Help! Manager won't let me off night shift

Nurses Relations

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Hi, all,

I requested a transfer to day shift (after 2 day nurses suddenly, unexpectedly quit) 6 weeks ago, and keep getting excuse after excuse why I can't.

It's not a matter of wanting to go to days, it's a matter of needing to! And I told my manager that. I tried working nights, really I did, thinking it would get better with time. But after 6 months it has become crystal clear that I am not cut out for nights. Maybe if I didn't have a family (kids in elementary school) it could work, but I'm just not adjusting to it. I am exhausted on my days off, can't even exercise, gained weight... stay stressed out. What else do they need to know to accept that I can't do nights anymore?!

Maybe, if employees who left in previous months had been promptly replaced, there would now be enough FT staff on nights (one of the excuses I get). But we have PRNs who love nights and can fill in until new hires are trained. Another one is that I don't have enough experience yet to work days (huh?) Etc etc

I've worked nights many years ago and did not have any problem switching to days when I requested it. Have any of you encountered this kind of resistance (without a good reason, really), and how did you deal with it? I understand, of course, that it is much harder to find good help willing to work this awful shift (for me, anyway), but if she doesn't relent soon she'll just have to look for yet another nurse :(

I don't want to quit, really I don't, but I'm feeling that I'm being forced into it. Why do managers force people to do things they don't want to do (anymore), for legitimate reasons after giving it a decent try (6 months should be enough), and how do you reason with them?

And in case you're wondering why I took a night position, well, it was the only opening available in this speciality I love and I really thought I could do it. No false pretenses or agenda.

Thanks for any info/advice!

I struggled for 18 months with the late shift schedule, I found another job instead.

Sounds to me like a logical argument. Present it to your manager just like that, make SURE it isn't presented arguments an irrational ultimatum, but be honest and tell them you physically can't do nocs anymore but you really love the company and want very much to stay and remain part of the team.

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
Hi, all,

I requested a transfer to day shift (after 2 day nurses suddenly, unexpectedly quit) 6 weeks ago, and keep getting excuse after excuse why I can't.

It's not a matter of wanting to go to days, it's a matter of needing to! And I told my manager that. I tried working nights, really I did, thinking it would get better with time. But after 6 months it has become crystal clear that I am not cut out for nights. Maybe if I didn't have a family (kids in elementary school) it could work, but I'm just not adjusting to it. I am exhausted on my days off, can't even exercise, gained weight... stay stressed out. What else do they need to know to accept that I can't do nights anymore?!

Maybe, if employees who left in previous months had been promptly replaced, there would now be enough FT staff on nights (one of the excuses I get). But we have PRNs who love nights and can fill in until new hires are trained. Another one is that I don't have enough experience yet to work days (huh?) Etc etc

I've worked nights many years ago and did not have any problem switching to days when I requested it. Have any of you encountered this kind of resistance (without a good reason, really), and how did you deal with it? I understand, of course, that it is much harder to find good help willing to work this awful shift (for me, anyway), but if she doesn't relent soon she'll just have to look for yet another nurse :(

I don't want to quit, really I don't, but I'm feeling that I'm being forced into it. Why do managers force people to do things they don't want to do (anymore), for legitimate reasons after giving it a decent try (6 months should be enough), and how do you reason with them?

And in case you're wondering why I took a night position, well, it was the only opening available in this speciality I love and I really thought I could do it. No false pretenses or agenda.

Thanks for any info/advice!

this happen to me in our local ER, I took a position as Don in LTC, I'm a over 4 decades experienced critical care nurse...and I'm a crusty old bat at 67.75 years with great critical care "game"

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