Changing shifts

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I currently work straight NOC's 8's and 12's. I just got a job offer on a unit I want to work on but it's day/night rotation.

Any thoughts on rotating like that or should I just stay on stratight NOC's? I have rotated eve/NOC and loathed it but it was because I would work eve's at the beginning part of the week and NOC's at the end...brutal.

I've never worked that rotation so I wanted to get feedback from those who have. I don't have the particulars about what the schedule looks like yet.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

If you really want to get your foot in the door, it could be worth it. Otherwise, IMO, it's NOT.

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rotating is tough. i rotate and you spend most of your days off attempting to switch to the next schedule. is it week to week? two weeks days , two nights, or all over the place?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, & ED.

Imagine this: evening and nights, was about difficult as the word brutal can be :) now think of alternating days /nights shifts ....find a word...I would say: insane!!!! I do nights and nothing else, it is hard on the body as it is. Hey, if you can do it, kudos to you :) Good luck!!!!

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I do rotating eves and nocs and as a result I fell asleep while driving a few weeks ago. I was lucky because my car was the only thing that got beat up I also have another job...so not a good combo.

Rotating shifts will mess you up. There are numerous posts that can back me up on this.

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Many of us managed to survive rotating shifts. I remember when all we had was 8's, and we worked all three shifts. Not ideal, but we did it.

It all depends on how often you will be rotating. Ask for a sample schedule.

I very clearly remember working 3-11 and having to come back for a 7-3 shift the next day. But I was sooo young then, and could not cope with that now.

Best wishes!!

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Specializes in CVICU.

I very clearly remember working 3-11 and having to come back for a 7-3 shift the next day. But I was sooo young then, and could not cope with that now.

That is completely unreasonable. It's as insane as working 11p-7a then coming back at 3p, or working 7a-3p and having to come back at 11p and work a night shift.

Any manager that would schedule someone that way has their head up their proverbial ***.

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Rotating shifts is tough. I did it for over 2 years. I work 12's so it was 7a-7p and 7p-7a and it was all over the place. Even having to switch during the same week. I now work straight NOC because I couldn't do it anymore. Even though nights isn't good for you...its much better than rotating. But if they would guarentee you 1 week of days, 1 week of nites or whatever....that wouldn't be so bad. Depends how much you want the job I guess...good luck.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

i've rotated shifts for years. after 14 years on straight days, i took a different job and went to the bottom of the seniority list. so i rotate. i thought it was going to be awful, but as it turns out, i like it. i get sick of the visitors, the doctors and the managers that abound on day shift. then i go to nights for awhile. nights would be the perfect shift . . . except that it happens at night. after i work nights for a few weeks, i get to go back to days and sleep during the night like a normal person.

i've rotated evenings/nights, too. that was my favorite . . . never had to get up before the crack of noon!

a lot of your success (or not) with rotating is your attitude. if you go at it as the great learning experience that it is, you'll probably do just fine. make sure you get your sleep . . . running around doing stuff during the day and working at night will run you down inside a week. make sleep a priority. and eating right. chips and candy from the vending machines do not a meal make.

good luck with whatever you decide to do.

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That is completely unreasonable. It's as insane as working 11p-7a then coming back at 3p, or working 7a-3p and having to come back at 11p and work a night shift.

Any manager that would schedule someone that way has their head up their proverbial ***.

My manager is famous for working our schedules that way.

I get off at 0715 tomorrow and am scheduled to be back at 0245 the same day to work a double :rolleyes: Yay, to getting 4 hours of sleep between shifts...NOT!

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I currently rotate, and its really tough. I'm having a hard time reaching "normal" because by the time I get adjusted to days, its time to switch to nights and vice versa.

If it's a job you want, and you need to get your foot in the door, it might be worth it. But honestly it's hard.

good luck!!!

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I meet with the nurse manager next week so I will get the particulars. I swear when working in the hospital, no shift is a good shift, except per diem :)

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