Change nursing jobs after 6 months?

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I have been a nurse for 7 months and on my unit for 6 month's. Been in healthcare since 2010. Worked in the ED, EMS, the OR, and psych during that time. Currently an LPN. I work nights have had COVID, two sinus infections, two upper respiratory viruses, and one lower respiratory virus/throat issue.

Pros of nights are when not sick I feel more energetic. I eat healthier and more time to work out. Been sick last few months as many times as I have been sick during my time in healthcare.

Now other pros my floor is a bubble of the hospital. By that we don't really get admissions at night. Our admissions are pre-screened. Most patients coming over are stable if not transferred off. Have a lot of support from leadership. Have doctors there that are on call that are regular doctors. You have a broader scope what you can do with your license as an LPN compared to other floors. Max you only take 6 sometimes 7 patients.

The other floors you can work days. You get admissions some times just brought to your unit without warning. Can take 8 to 10 patients. Understaffed. Get a lot of experience it's a Tele floor. You have step down and step up patients. Patients going to the ICU. Multiple blood transfusions and pumps and pushing of meds going on. Multiple code blues and so forth.

Also, have to work every other weekend and have no set schedule.

Pay is less. I mean to be a Rich Nurse I make 1600 to 1700 working nights (work an extra shift every other week). I would make $1400 if going to days and probably close to $1500 if worked days with an extra shift thrown in caveat of a short staffed unit.

I can finish a shift wake up the next day be home with family is a plus. Not sleep then work then sleep then family. That does kill me. More labile with emotions not sure if that is nursing or nights. Just feel down a lot and irritable. Never been short tempered but more short tempered lately.

Could work days on my floor. I did training on days was drowning. It's 6 patients each having 40 meds during the morning, have to find them or wait till done with therapy treatment, chart, and do various treatments. It's a lot during the day. I am not sure if grass would be greener on the other side. I don't know.

I don't know just nights is kicking my immune system. Not sure what to do anymore.

Appreciate the feedback!

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7 Answers

I think you should what is best for you. in your gut you know what that is. I remember people told me the grass isn't green on the other side. I took that leap to another position. and never regretted it. I went to psychiatry and the job was way more chill. I enjoyed talking to patients. being able to de-escalte is also crucial. 

PizzaNurse2023 said:

Appreciate the advice. Love the job. Just don't think I am built for nights. Never had these issues before. Hours of sleep hasn't changed. Just sleep is during the day. Not sure if staying awake at nights is affecting my emotional health. Chose nights out of necessity to pay bills and ability to have someone watch our child.

The watching of our child shouldn't be an issue. Though now could be an issue as not allowed to self-schedule anymore.

It's a lot.

Absolutely working nights is affecting your emotional health. It's been proven sleep deprivation can cause psychosis. I never worked night shifts for this reason. I loved having a life outside of work. And working nights messes with that. most people I see successful and enjoy nights are older people closer to retirement and hate dealing with management. and also younger kids that love to party at night and they are used to being up late. atleast that is what I noticed in my hospital. 

And I totally get having to pay bills and having a kid. it's tough. honestly it sucks. just be careful with feeling you are trapped. you have more options than you think. talk to others that you feel are wise in your circle. think objectively through them. I sometimes get emotional when going through a rough time. so I get. 

Back when I first started my nursing career, I too started on night shift. I worked 7p-7a on our local hospital's largest floor, Med-Surg/Peds. It was was the biggest and busiest floor, even at night. We were always short staffed. Although working nights did not physically make me ill as you have described, after 2 years it came to where my schedule no longer worked for our family. I had to make a similar decision involving a cut in pay, changing to days, and changing jobs. I loved working at the hospital but the day shift was too busy and chaotic. At the time there were not any positions available that I could transfer to on another unit. It was a hard decision but I had to follow my heart and do what I knew was best for me and my family. After much prayer, I left the hospital (stayed PRN) and took a full time 7a-3pm job at another employer. Years later, when my children were older, I went back to the hospital full time on dayshift, more experienced, no longer feeling overwhelmed by the chaos and stayed 17 years.

Night shift is hard. You work and sleep opposite of your family. I always went with less sleep so I did not miss out on things with my family. I would stay up endless hours after working. It takes a toll on you, whether you realize it or not.

Follow your heart and do what you know will be in the best interest for you and your family. When God closes a door, he opens a window. Best of Luck to You!

NYC Nurse said:

I think you should what is best for you. in your gut you know what that is. I remember people told me the grass isn't green on the other side. I took that leap to another position. and never regretted it. I went to psychiatry and the job was way more chill. I enjoyed talking to patients. being able to de-escalte is also crucial. 

I worked psych almost 12 years. That's where some issues arise. Like I like nights on my floor as really get to talk and engage with patients.

Days that's impossible. The fast pace and rush of the floor on days trained on days just was overwhelming.

Med surg know be fast paced. From those I talk to they cap at certain patients some units doing some trials with us LPNs. Mainly 5 to 6 patients. Lot of technical skills. Some meds. Lot of churn over with admissions and discharges. Unlike the floor currently on only have to do discharges.

Know nights isn't for me. Just can't stay awake. Getting sick every day. Depressed I am angry my emotions are all over the place. Just I don't know where to do days or if I can leave my unit only there for 6 months.

PizzaNurse2023 said:

I worked psych almost 12 years. That's where some issues arise. Like I like nights on my floor as really get to talk and engage with patients.

Days that's impossible. The fast pace and rush of the floor on days trained on days just was overwhelming.

Med surg know be fast paced. From those I talk to they cap at certain patients some units doing some trials with us LPNs. Mainly 5 to 6 patients. Lot of technical skills. Some meds. Lot of churn over with admissions and discharges. Unlike the floor currently on only have to do discharges.

Know nights isn't for me. Just can't stay awake. Getting sick every day. Depressed I am angry my emotions are all over the place. Just I don't know where to do days or if I can leave my unit only there for 6 months.

When I am angry, sad, depressed, anxious it means im not listening to a part inside of me. there must be a voice inside of you that you aren't paying attention to. maybe it hates the job, maybe it hates night shifts. Pay attention to the voice. don't ignore it. I think we think that the more we ignore it the better. not true. And before any transition it is natural to be fearful. you are afraid you will make a move and it will be worst. I get it. I personally would reach out to people on the OTHER side and ask for their opinions. if I had to I would offer 100 bucks for half hour of their time to answer some questions. most won't take the money, some do. until that insight they share helps me make a decision with more confidence. but staying where you are is guaranteed for you to not be happy. 

Appreciate the advice. Love the job. Just don't think I am built for nights. Never had these issues before. Hours of sleep hasn't changed. Just sleep is during the day. Not sure if staying awake at nights is affecting my emotional health. Chose nights out of necessity to pay bills and ability to have someone watch our child.

The watching of our child shouldn't be an issue. Though now could be an issue as not allowed to self-schedule anymore.

It's a lot.

Specializes in MSN.

I worked nights for a couple of years and I would say that it could definitely take a toll on your body and family life. It's hard when everyone is asleep and you're wide awake or vice versa. It's an adjustment. There are pros and cons. I eventually got used to it. I like that there were less people around during the night but I guess that would depends on the unit you're working in. I would think carefully about it if I wanted to switch to something else. 

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