Did I Make a Big Mistake?

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 4, 2006

Oh man, I'm thinking I made a big mistake by going into nursing....let me explain. I've been working mights on a cardiac/tele unit now for 6 months. The staff that I work with is absolutely wonderful...we only get up to 5 patients...and I enjoy the patient population that we receive. So, I should really like my job right? Well, I don't. There are people on my unit that have been trying to get to dayshift for 3 years, and I KNOW that I won't be one of those people....3 years of this would send me to the psych ward!
Well thanks for letting me vent....if anyone has any ideas of areas outside the hospital setting that I could work (with normal hours) feel free to suggest! OK...I'm done now. :)

I worked nocts for 12 years and it almost killed me. I had to because I didn't want my kids in childcare. I wouldn't work a noct shift now for anything. I realize some nurses love nocts and I SALUTE you !!!! I don't know where you live but in most parts of the US it's not that hard to get a day shift in a hospital. You may not at first get the department you want but hey days = sleep which = happiness to me. Good Luck!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2006

Is there any way for you to work 3 12-hour night shifts? They are so much better when you live with someone on a day schedule. My husband works the same hours as yours. On the three days a week I work, I only see him in passing for about an hour after he gets home and before I leave. On these days, we just have leftovers, sandwiches, or (eek!) fast food for dinner so I don't have to worry about cooking. Then, four days a week, I am completely off, which is really nice.

Working nights is part of nursing. If you really can't deal with it, you need to leave and find anther unit that offers days or rotating shifts. And do you realize know how much more money you make on nights??? I make $400 a month more just by working nights - that's a lot of money! Almost $5,000 a year more!

HelloKittyRN · Feb 4, 2006

When I first got out of nursing school I worked 3-11 5 days a week! I absolutely hated it! But, I now work 7a-7p and absolutely love it. I only had to work 3-11 for 6 months. Check out other floors and other hospitals. Everyone needs nurses, and there is almost always tons of positions available! Good luck to you!

SerenityRN2006 · Feb 4, 2006

Is there any way for you to work 3 12-hour night shifts? They are so much better when you live with someone on a day schedule. My husband works the same hours as yours. On the three days a week I work, I only see him in passing for about an hour after he gets home and before I leave. On these days, we just have leftovers, sandwiches, or (eek!) fast food for dinner so I don't have to worry about cooking. Then, four days a week, I am completely off, which is really nice.
Working nights is part of nursing. If you really can't deal with it, you need to leave and find anther unit that offers days or rotating shifts. And do you realize know how much more money you make on nights??? I make $400 a month more just by working nights - that's a lot of money! Almost $5,000 a year more!

Hi I will start working 3 12-hour night shifts also in about 2 weeks. Can you tell me what is the best way to prepare for it. Should I try staying up all night and sleeping all day a couple of days before I start. Just looking for a smart way to transition. Thanks

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2006

Hi I will start working 3 12-hour night shifts also in about 2 weeks. Can you tell me what is the best way to prepare for it. Should I try staying up all night and sleeping all day a couple of days before I start. Just looking for a smart way to transition. Thanks

Well, starting a few days before kind of ruins the point of being off for long stretches - you're still on a night schedule. Now, if that doesn't bother you, then it's fine, and of course easier to "stay" on a night schedule. But if you live in a house of "normal" day people, then you don't need to do that.

You could do one of two things. You could sleep normal the night before and then make yourself take a nap during the day before your shift. Lots of people do this. I, however, can't "make" myself nap - I get anxious if I know I "need" to sleep! So I stay up really late the night before - like at least until 4am, often 6am. (Allnurses.com is a great way to stay up all night, FYI.) Then I just sleep really late, usually until at least noon or 2pm.

Whatever you do, please don't try to do what many of my coworkers do - just sleep normal the night before, and don't take a nap before your night shift. They've conditioned themselves to be awake for 24+ hours on that first shift. I am so afraid for them, that they'll fall asleep on the drive home or make a mistake at work. Please don't get into that awful habit.

ETA: If this is your very first time working nights and sleeping during the day - THEN maybe, yeah, that first time it's a good idea to try it out for a few nights before you start. Sorry, just reread your post. After you get into the swing of things, and have long stretches off between nights, then you can use the above suggestions. And if you DO end up sleeping well during the day, then try to get all three nights scheduled in a row, that way you will have a nice stretch off to be "normal" with your family and friends.

RN@34 · Feb 5, 2006

Life is way to short to be miserable!! It sounds as if your marriage is very important to you, so treat it that way. Find another job. As for the previous post about the extra money you make working nights-so what. Money helps, but it does not make you completely happy. I live comfortably and would not trade the time I spend during each week with my husband and children for anything. I know nusing will always be there, but one of them may not. Do what your heart is telling you to and make a change. Best of luck! :)

JentheRN05, RN · Feb 5, 2006

I made the same mistake and remedied it last night. long story short I've been working two jobs one on my days off and nights in the hospital (the day job I've been at for 2 weeks). I have been sick nonstop since I've been on nights. Last night my manager called me up on some bogus 'unprofessional behavior' which was totally false. I called her bluff and quit right then and there. I was sick of the crap that's going on. Someone must of had it out for me there because the specific patients they pointed out were patients that begged me to be their nurse again another night. I'm just glad I had another job to fall back on. The town I worked in was a one hospital town. I just burned the biggest bridge out there, but the fact is, when you have co-workers that stab you in the back, and make up lies about you that you KNOW are absolutely false, and can get the patients to back you up as proof and you STILL get written up. Well..... enough said. I quit. I am now working in a doctors office after graduating last May not bad in my book :)

perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2006

I made the same mistake and remedied it last night. long story short I've been working two jobs one on my days off and nights in the hospital (the day job I've been at for 2 weeks). I have been sick nonstop since I've been on nights. Last night my manager called me up on some bogus 'unprofessional behavior' which was totally false. I called her bluff and quit right then and there. I was sick of the crap that's going on. Someone must of had it out for me there because the specific patients they pointed out were patients that begged me to be their nurse again another night. I'm just glad I had another job to fall back on. The town I worked in was a one hospital town. I just burned the biggest bridge out there, but the fact is, when you have co-workers that stab you in the back, and make up lies about you that you KNOW are absolutely false, and can get the patients to back you up as proof and you STILL get written up. Well..... enough said. I quit. I am now working in a doctors office after graduating last May not bad in my book :)

Jen- I have been reading a lot of your posts on here, with all the struggles etc. you've had with jobs since graduating. Way to go on finding something now that truly fits you and makes you happy!! Congratulations, I'm really glad :)

To the OP, I don't have a lot to add to what's been said already, except yeah to switch to 12-hr shifts, would help somewhat in seeing your husband more often. It sounds like you have a great unit to work in. But maybe there are other units in the same hospital, that are just as good and you could get a day or even evening position in if you can't get 12-hr nights? GOOD LUCK. :) Take care and keep us posted.

JentheRN05, RN · Feb 5, 2006

RayRay,

Thank you very much. I really REALLY love the day job, now only if they can pay me what I need :) Keep your fingers crossed they are discussing it this week. I was asked what it would take to get me off night shift and work there permenantly, I gave them a figure, what it REALLY would take, I was honest, taking a 3-4 dollar paycut, but getting more hours, plus I'll be happier there. So please keep me in your thoughts that they can pay what I need.

I feel so relieved to be out of the night job I can't even tell you. My kids are estatic. My hubby is a little disappointed only because I lost our insurance, and the doctors office doesn't offer insurance, but hey - my hubby can get his insurance back and all will be well with the world :)

Please keep $19/h in your thoughts, which is about the going rate for nurses in doctors offices in my area :)

perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2006

RayRay,
Thank you very much. I really REALLY love the day job, now only if they can pay me what I need :) Keep your fingers crossed they are discussing it this week. I was asked what it would take to get me off night shift and work there permenantly, I gave them a figure, what it REALLY would take, I was honest, taking a 3-4 dollar paycut, but getting more hours, plus I'll be happier there. So please keep me in your thoughts that they can pay what I need.
I feel so relieved to be out of the night job I can't even tell you. My kids are estatic. My hubby is a little disappointed only because I lost our insurance, and the doctors office doesn't offer insurance, but hey - my hubby can get his insurance back and all will be well with the world :)
Please keep $19/h in your thoughts, which is about the going rate for nurses in doctors offices in my area :)

consider it done :) that sounds great!!! i'm glad your family is so happy with/for you too. cool!

RN4JC · Feb 5, 2006

Hi RNLauren05, You did not mention what hours you work or how many days per week. I worked nights and afternoons for 13 years while my kids were little. My husband also worked the day shift. If you are waking up when he gets home, then you are seeing him the same amount of evening time as you would if you were both getting home from work at the same time. As far as my marriage goes, working nights was much better than afternoons. We NEVER saw each other when I was on afternoon shift. Off shifts is a big part of the hospital/nursing profession. This has its positives and negatives. It gives us a lot of flexibility in our schedules, but also demands that all hours of the day are covered. I think a big part of the adjustment to working your schedule is going to be in rethinking your home schedule, such as Gompers suggested. There are lots of things that can be done to make living with a day shift person very do-able and fun. Think of this as just a phase of your life and not a permanent situation. Also, you will learn things on nights that you will not learn on days, and you will meet personalities on nights that you will not meet on days. This can be an exciting and memorable part of your career.:roll