[LearningRN]

I've been looking for an 11a to 11p shift due to sleeping problems, and I've noticed that ER has got it. I'm a new graduate, and I am also a very scared, cautious, and paranoid nurse that has a panic attack whenever my patient shows the first sign of distress (I work in a med/surg department). I don't think I work that well under pressure. I am willing to learn in ER but not at the expense of my patient's life (since I know learning is usually done through mistakes). I don't know what to do... I need to find an 11a to 11p shift because of my insomnia and so far ER is the only department that I can find that can currently offer me that shift. I admire ER nurses tremendously (as I admire all nurses). I think their job is very hard and demanding. It takes a special person to do it. Which lead me to my question... Do you ER nurses think that I can handle it? Please be honest because I don't want to move to ER and hurt a patient because I can't handle pressure well (at least I don't think I can handle it that well). Or if any of you know of another job, department, or hospital (please be specific) that offers an 11a to 11p. Thanks for your time, and all replies are greatly appreciated. Thanks again. Sorry for the misspelling and wrong grammer. I didn't get enough sleep.

[suzanne4]

Recovery Rooms (PACU) usually also offer that shift but they do not always offer it to new grads. It will depend on the hospital policies.

But don't pick a unit because of the hours that they offer. You must want to work in that area first...................
What about a regular 3-11 position or even 7-3?

[Dave11]

am also a very scared, cautious, and paranoid nurse that has a panic attack whenever my patient shows the first sign of distress (I work in a med/surg department). I don't think I work that well under pressure.

i'd work on the confidence first. i think you'd just be setting yourself up for failure if you transferred to the ED at this point in your career.

[flaerman]

I don't want to sound like a naysayer to you here but from what I read in your post, the ER is not a place you want to be right now. Especially an 11AM-11(P shift since that is the busiest time frame within the department. For the past 8 yrs I have worked in ER as a staff nurse and a charge nurse too, have precepted a few in my day as well. You have to have excellent critical thinking skills and be able to think quick on your feet whether your patient is fine or extremely critical(crashing before your very eyes) or else you jeopardize your patient, department and career as well. I have left the ER and am now a Nursing Supervisor where all of my knowledge, people skills, and ER mindset come into play every day that I am on the house. You may want to stay with M/S or try PCU first to see if that's a fit for you. Sleeping and eating are a couple of things that I usually have never had trouble with but will tell you that there nights/days after working a busy shift(s) that sleep was very difficult to obtain due to playing the shift over and over in my mind to make sure I had done everything that I could have done and not missed something big. I hope you are able to find a shift and area where you can work that works for you and helps to become more proficient and confident as a nurse. flaerman

[BETSRN]

Originally Posted by suzanne4

Recovery Rooms (PACU) usually also offer that shift but they do not always offer it to new grads. It will depend on the hospital policies.

But don't pick a unit because of the hours that they offer. You must want to work in that area first...................
What about a regular 3-11 position or even 7-3?

3-11 ia a wonderful shift and it has a more laid back personality than days (for instance).
If you do not work well under pressure, I would stay away from an emergency room. How about doing straight OR? An OR orientation is usually very extensive.

[llg]

You say that you need the 1100-2300 shift for your insomnia. Maybe you can "attack" the problem from the other side -- i.e. deal with your insomnia in a different way. Have you really exhausted all the possible options for the treatment of insomnia? Have you consulted a specialist in that condition? .... been to a sleep disorders clinic? etc.

I've been having some insomnia for the past 2 years (probably due to changing hormones and also a direct side effect of my medication for hypertension). So, I know it can be a serious problem. But I also know that there while the average physician knows little about it, there are a variety of ways to management. Perhaps working 11-11 isn't the only possibility for you.

Just a thought ...
llg

[LeahJet]

I agree with Suzanne and most of the other posters.... don't choose the ER for the hours. I'm afraid that being a new nurse, if you have a bad experience there, it may effect your confidence/nursing career in the future. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. The stress of the high acuity pts is obvious but the mental stress that the LOW acuity pts put on you with their verbal abuse can be devastating for a new nurse too. With time comes confidence and the ability to have 'thick skin' and brush your shoulders off....

[Katnip]

I have to agree. What avenues have you explored for your insomnia. That sounds like the root of your entire problem.

It doesn't sound like you're ready for the ER. It really is a fast-paced place even with lower acuity patients.

[julesner]

Working in er doesn't cure insomnia and won't cure your's. However, you did make comments that lead me to believe that you might make a good er nurse.

You care about your patients and the outcome your actions would have on them. You're nervous. Good, you should be. That's the hallmark of a nurse that cares. But in er, don't think you have the luxury of, "learning by mistake." Learn as you go and preferably beforehand. That's why you have to take as many or more classes as ICU nurses. You have to stay ahead of the game if you want to avoid that, "scared to death feeling" that you might cause harm to someone. One sign of a good er dept...it seems like you're always in class on your days off! Why? So that you at least know the fundamentals and have had some semblence of hands- on experience and don't make a fool of yourself in the real situation.

Everyone seems to focus on the intense situations of er. Make no mistake, they're there. But honestly, most of it is very hard physical and mental work when you're exhausted and worn down. Can you handle explaining to a mother of a 14 year old that her daughter has an std in one room and smoozing through her hysteria because you know you have a code coming in? Can you summon fondness for humanity when you're triaging the same person for the 3rd time that week and you know that they only want a prescription for a drug they can sell?

Don't go to er to cure your insomnia. If you go there, do us all a favor. Go because you happen to care about the outcome your care will have. And by the way, lighten up! You will never find the level of humor anywhere that you can find in er. Yes, it's brutal, but why do the nurse that do it keep doing it? Best of luck!