They also expected a lot less. One of the hardest parts of being a nurse in the modern day is having to be mentally "on" for 2x6h for 2-3 days straight (or just 12h straight if I don't make it to lunch). I'm constantly having to evaluate and reevaluate every action I take and decide whether multiple different types of clinical alarms are actionable or not moment-to-moment. I actually LOVE getting a nursing assistant assignment for the night because it means I get to just clean things and people all night and not have to think (as much) about every possible medication and health condition and how all of them will interact. I would 100% just make beds and wipe butts all shift and give meds 1-2x if they'd let me. That honestly sounds so mentally zen to me.