Work-life balance?

[nursingmymind]

Hi there.

i am a registered nurse, in Canada, working on a busy Leukemia BMT floor. I have been really struggling with my schedule lately. I work 12 hour shifts: 2 days followed by 2 nights and then either 4 or 5 days off depending on the week. This works out to approximately 14-16 12hour shifts a month for full time employees like myself.

Lately, I have found the accumulating exhaustion to be negatively impacting my relationship with my boyfriend, my friends, and my family.

I often spend most of my days off recovering from my work days and nights. I am starting to notice symptoms of depression in myself. I am so worried that my life is going to fall apart if I don't make some changes.

Do do any of you have any tips on keeping your personal life together with this crazy schedule??

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

If I had to work rotating shifts like that I would be having issues with my work-life balance, too! Are you required to work rotating shifts like that? Do you actually enjoy your current job? I had a job with a good schedule for me (11a-11p, I worked 7p-7a for the past 4 years) but I HATED my job. I was always so crabby and grumpy and negative which totally isn't me. I couldn't enjoy my days off because I knew I had to go back to that horrible place. I started getting "short" with my husband and that wasn't fair to him. I also suffered from personal health issues.

So I decided it was time for me to leave that toxic environment and I'm so glad I did. I'm starting a new job but so far, so good. No more anxiety, no more palpitations, no more GI issues. My husband told me I seem a lot happier and even my mother told me I don't sound so bummed out anymore lol.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I worked 12-hour rotating shifts for three years. The only solution to the personal toll it took on my mind and body was to resign from this job altogether.