[cathiep]

I am loving the NICU but nights are killing me. I was wondering how long it takes to get to days in other areas of the country. At my hospital it is a 10 YEAR wait, ugh.

Thanks,
Cathie

[preemieRNkate]

It really depends where I work. I had an opportunity to get a day shift position after about a year, but I didn't want it then. Now, 3.5 years later I kind of do want it, but I haven't been able to get it yet. I go back and forth about it.

[SteveRN21]

Wow! 10 years? Your day shift nurses must really love their jobs!! I came to days at my first job after 1 1/2 years, and that's what they're telling me here at my most recent job. Good luck!

[cathiep]

They do! Most have been on the unit for over 20 years.

[Sweeper933]

On my unit nights seems to be the "wanted" position. Most of the people that we've been hiring have been for day positions lately. I've been on nights since I started and I have no intention of moving anytime soon!

[Neo_Nurse]

Wow! Here in Canada (Ontario) there are no designated "days" or "night" staff. All staff, regardless of how long you have worked on the unit, work all shifts. But if you want to work all nights you can have that arranged in most hospitals.

[llg]

At my hospital, new folks are immediately put on a day/night rotation (50% each) unless they request permanent nights. There are no official straight-day positions, but with seniority of more than 5 years or so, most of your shifts can be days ... and by 10 years or so, you can pretty much count on working straight days if you want to.

[danissa]

Neo Nurse, we do mostly the same in our nicu. We rotate days/nights, I usually work two weeks of each per month. We do have some staff who work constant nights however, they have done so for a long long time.
I enjoy the rotation, the different atmospheres of days and nights.
(and the extra money from nights!)

[WeeBabyRN]

It took me 6 months to get on days. I loved the atmosphere and $ on nights, but I had a difficult time getting restful sleep during the day.

[RainDreamer]

They offered me a day shift position 10 months after I started working in the NICU I'm currently working at. I've been there for almost 2 years and they've offered me a day shift position 4 times since I started. Let's see ..... having to get up at 4:30 am, fight traffic, deal with the administration/management, and take a pay cut ..... no thanks!