importance of Night Float in a hosp.

[regulator2000]

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my friend gave me a suggestion and said to only apply to hospitals with NIGHT FLOAT. He said it really makes a residents life easier, and a person is actually able to have a social life. is that true? Is night float that very important?? what are the Pros and Cons? thank u

 

[Ashers]

This doesn't seem to have anything to do with Step 1.

 

[Ambs]

I wonder why they chose to post this question here out of all places?

 

[Ambs]

But to answer the question, the answer to me seems obvious... night float = good thing. Then again I know very little about this stuff (only 4 weeks into 3rd year)

 

[JayneCobb]

moving to Gen Residency Issues

 

[colbgw02]

Ask 10 different people and you'll likely get 10 different answers...

Night float typically keeps folks from having to take call Q4-5, which is considered pretty miserable if you're doing it month after month. Also, programs like it because the shift work cuts down on work hour violations. Night float can be pretty miserable too - you have to reset your internal clock, you feel cut off from the rest of the world, etc. etc. But the way most programs set it up you will get Friday morning through Sunday night off, which is close to a normal weekend. Also, some like to lump their misery together to get it over with, allowing the rest of the year to more or less be normal.

There are many variations on the theme. Some programs have a separate intern night float, while others make the interns take call along with the upper level night float.

 

[elwademd]

http://drslounge.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=427366

i think having someone come in from 9-12 hours (different programs have a different length of "night float") to relieve you makes a big difference. it may allow you enough time to rest that night, so that the next day you can spend time at the gym/with your significant other/go to the movies/walk your dog/something else that you may desire to do when not so wrapped up in residency.

it also allows someone to come in fresh to take care of patients, so you can think of the benefit as twofold- for the residents and the patients.

🙂

 

[typhoonegator]

This issue has been beaten to death in the past, but as the above posters note, it is a very individual choice as to which is better. There is certainly no consensus that night float is hands-down superior to a traditional call system.

As an intern I had a nightfloat system (BIDMC), and I felt like I was always rushing to get work done on my call night so I could go home to sleep, because I knew I was going to have to work a full day the next day, whether I went home at 10pm or 2am. It also doesn't feel particularly comfortable to sign out patients who you just met and admitted, who were only partially worked up, to the nightfloat. Also, as the posters above note, eventually you will have to be the nightfloat, which can be a lonely and very busy job.

As a PGY-2 I took about 11 months of q3-4 call as a neurology junior, and while it was taxing, I felt more in-control and actually preferred it to the nightfloat system. I felt that I had more ownership over my patients.