Frazzled New Nurse Stuck on Rotating Shifts

[JustAnotherNewGrad24]

I am a new nurse with only half a year of experience. I currently work as a staff nurse on an Acute Medicine floor, hired on as day/night rotate. I had a very hard time even getting a job offer anywhere, so when this floor offered, I took the job, knowing very well nobody else would.

So far it has worked out okay, however I've found out that I absolutely cannot work night shifts. I am tired all the time, can't sleep during the day, and lose focus in the middle of the night. I much prefer day shifts, but of course it is so hard to be put on day shifts.

I have made every effort to request day shifts on my schedule, but they keep scheduling me on night shifts, and when I do work a day shift they barely give me a day to readjust my sleep schedule.
When I look at my coworkers and their schedules, nobody else has to do this rigorous rotation schedule of constantly flopping back and forth. I was 1 of 2 new grads hired, and the other new grad that was hired is somehow on straight day shifts, never rotating at all.

I feel they are most likely favoring her because she is pregnant, but I still can't help feeling like a second class citizen that they throw around.

My management team is of course not willing to put me on straight day shifts like I have formally requested before, even though others already are on straight day shifts and never have to rotate like I do. Disclaimer that everybody employed is hired on as "Day/Night Rotate", but people only work days or nights, and do not rotate. I am the only one who bounces back and forth in between days/nights.

I am very seriously considering leaving my job, but I know it will look so bad for me if I leave before its been a year. I emailed my concerns to my manager who was very dismissive and told me what I already know: my management team only cares about having somebody to fill a need on empty slots, not about people's actual wellbeing. I will hit my 1 year mark next January, but I absolutely need to find a job with only day shifts available. I know new grads are expected to work nights and to just suck it up, buttercup. What are you supposed to do if your body physically cannot handle it, though? Worst of all, I try to tell them how exhausting it is and they ignore me, choosing to keep me on night shifts anyway.

[Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP]

As others have already said, I would go to straight nights and try to work until you have a firm offer for another job once you reach your one year mark and then go.

Just keep in mind, there also may not be are too many choices out there come January so you may end up having to start working nights again at the new job.

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

I wouldn’t be TOO worried about quitting before a year. Although you said you were desperate for a job to begin with, so your mileage may vary.

I attended an ABSN program graduating in December 2018. I haven’t kept up with very many of my classmates, but I know of 3 who took hospital jobs and then quit pretty quickly. All of them were able to find other work (they found other jobs before they quit the hospital jobs), and did not feel it was too much of a “black mark” to jump ship so early.

Quitting two jobs in quick succession would be more of a red flag to employers. But I think “I have loved my current role but I’ve also just realized that I can not work nights” would be considered very valid in an interview. At least, I know it would at my work, which is an FQHC (and thus, only open until 8pm so they never need night staff).

[bluescrubs, ADN, ASN, RN]

I don't think the whole stay one year at a job you hate applies anymore. They say nursing is a small world but it just depends. I've quit corrections after 2 months and was able to get different job offers. I worked 2 different jobs but during orientation I decided that it was not for me so I did not even bother to put it on my resume. If your interviewer ask why did you leave just say you are looking for a day shift position. I never had anyone ask me why I left so soon. I love working night shift but something that might help is red bull for those nights that are dragging. I would speak to your manager and ask to do one week nights and one week days with at least 2 days in between that way you will have some recovery time. If you really cant do nights let them know firmly that you can not do it anymore. Even with covid 19 there are many positions open.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

It is well documented that rotating between days and nights is exceptionally bad for health and definitely impacts not only quality of life but length of life.

See if you can just work straight nights. You will adjust or at least buy yourself a reliable schedule while you look for a different job that is straight days. It's okay to start looking, so do so HARD. I don't love nights but I could do them. Look up here for making them work even when you hate them. But do your best to stop the rotating shifts. If you can't, remind yourself you are looking, do so like its a second job and get out of there.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

7 hours ago, Nurse SMS said:

It is well documented that rotating between days and nights is exceptionally bad for health and definitely impacts not only quality of life but length of life.

See if you can just work straight nights. You will adjust or at least buy yourself a reliable schedule while you look for a different job that is straight days. It's okay to start looking, so do so HARD. I don't love nights but I could do them. Look up here for making them work even when you hate them. But do your best to stop the rotating shifts. If you can't, remind yourself you are looking, do so like its a second job and get out of there.

What the above posters have said about working straight nights. One CAN get used to nights but one can NEVER adjust to rotating shifts. They are barbaric and I thought they went out with the 80's. Pay people a good shift differential for nights and they will come.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

On 7/17/2020 at 6:06 PM, JustAnotherNewGrad24 said:

I am a new nurse with only half a year of experience. I currently work as a staff nurse on an Acute Medicine floor, hired on as day/night rotate. I had a very hard time even getting a job offer anywhere, so when this floor offered, I took the job, knowing very well nobody else would.

So far it has worked out okay, however I've found out that I absolutely cannot work night shifts. I am tired all the time, can't sleep during the day, and lose focus in the middle of the night. I much prefer day shifts, but of course it is so hard to be put on day shifts.

I have made every effort to request day shifts on my schedule, but they keep scheduling me on night shifts, and when I do work a day shift they barely give me a day to readjust my sleep schedule.
When I look at my coworkers and their schedules, nobody else has to do this rigorous rotation schedule of constantly flopping back and forth. I was 1 of 2 new grads hired, and the other new grad that was hired is somehow on straight day shifts, never rotating at all.

I feel they are most likely favoring her because she is pregnant, but I still can't help feeling like a second class citizen that they throw around.

My management team is of course not willing to put me on straight day shifts like I have formally requested before, even though others already are on straight day shifts and never have to rotate like I do. Disclaimer that everybody employed is hired on as "Day/Night Rotate", but people only work days or nights, and do not rotate. I am the only one who bounces back and forth in between days/nights.

I am very seriously considering leaving my job, but I know it will look so bad for me if I leave before its been a year. I emailed my concerns to my manager who was very dismissive and told me what I already know: my management team only cares about having somebody to fill a need on empty slots, not about people's actual wellbeing. I will hit my 1 year mark next January, but I absolutely need to find a job with only day shifts available. I know new grads are expected to work nights and to just suck it up, buttercup. What are you supposed to do if your body physically cannot handle it, though? Worst of all, I try to tell them how exhausting it is and they ignore me, choosing to keep me on night shifts anyway.

I'm sorry you are going through this. No one should have to rotate days and nights. It isn't safe for patients and it's very hard on employees as well. This is well documented. Hospitals that require rotating shifts have a power imbalance that sacrifices patient safety for scheduling convenience.

It sounds like they don't care. If you can make the change by going to occ health as someone else suggested, that's great, but if it doesn't work, I do recommend going to a hospital with a policy that you either work days or nights and not both.

Edited to add:

HR never wants to lose an employee. It's very expensive and time consuming to hire someone new. That having been said, nursing managers will try to get away with a lot. If you start looking elsewhere when you are unhappy, HR will start getting calls for references and they will know you are serious. Let them know what the problem is beforehand, and sometimes they can get you what you need in order to stay. This depends on market and other factors you can't control, but it is a negotiating tool.