Need a little help here if you have gone from nights to days....

[crb613, BSN, RN]

There is finally a day shift position open, and I cannot for the life of me decide what to do. I really hate night shift, but absolutely love all my co-workers....thus my delima. The people I work with are absolutely the best! We have such an awesome team, and I never dread going to work. I know no matter what rolls through the doors....together we can handle it. If one of us gets tied up with a 1:1....the rest of your pts will be taken care of....no worries. We all truly like, respect, and trust each other. It just all runs so smoothly....on the other hand...I feel like crap most of the time. I am on a completely different schedule than my family.

I have been on nights for five years, and swore that if a day shift ever came open I would go in a heartbeat! Its finally happened, and I am in misery trying to decide what to do.... If we could all go as a unit....now that would be a dream job....

The day shift crew that I would be working with are known to be so,so....its every man for himself so to speak. No teamwork at all. I think I would probally be miserable working with them, but would have a "normal" life, and my family would love that....I guess it comes down to what is most important... happiness at work or a "normal" life. What to do.....what to do???? If anyone has any words of wisdom...I am all ears!:)

[handyrn]

Can you shadow a couple of day shifts just to see how the people work together-or not?

[SHURN]

well, I went from nights to days 2 yrs ago. I was on nights for 3 yrs. I felt the same way as you about, well, everything. I finally decided that my health and family life was more important. I think one misconception about day RNs (in my unit at least) is that they are not helpful and do not really have the same teamwork. This is true, but only because of circumstances. It is toooo dang busy on days. Between docs, PT/OT, speech, RT, very time consuming families,and going to tests for hours sometimes, it is not uncommon to not even see one of your co-workers until almost 2 pm. When people CAN help, they do. I am NOT saying nights are not busy, but in reality, it is a different busy.

After two years, sometimes I wish I could go back to nights. Days are exhausting. BUT, exhausting in a way that once the day is done, you recover. For me, it took a whole day to recover, sometimes more. That is my opinion, for what it is worth. Also, if your unit is anything like mine, most needs are on nights, so if you go to days and don't like it, Ill bet they let you go back to nights.

[babieblue2]

It's hard to form good relationships with coworkers during the day because you are so busy. It's not that people aren't willing to help or they are cold and distant....it's they gotta get their stuff done first. There's not enough time in the day to do all your stuff, help someone else, AND sit down and chit chat. Yes nights are more fun with a more relaxed workplace and time to engage with coworkers, but to me health and a normal life outside of work are more important. Work to live, don't live to work.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

The reality is you have hit that one unit where everything clicks, it's a dream, everyone gets along etc... This is very rare and happens to us maybe once in a lifetime of our careers. Some people are fortunate that they can stay in that wonderful place but usually there is some type of price ... in your case it's your health and the family missing you.

Sometimes it's very hard to let go of a routine we're use to; I liken it to fear. Fear of the unknown and can we measure up ... if we always stayed in the comfort zone we would never challenge ourselves, nothing would change ... complete stagnation. Change challenges us to succeed, to better our situations in life and be excellent examples to our children. Would you throw this opportunity away because you would probably be miserable due to rumors?

I will tell you this once you go to days they will say the same thing about you and vice versa. It's the nature of the beast called shift envy.

So ... you are happy with your coworkers but you feel like a piece of very old luggage and you miss your family. Doesn't sound like too much of a decision to me ... good luck.

[babieblue2]

also i'd like to add that how long do you think this 'dream team' of coworkers will last. The turn-over is so high in most departments. I don't know the size of your unit and the situation but I wouldn't be surprised if within the next 12 months you would have all new co-workers because the current ones have moved on to bigger/better. You should do that now before you regret staying and realizing 12 months from now everyone moved on but you

[crb613, BSN, RN]

I guess I need to clarify. There are no rumors about the people on this specfic shift I am speaking of. I know them, and have worked with them before....I know how it is. I have been asked before to move to this specfic shift to build team spirit....That is the reason for my concern. No one, and I mean no one wants to work on that end of the week. On the other hand I have been with the same people for 3 years, and we just click....and that is nice. I appreciate all your comments,and advice. You all have some really good points. Thanks!

[Sparrow23]

Take the day shift. I had the same dilemma... loved my night shift team and was less than thrilled about those on days. It's been ok though! I still see my night shifters at change of shift and they day shifters haven't been all that bad. Less teamwork, yes, but I can usually find someone to lean on if need be. Day shift has oddly been easier than nights for me. And, my life outside of work is oh-so-much better. (Heck, if you end up missing your night buddies that much, offer to fill in here and there if they are ever short a nurse. Just don't become a doormat with scheduling...) Go for it!

[crb613, BSN, RN]

Take the day shift. I had the same dilemma... loved my night shift team and was less than thrilled about those on days. It's been ok though! I still see my night shifters at change of shift and they day shifters haven't been all that bad. Less teamwork, yes, but I can usually find someone to lean on if need be. Day shift has oddly been easier than nights for me. And, my life outside of work is oh-so-much better. (Heck, if you end up missing your night buddies that much, offer to fill in here and there if they are ever short a nurse. Just don't become a doormat with scheduling...) Go for it!

Thanks! I went in today, and applied for the day shift position.....we will see how it goes!

[felineRN]

I guess my only qualms with day shift include:

(1) More "suits" who like to walk around and flex their administrative muscle

(2) Feeding people. I have to say I left a med/surg type floor so that I wouldn't have to deal with meal trays etc... Unfortunately, our ER is so busy that we end up holding patients and therefore have to deal with such things. It's not that I'm uncaring, it's that I don't have a lot of patience (or time) feeding people who cannot feed themselves.

(3) The "day" personalities of some people. I was a night nurse and plan to weasel my way back into a night shift. Believe it or not, there is a waiting list to be on nights at my facility. Anywho, I feel like people are less uptight at night and get to see some of the more interesting cases/traumas.

On a good note: I don't have that night nurse fog that persists after a few noc shifts and have noticed a much better work/life balance. I can spend a lot more quality time with my husband and daughter.

Good Luck! But remember, you'll always be a night nurse at heart

[crb613, BSN, RN]

I got the position....I am soon to be a dayshifter!

[ErinBSN]

Can you do a "trial run" I know when I went to Baylor I had the option of a "trial" period. Sometimes managers are willing to let you try something for 1 schedule rotation to seehow it fits and than if it doesn't you can go back.