Should I look for new job??

labrador4122, RN · May 17, 2008

Hi All-
I am a new RN of 3 months. I started in the ED, but have since transferred out. It was way to much for a new grad, very big hospital.
Now, I love my new floor, the nurses are wonderful, but I told them I wanted night shift. I have never worked nights a day in my life and I am finding that I absoutely HATE it. I feel like I totally waste my days off trying to catch up. Besides, I hate having to stop what I'm doing at 3pm and shower to get ready for work.
Also, the floor that I'm currently on does NOT offer 3-12's and this is makes me a little mad. I have so much looked forward to only working 3 days a week compared to the normal 5 days that I have worked for 20 years.
So, do you think it will look bad if I started to look elsewhere for a job? I think I could probably handle the 4 day work week temporarily, until my 6 months is up and then I can transfer, but I can NOT handle nights. I sent my director an email asking if I could switch back to days, so we'll see what she says. I have soooo much anxiety and I am getting severe headaches over this whole night shift situation.
Any thoughts, advice, or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Yes you should get out of there as fast as you can! but look for a new job first!

anxiety and severe headaches are not good for you at all! for $22/hr it's not worth all that trouble that your body is going thru- really. that's why you hear of young people having hear attacks.

Trauma Columnist · May 17, 2008

I would try to stay for the six months if possible. I think changing jobs so soon might appear as job hopping. Before you leap into another situation, research things a little more and perhaps job shadow to ensure you make the correct move.

suzy253, RN · May 17, 2008

I would try to stay for the six months if possible. I think changing jobs so soon might appear as job hopping. Before you leap into another situation, research things a little more and perhaps job shadow to ensure you make the correct move.

:yeahthat:

labrador4122, RN · May 17, 2008

Hi All-
I am a new RN of 3 months. I started in the ED, but have since transferred out. It was way to much for a new grad, very big hospital.
Now, I love my new floor, the nurses are wonderful, but I told them I wanted night shift. I have never worked nights a day in my life and I am finding that I absoutely HATE it. I feel like I totally waste my days off trying to catch up. Besides, I hate having to stop what I'm doing at 3pm and shower to get ready for work.
Also, the floor that I'm currently on does NOT offer 3-12's and this is makes me a little mad. I have so much looked forward to only working 3 days a week compared to the normal 5 days that I have worked for 20 years.
So, do you think it will look bad if I started to look elsewhere for a job? I think I could probably handle the 4 day work week temporarily, until my 6 months is up and then I can transfer, but I can NOT handle nights. I sent my director an email asking if I could switch back to days, so we'll see what she says. I have soooo much anxiety and I am getting severe headaches over this whole night shift situation.
Any thoughts, advice, or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Yes you should get out of there as fast as you can! but look for a new job first!

anxiety and severe headaches are not good for you at all! for $22/hr it's not worth all that trouble that your body is going thru- really. that's why you hear of young people having hear attacks.

do what you love! and you asked the director for going back to days already- so if you go, you have a good reason to go- you asked for days already.

Calzonan RN · May 17, 2008

I would give it a chance for a while longer, especially if you like the unit you're on, that's hard to find. Have you tried all the tricks that work for people who work nights? On my first night shift, I take at least a two hour nap before going in. Then I make sure I get a full day's sleep the next day, I head straight to bed after eating a bowl of cereal or oatmeal. I don't stay up, watch tv, check my emails anything, sleep is my priority. I make sure I eat first so that I'm not woken up by hunger. I usually have to get up at 2:30 to go get my kids from school, so I only get 6-7 hours of sleep, then I have time with my kids, get them dinner, and then take a quick shower and go back into work. I've been working three days in a row so that I have that long break in between shifts, but you said your shifts are not 12 hour shifts so that makes it more difficult. Sometimes it helps to break up your shifts, work two days, off two days, work two days or something like that.

Either way I would give it six months if you can. The headaches may be caused by not drinking enough water or not getting enough sleep. I find I get them when I'm waking up and didn't drink enough water the night before, or if I'm not getting enough sleep.

Good luck

morte, LPN, LVN · May 17, 2008

what shift ARE you working ? if you are getting ready at 3p, you are working perhaps 4-12?....if so that is NOT the night shift, that is second......very different

2bTraumaRN2008 · May 17, 2008

It's all about changing my schedule. I am currently living on a farm, lot of horses (that I am unable to ride b/c I'm sleeping my day away and I certainly can't ride them at 3am), tractors, lawn mowers, chain saws, etc.....

I have lost my personal life completely b/c my time is spent sleeping when I should be out riding my horses, gardening, etc. Also, I can't expect everyone else to stop their lives b/c I'm trying to sleep. Where I am is big horse and cattle county.

2bTraumaRN2008 · May 17, 2008

I drive over an hour to get to work, so I have to get ready extra early. I also stop to get gas, coffee, and sometimes something to eat before I even get to work.

caliotter3 · May 17, 2008

How is the job market where you live? Do you have enough of a supply of employers with openings that you can afford to leave your current employment? I would be concerned that even if assured otherwise, you might find yourself burning your bridge to go back to this employer in the future. I would try to stick it out as long as possible and do everything to last until you could be placed on day shift again. Your manager should be sympathetic to your inability to adapt to nights. Not everyone can deal with nights. However, if they can't accommodate you and you do find a day position elsewhere, then you have to do what is best for you. Good luck.

2bTraumaRN2008 · May 17, 2008

Thanks. I acutally have a meeting with my manager Monday morning to discuss the switch back to days. I hope it goes well, fingers are crossed. I heard we may be possibly be hiring two LPN's for night shift, so I hope this will allow me to make the switch.

I am also concerned about me being so miserable, that when my husband finally joins me here after being apart for 4 months, I will take this whole situation out on him like I have already via the phone because I HATE it so much.

omeg · Jun 7, 2008

I work 3-12's (7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) , rotating between days & nights. This month I work 2 weeks of nights and then switch to 2 weeks of days.

I find that sleeping at 4 or 5 a.m. and getting up at noon allows me to still have a day life.

If you can't find another job to go to, maybe rotating shifts would be a way to have some days while you search for your ideal schedule.