Bored on night shift- should I ask for transfer?

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Hi everyone,

I'm a new grad and I've been working night shift on a tele/med-surg floor for about a month. The hospital is giving me 3 months of orientation with a preceptor. So far, I love what I do (taking care of the patients) and even though there's a lot I don't know, I feel like work isn't challenging enough and I'm bored on my shift. The first 4-5hr of the shift is okay, but through out the night it's very slow and there's so much down time. Is night shift usually like this?? I don't like it all because 1. I'd end up sitting around and being bored, 2. the nurses tend to group together and gossip ALOT which I don't like. and 3. I feel like I'm not getting the experience I need to become competent. As a new grad, I want to get my feet wet as much as possible and I don't know if night shift allows for that. I'm thinking of asking for a transfer to another unit. My question is, would it make me look bad since I was hired to cover for the shortage on the unit I'm on now? Or would the director try to fire me since it'd come off as I don't want to work on her floor? I really don't like my unit, my coworkers, my preceptor, my director...I don't know what to do.

Specializes in Hospice.

Bummer, im a new grad at an inpatient hospice unit (acute) on the night shift and I feel like its 'go, go go......" Im not sure why its so quiet where you are.....lol, or maybe im just horribly inadequate... hope it picks up for you.

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Wow I could've written your post, OP! (except the last sentence; I did love my unit and coworkers, I'm still on the same unit, just day shift) I transferred to days after 8 weeks on nights (still was in orientation) and I am SO happy I did. Days is much more my speed.

I work psych, which I think is a lot differently generally, but I am also bored for about 4 hours each night. That said, I'm typically taking about 3 patients by myself while I'm on orientation....my first day off orientation I will likely have 8. Yikes! Obviously, I anticipate having far less downtime after orientation is over.

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

I got 3 weeks of orientation on my tele floor and even then I stayed busy learning everything I could. Even after about a year that I've been on this floor, slow nights are the nights when I know my chart checks and core measures are great. I have time to print teaching packets for my patients and give them the info in the morning. Days are too hectic for me. I love my coworkers. Hope your attitude improves.

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

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So my director decided that she's going to pull me off the orthopedics/oncology floor and have me orient on my unit (tele) and be with yet, ANOTHER preceptor. It's going to be my 4th preceptor in 2months!!!

You said yourself you weren't necessarily hoping to go to the ortho/onc (interesting combo) floor but were just happy with the new preceptor. Why your director had you orient on that floor for any time at all is beyond me but look at the bright side here... At the end of all this, you get a day shift orientation and with (hopefully) a style you enjoy better than your first. THAT was the main goal.

I totally feel you on the multiple preceptor problem but a bright side to that is that you may be getting a lot more information and examples of practice styles than you would have with just one.

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Transfer after 6 months... You could just really be bored... Some people work faster than others. Maybe it comes more naturally for you? But you gotta see what life is like when you aren't on orientation because its also possible that your preceptor is doing a lot of the busy work? Nights are slow for me too, but I worked days prior so I'm just used to a different pace.

You know the right answer I think ;)

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

A lot of hospitals will not allow you to transfer until you stay in a particular department for at least six months. Some require a year.

I started out as a new grad on nights, I still work nights, and I work on a progressive care unit. Some nights aren't busy and we literally do sit around a lot and once in awhile, those are nice to have because MOST nights are literally hit the floor and run. I am challenged every day and I have learned a lot.

Quiet nights also depend on the patient census. The census may be down. I agree, maybe it's the calm before the storm. Our census has been down lately so our nights haven't been as chaotic, but I know that will change.

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Specializes in CICU.

I agree with the pp that stated that there is always something that needs to be done...

I do remember more down time when i was on orientation, because i had to follow her lead, but i only got 4 weeks total, one week on day shift. It was a whole 'nother ball game when i started on my own...

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Wow-this thread is like 3 years old. I bet the OP has moved on with her problem, LOL.

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Specializes in CICU.
Wow-this thread is like 3 years old. I bet the OP has moved on with her problem, LOL.

Right, hopefully they aren't bored any longer, either...:wideyed:

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Right, hopefully they aren't bored any longer, either...:wideyed:

LMAO! I hope so or she is one sorry person for going into nursing! When I had surgery a year ago I had to stay overnight and I tell you, my nurse didn't seem like she was bored. She had one patient that was having major problems from what I could see-she even said she felt like she was neglecting me.

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