Help! Manager won't let me off night shift

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

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!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

did you ask her why you are not being allowed to transfer? Have you talked to HR? If this manager cannot accommodate you, maybe HR has another option in another department. Otherwise, you need to start looking for another job.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Well, at first she said she needed to hire a replacement FT night nurse. This has now happened, although the new hire has not started floor orientation yet. The lastest reason was that now she needs to hire only charge nurses for days, i.e. someone who has done charge before (I have not). But she has plenty of day PRNs who refuse to do charge who have a whole lot more experience than me. Besides, she does not need that many charge nurses. And I am willing to do charge eventually, but want to do day staff nursing first. Does that not make sense? Night charge is very different (she wants me to do that), and I don't think would do much to prepare me for day charge.

It just sounds to me like one excuse after another because she has trouble finding suitable night shift nurses (as she indicated before). But if I am forced to quit as I can't do this much longer, it will just leave her in a bigger hole than currently. She must think that I am not likely to do that.

I really don't want to leave, or I would have started looking already. If I give an ultimatum, it may come to that. Lose-lose for everyone involved

[barbyann]

Go interview for another position on days somewhere, leave her name and number as a reference. Maybe when she gets that call she will realize you are serious. Then she can either give you days or lose you. You will get your answer but may not like it.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

I don't think she wants to lose me, she's just playing games... I guess I'll apply for the next day position advertised, directly to HR. I don't like to do that, but it seems I have no choice.

Thanks for feedback.

[RNforLongTime]

How long have you been there? At a previous job, there were nurses who'd worked there for at least 3 or 4 yrs that STILL couldn't get on days....they just had to wait their turn. I know of no place where nurses work straight days on a hospital floor. Even in my dept, they work D/E rotation.

I have a kid in elementary school. I find it easier for me to attend school functions, etc, working nights. If I had to do D/E rotation, it would be guaranteed that I'd miss out on sporting events, P/T conferences..seeing as how my husband works evenings....I have to be available to attend.

The only other thing I can recommend is go to your Dr and get a signed note saying that you have physical illness from working nights. It worked for two people at that former job. Manager had no choice but to move them to D/E rotation.

[llg, PhD, RN]

It sounds like she has given you reasons -- you just don't like them. She needs more experienced Charge nurses on the day shift and that's not a slot you are prepared to fill right now. If you want the position, tell her you are willing to take the Charge responsibilities as soon as she will allow you to get oriented to them.

I like the idea of interviewing elsewhere. Don't give up your current job until you find another. She might change her mind to salvage your position once she hears that you are interviewing elsewhere. But if she's got plenty of non-Charge nurse per diem nurses to cover your hours, then she might just let you leave rather than cave in to a threat. It's a bit of a dangerous game to play, though. Be aware that you might have to actually leave if she calls your bluff.

[RNforLongTime]

In this economy, I think you'd be silly to look for a new job. They are hard to come by from what I hear. I'm sure there's someone else who would be THANKFUL for your night position.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

I like the idea of interviewing elsewhere. Don't give up your current job until you find another. She might change her mind to salvage your position once she hears that you are interviewing elsewhere. But if she's got plenty of non-Charge nurse per diem nurses to cover your hours, then she might just let you leave rather than cave in to a threat. It's a bit of a dangerous game to play, though. Be aware that you might have to actually leave if she calls your bluff.

I know, that's why I hesitate. There have been a lot of changes, the manager is fairly new to this position (not new to management though). The previous manager did hire even fairly inexperienced nurses directly to days for staff; at the time there were plenty of charge nurses. Now there are several openings on days, and now she tells me she needs to hire FT charge nurses. She did, however, hire PRN staff nurses. So maybe I need to inquire about changing to PRN status?

Why do we all have to play games... I don't like or want to.

Has anyone ever had to give an ultimatum of sorts and it come out "right"?

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

In this economy, I think you'd be silly to look for a new job. They are hard to come by from what I hear. I'm sure there's someone else who would be THANKFUL for your night position.

Apparently not, at least not the ones my manager wants to hire (so she told me).

But it might help if they got around to posting another ad

[Piglet08]

In my facility, if you apply to transfer to another position within the facility or system, your current manager can veto it. So applying to HR might get you exactly nowhere. If the current manager says the person is "essential", or some other keyword, the transfer is off the table.

You might need to look elsewhere. Can you provide references other than your current manager as a "first contact", and ask them only to contact your present manager only if they are offering you a position? I haven't had to job search in the last decade, so I don't know what's being done right now.

[jmay2013]

I like the suggestion of getting a doctor's note because it sounds as though your health is being compromised. Other than that, ask yourself what your manager has to gain/lose by reassigning you? That is probably what it comes down to, her agenda. Would this be more work for her and she just doesn't want to deal with it? That would be my guess. I have been in this exact situation before and I ended up quitting rather than go insane. If it were me I would put your effort into getting the doctor note or move on!!!