confused

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2002

I have always talked to my supervisor about that. Sometimes they can change your rotation schedule. That is one of the reasons I don't want to go back to the hospital as I get physically ill rotating shifts. I feel for you. I think I would give it at least six months. Check your hospital policy and see how long you have to stay in your current position before you can bid out..

renerian

ptnurse · Oct 22, 2002

In the hospital where I work you are eligible for a transfer within the facility after 6 months. However we are short staffed enough that they are usually willing to make a change immediately if it means that they don't lose a nurse because you quit. As for changing from day to night in the same week, it always helped me to work 7a to 7p for two days in a row and then on the third day I was really tired and I slept in really late and went to work 7p to 7a that night. Other than that all you can do is talk to the manager about grouping your nights into the same week.

BadBird, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2002

A lot of hospitals require you to work 6 months before putting in for a transfer to another department, yours may be different, just check with Human Resources. As for the day/night flip flop, I suggest you talk to your manager and let her/him know how difficult this is and ask if you could to 2 weeks of daylight then 2 weeks of nights if it was at all possible. When you work nights, keep your room dark, you can cover the windows with aluminum foil and it will be like midnight, keep the room cool, unplug your phone. Please don't get discouraged, change is difficult, just give it a chance.

Agnus · Oct 23, 2002

Talk to your manager about your concerns. Studies show that it takes several weeks for your body to adjust to a shift. Rotation is just plain unhealthy. Rotating in the same week is a recipe for disaster.

Less frequent rotation would be more sane. Perhaps you could talk about this. Maybe volunteer to work an unpopular shift straight instead of rotating. This will give you regular hours though you may be on nights. And it will be filling a valuable staffing need, and reduce the need for rotations.

Usually the reason for rotations is they don't have enough staff willing to work certain shifts (like nights) So instead of risking the loss or more staff by forcing some people to work that shift they rotate everyone. Really a BAD situation.

If you push it, and push it as a win win situation you may get some where. It might also start some others to thinking this is a better solution for them too. So, there may be some people who follow your path in time.

I know nights suck. Yet, where I work those who are on nights are there by choice and would not work days for anything. You can adjust and in time move on to a department and a shift that you perfer. I personally would not work under the conditions you describe. I kind of got mistreated as a new grad at one hospital and I moved on and am happy for it.

Don't let any employer tell you It is the same everywhere. Quite frankly they are usually uninformed when they say this.

Brownms46 · Oct 23, 2002

Nights is bad enough on the body of most people without changing and swithing to days in the same week. I don't do it! You will burn out faster than the thinnest candle! Find a hospital that is willing to train you where you want to work now, and let this one go by the wayside. The Boston is asking for travel nurses...seems like they should be willing to groom their own. :cool:

tattooednursie, LVN · Oct 23, 2002

I'd say talk to your manager. I'm having the same problem, and thats what I am gonna do.

mattsmom81 · Oct 24, 2002

All I can comment on is that it's only been two weeks...you may want to give yourself some more time to adjust before making a final decision.

I agree that shift switching back and forth is hard on many people... I would not want to work like that either.

I always preferred 12 hr shift nights personally. :)

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Oct 24, 2002

I used to work 12 hr split in a small peds unit. Days: Mon-Tues-Wed, off Thurs and Friday. Nights: Sat-Sun-Mon, off on Tuesday am till the following Monday, that week off was wonderful. Some dayshifts were so crazy I was relieved to be on nights. I did that for three years.

Now I work straight nights, different hospital-have no desire to go back to days!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Oct 24, 2002

Straight nights, even if you have to do weekends sounds good to me, because as a new grad you will need all you faculties to do well and be ready to advance to that MICU position when it finally comes up. You are under a lot of stress already, negotiate your schedule to minimize rotating at least for the first year.