driving. Do not stop to pick up people who are hitch-hiking.
Maintain your vehicle well, so that you can avoid having to go to garages at night. Keep your gas tank full and your tires in good condition.
Make certain that someone is aware of when you are leaving and expect to be returning home.
When arriving at work:
When arriving at your place of employment, find a parking place that is close to the entranceway. The area should be well lit and free of debris, or obstacles that block access to the facility. Added caution is necessary if you are parking in an isolated car park or on the street and have to walk any distance to your place of employment. Anyone taking buses should avoid contact with unseemly characters. Be careful with your purse or other possessions you are carrying. Walk in well-lit areas, as much as possible.
For those who are driving, keep your vehicle door locked and do not open it until you know that the area where you are parking is safe. Again, make certain that you have everything you need with you, so that you do not have to return to your vehicle. Lock your car and make certain you know where your keys are at all times.
You will probably have a key or a key card for the entranceway to your place of employment, so carry it in your hand for quick access. You may also have a time card to swipe when you check in. Make certain you know where to check in prior to your night shift. There may or may not be a security guard near, or at the entranceway.
Be alert to possible strangers, or other danger in unlit hallways, stairwells and elevators.
Leave your personal belongings, coat, boots, etc. in your locker room. If there are strangers lingering in the hallways, or other problems, do not go to the locker room. Instead, head directly for the unit where you are working and report what you have seen, immediately. Place your valuables under lock and key.
At work:
At work on night shift, there may be serious safety concerns, particularly if you are working alone, or if there are only a few staff members on night shift. Many of the wards in hospitals and nursing homes have a high volume of patients from many different backgrounds. While that does not necessarily mean that there will be problems, the risk is high.
You should be able to report to your workstation, receive a report from the last shift and receive any keys necessary for locked rooms, medication carts, or cupboards. Counting medications with someone from the previous shift may be necessary, particularly if there are narcotics, or other control drugs on the ward, unit or floor where you work.
Make certain that you are aware of any potentially dangerous situations on the ward, or in the department where you are working night shift. Make a note of disoriented, confused or disturbed patients, as you do your rounds, because they are potentially violent. Report any missing patients to your supervisor.
Plan your lunch breaks around your work. There should be appropriate coverage on the ward, if you have to take your breaks in a lunchroom, or cafeteria. If you are leaving the unit where you work to go to the staff room, cafeteria or lab, be alert to possible danger in hallways or unlit areas.
Check the medicine room and storage room, etc. on a regular basis. Keep these areas locked, if possible. Report any potential problems to your supervisor and security guard immediately. Check your patients regularly, administering appropriate nursing care as needed. Make certain call bells are functioning.
Ideally, on night shift, patient care is under a buddy system, but since that is not always possible depending upon the allocated staff, be cautious with disturbed patients. If necessary, seek an orderly or other health care giver to assist you when working with disruptive patients.
Carefully check your medication cupboards or carts for missing medication, particularly when you are about to leave, at the end of your shift. Count medications in cupboards or on medication carts with someone from the next shift and turn the keys over to them.
Report any unusual problems encountered during the night. Call 911 for police assistance if necessary.
When you are heading back home:
When you are going home after a long night shift, it may still be dark and you might be tired. You are even more vulnerable at this time, so be extra cautious, as you head towards the locker room, into the parking lot and to your vehicle. Check the area around your vehicle. Watch for strangers in the area. Again, make certain that you have everything with you, so you do not have to go back to the unit you have been working on.
As you are driving home, keep your vehicle locked. Do not pick up strangers. Be extra careful in traffic as you are driving home, because you may not be as alert as you think you are.
When you reach your home, check the vicinity of your home for anything that appears unusual, before you get out of your vehicle. Call 911 to report any unusual activity in the area, particularly if there is damage evident from a break and entry to your home.
Do not leave anything in an open vehicle. Take everything into your house and lock the car and house door.
These are just a few safety tips for nurses, who should feel safe working night shift. If nurses are safe, patients will be kept safe also.
