offered day shift...help!

arbldj1234 · Jan 21, 2014

Im a new nurse and was hired to a busy ortho/trauma (med surg floor). So far ive only had three days on the floor with my preceptor (who is amazing so far). We do 12 hour shifts with a 10 percent shift differential for night shift. I was hired for nights but my manager came to me yesterday and offered me days if I want it. It's so busy there time just flies by (knock on wood it stays like that). Im really torn because I love my sleep and my relationships with my friends and boyfriend, but I know there's more money in nights and It might be a good place to learn. Im used to working 3 to 11 on a pysch floor as a tech. Any advice from some seasoned nurses?[/quote']
Go for day shift. I am a firm believer that you will learn more on day shift. You get to interact with the physicians, social services, pt/ot etc. You know exactly what is going on with your patients and dont have to rely on reading progress notes like you sometimes have to on night shift. It will teach you how to effectively multi task and prioritize. I started on day shift as a brand new nurse and 5 years later I do not regret it one bit!

j0yegan · Jan 21, 2014

I just want to say... don't be concerned about your relationship with your boyfriend, family, and friends. When you work nights, you still get to spend time with them! If you think about it, you work only 3 days a week and you get 4 days a week with them. After work, sleep when you get home for so-and-so hours, then you'll be awake by the time your boyfriend, family, and friends come back from work.

minniemickey23 · Jan 21, 2014

Thank you for the advice! :) right now I'm leaning towards day shift even though it'll be less money long term. Plus my preceptor told me that the girl that had the job I have now left night shift because she was being bullied a bit by night shift staff.

j0yegan · Jan 21, 2014

Congrats on making your decision! I think you will learn a lot in day shift, especially how to manage your time because a lot happens. Besides, if someday you want to try night shift, I'm sure you can change your mind.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 21, 2014

The differential earnings may /may not impact your financial situation.

You may/ may not function well on nights.

Those are personal decisions.

Personally , nights ruined my health , sleep schedule , and limited my relationships.

10 % , more like 6 % after taxes.. was not worth that .. too me.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2014

We can not tell you what shift you should do. We do not know you or your lifestyle. My advice is to write a list of pros/cons for each shift based on your life and go from there. I personally hate night shift but for some people it works best for them. I do agree that dayshift will give you more experience and an opportunity to learn and you have more resources. With that said, some people go to nights to get from the chaos of days. So just think long and hard about your decision.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Jan 21, 2014

R U nuts? take days!

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jan 21, 2014

I would say days. Nights are not for everyone.

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2014

I vote day shift. It's not very often new nurses get to go rifht to days. If you change your mind it will be easier to change from days to nights than vice versa.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jan 21, 2014

I will always choose days. When my boyfriend was working nights we drifted apart since he was never awake when I was, so we couldn't do much together. On top of that, like other posters said, you will learn more on days. The shift diff isn't that much. Good luck with your decision!

ORNerd, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2014

Go for the days. Shift differential is nice but working nights can be challenging. I work on an ortho floor too and love it! Congrats :)