[dijmart]

I've been offered either night shift on an adult unit or day shift on child-adol. unit. Both offers are for the same facility so I'm confused about which shift and unit would be best for me as a new grad?

Any input would be great, thanks!

[BreezieRN]

Day shift will probably give you more experience and it will probably be more exciting. I've only done a few shifts at night and they were pretty boring, but from what I hear, they can get hectic too. Good luck!!

[smirn80]

child adolescent unit is a tough unit, n ive talked to ppl at my work n that seems to be the trend, they would not work in that environment

nocs adult is a good way to start, but if days is available in adult, its even better

[dijmart]

Thanks for your opinions thus far. I have to let them know on Monday.

I would lose my shift diff. if I went days and I really need it since this psych hospital is not offering as competitive of a base rate as other regular hospitals in the area.

Also, I'm not too keen on working w/ children on an every day basis?......but, working day shift is/was tempting.....

[njmonsterboi80]

I started days as a new grad a year ago. On days you run groups when there's time, work with MDs, social workers, art therapists, OT, etc and really get a full picture of whats going on with the patient and pick up on the proper terminology. Its the busiest shift at my hospital, but I've learned a great deal. Evenings you'd even be losing a good deal of experience, but it wouldn't be a total loss.

During report in the AM the night shift has no idea whats going on with the patient unless they've read the evening report. Unless there's a problem most of the patients sleep throughout the night and they wake some of the patients up briefly for blood work and finger sticks in the AM. Most of the night shift are nurses that are pretty much waiting for retirement and don't want to do much or work two jobs.

Thats just my take, if you don't like nights you can always try to switch or find a job elsewhere.

Marc

Originally Posted by dijmart

Thanks for your opinions thus far. I have to let them know on Monday.

I would lose my shift diff. if I went days and I really need it since this psych hospital is not offering as competitive of a base rate as other regular hospitals in the area.

Also, I'm not too keen on working w/ children on an every day basis?......but, working day shift is/was tempting.....

[ear]

Being a new grad, you should (will) orient for a while on days, so you get to know the whole picture.

As for child vs adult, in our childrens unit, they are mostly sleeping at night. The occasional bedwetting, or bad dream, but for the most part, these kids have strict bedtime rules. The adult unit, well, I think they are more likely to be up at night, and they take admissiotn through the night.

Good luck to you! I was a new grad and just started evenings in a psych ER.

[flpsychnurse]

Please get 6 months, at least ,of med-surg experience first. Psych is not "just psych" patients.You'll feel more confident. A child-adol unit can be loaded with accusations from the patients. It is a tough environment. Adult psych usually has a very acute section and a less acute section. You have to have 7th, 8th, 9th senses for psych patients. A great deal of being able to read situations and patients before they get out of hand. Depending on where you work, more and more is expected of less and less staff. Know your states' mental health laws. And realize that the US has no real mental health system. It's stabilize and get them out.
Day shift is a good learning environment. Noc shift allows you less stimulation from telephones and just over-all noise and chaos, but it can be just as hectic with admissions and volatile patients, but with less staffing. Lastly, be caring. Too many people nowadays go into nursing for a paycheck only.

[RN4life74]

[quote= Most of the night shift are nurses that are pretty much waiting for retirement and don't want to do much or work two jobs.



Marc[/QUOTE]

Um, Marc, did you see my post in the other thread? Most night nurses I know do it for the differential$$$. We work our butts of at night on my unit. We get admissions, we have no secretary. Checking orders and correcting pharmacy errors takes time , effort and concentration, yet we are constantly interrupted. The patients don't all sleep and the ones that don't are usually the high acuity patients. We have lots of medical issues (it's a hospital unit), I could go on and on. Please don't disrespect night nurses by saying we don't "want to do much". See my post above about how "little" I do on night shift.