Am I going to regret my decision?

[Sweetpea04, BSN]

Am I going to regret my decision?

Hello all. I've been a nurse 2.5 years now.

I worked in adult oncology most of my 2 years and after my time there I was burned out and wanted to learn something new. I had friends, I was Dayshift, and I was really confident when I worked in oncology. I had a great work life balance. 

However, I took a risk and I applied for a Night shift NICU position. I've been here 7 months.

I just started the night shift. The babies are so adorable honestly and there's a lot of interesting things to learn here.

But I hate the night shift. The list to get on to Dayshift on this unit takes years and goes by seniority/getting involved on the unit. I also have had a hard time making friends here and I've had a lot of regretful moments in the NICU. I often would regret applying for a job here and I cried about it often. 

My partner works Dayshift and I hate not seeing him and the nights makes things tough for us at times

I also really really value a work life balance. I believe you should work to live and not live to work. 

I feel the past 7 months all I did was complain and find the negatives about my job.

So after a tough couple nights, I asked my manager to allow me to transfer back to my oncology unit, where I worked Dayshift. 

Now I am supposed to transfer back to oncology in about 4 weeks and…… now I'm not sure if I'm making a good career decision. 

I'm excited to go back to my old floor yes, and my manager is expecting me back with open arms, and so are my co workers.

BUT I worry so much I'm going to miss the babies and the cute moments that you witness in the NICU.. I feel really lost and I feel stupid for going back to what burned me out. I am also getting a pay decrease by leaving the NICU. 

I don't know what to do. It seems pretty set in stone my transfer date. Should I just follow my decision and trust myself more?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

you have posited this question several times. What answer  are you

looking for? Seem you already regret it.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I think you are making the right decision. Stay per diem at the NICU if you can. If you haven't asked for that already you should. There are night shift people and there are day shift people. You are the latter.