An Offer

Published

Finally, someone called with a job offer in Med-Surg. Only problem is that it is on nocs, and I don't know if I can handle that shift. 7/10 schedule. I have always worked PM shift. Anyone out there who works these hours? How do you cope? Did it take long to adjust? I really do want to work at this Hospital. still waiting on another position I applied for at hospital only 10 min. from home.:o

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work 11-7, Kayzee, and I like it way more than I thought I would. You just have to be strict about going to bed on time and getting enough sleep, and scheduling your meals in a 24-hour period.

I also like it because our crew is very helpful and we have time to ask questions and get answers. It's really helped me improve my skills, especially with reading the docs' handwriting, because we do all the 24 hr. chart checks.

What would happen if you took the job and you found out you couldn't do it? Could you switch?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I work mostly 7p to 7a. I have learned a few tricks.

Unplug the phone! Make sure you can't hear it or your answering machine while you sleep. This is critical.

Turn on a fan or white noise machine of some sort to block out neighborhood or household noises.

Darken the room bigtime!!!

Put a sign on your door: using doorbell means INSTANT death to those who ring (just kidding, but make sure they know you are day-sleeper.Or do what I did and simply disconnect the stupid thing if people insist on ringing it anyway.

Eat a light meal before going to bed. Cereal and milk work great for me. Nothing heavy---but keeps tummy feeling good.

If your health permits and doctor does not say no, learn to love Benadryl or Melatonin. They help me sleep the day thru even to it goes totally against my grain. ( I am a total morning person by nature).

Take VERY good care of your health. Eat well, stay hydrated on your shift, use the restroom as often as you can to keep bladder tone.

Relax; some of the BEST people I have EVER worked with work at NIGHT. I love them. I truly have a good time on nightshift. The suits are not there....it is wonderful. We are a TEAM and really work well together. Who knows, you may come to LOVE IT! Give it a whirl and good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Have you called the HR department or the manager at the other hospital that you'd prefer to work in? My HR dept is notoriousfor losing applications! I'd check up on the other place and try to get what shift you want and the hospital you want. Where I live you can pick where and when you will work because every hospital has vacancies. Of course the suits where I work deny there is a shortage or any kind of staffing problem even though some units have more agency personnel than regular staff! Fuzzy math I guess!

Good luck and let us know what happens.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Night shift is more peaceful, but never let anybody tell you, "Oh, it's easy, the patients just sleep all night!" Not true at all :rolleyes: All sorts of "extra" tasks get dumped on night shift since "they have so much free time." Ahem. And it gets busy early in the morning, with Docs coming in, labs being drawn, etc.

SmilingBluEyes up above has very good suggestions; they work!

Big night advantage: Parking is a breeze.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Howdy yall

from deep in the heat of texas

Play a lot of golf, really helps

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

I work mostly 7p to 7a. I have learned a few tricks.

Unplug the phone! Make sure you can't hear it or your answering machine while you sleep. This is critical.

Turn on a fan or white noise machine of some sort to block out neighborhood or household noises.

Darken the room bigtime!!!

Put a sign on your door: using doorbell means INSTANT death to those who ring (just kidding, but make sure they know you are day-sleeper.Or do what I did and simply disconnect the stupid thing if people insist on ringing it anyway.

Eat a light meal before going to bed. Cereal and milk work great for me. Nothing heavy---but keeps tummy feeling good.

If your health permits and doctor does not say no, learn to love Benadryl or Melatonin. They help me sleep the day thru even to it goes totally against my grain. ( I am a total morning person by nature).

Take VERY good care of your health. Eat well, stay hydrated on your shift, use the restroom as often as you can to keep bladder tone.

I've worked overnights for 2 years now. There are a few additional tricks I'd like to add -

If possible, try and stay on a smiliar sleep schedule durring your off days. For most people this just won't work but, if you are lucky enough to be able to do this, you will reap huge rewards. Flipping the body clokc can be tricky.

Get out in the sun as soon as you get up and avoid it in the morning, at least at first. We take quite a few of our clock cues from the sun.

SmilingBluEyes, I loved your "white noise" idea. Not many think of that one. I did it about a year ago when my AC was down for a few days and realized I was sleeping better. It helps a lot more than you think. The fan I use now doesn't even circulate air very well, but it's just noisy enough to do the trick.

If you go to the gym, go before work, not after. Most people find going to they gym makes them more alert (albeit more tired physically) thus you might have trouble sleeping soon after.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by Cascadians

Big night advantage: Parking is a breeze.

My favorite advantages are the lack of traffic and going grocery shopping after work. At 8:30am the store is virtually empty, the shelves are all nice and neat and never out of anything, you get the best pick of the produce and I almost never have to wait in line at the checkout. I don't know how people manage going in the evenings or on weekends.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Vettech, so true. Grocery shopping and errand-running are a BREEZE for me on a night schedule. And yes, parking is great. No fighting over rare spaces a country mile from the doors. So TRUE!

Gosh, if you think about it, there are MANY advantages to working nights. One I thought of not mentioned so far is the differentials can be substantial, depending on where you work. For me, it is 15%. I like that; it really pads the check nicely.

If you really CANNOT negotiate another position with more agreeable hours, try nights for a while. There will come a time when a day position will open up and you will be able to jump in. There have been several opportunities at both hospitals where I work. But til my kids are older, I will have to work nights, when my husband is home. I have come to like it. Not sure when/if I will accept a regular "day" position.

THINK POSITIVE; nothing is FOREVER if you don't like it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn, geriatric, rehab, wound care, ER.

Don't settle for second best- you will most probably regret it

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Second-best? what about her offer is "second-best"? Perhaps it is the open door to a great career. If this is the only viable offer coming my way, I would take it! JMO.

And no, "second best" jobs don't just exist on nights and nor do just "second-rate" nurses!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

Second-best? what about her offer is "second-best"? Perhaps it is the open door to a great career. If this is the only viable offer coming my way, I would take it! JMO.

And no, "second best" jobs don't just exist on nights and nor do just "second-rate" nurses!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion