Ga Nurses Who Work Nights

AdonaiLoveable · Jun 13, 2006

I got job offers from my top three choice facilities in the unit I wanted to be in a couple of months before graduation, but only night shifts were available for new grads on those units. I wanted a job in an ICU and I think new grads had to go to nights for two main reasons...1) To give people with more seniority the opportunity to be on days and 2) To give us as new grads time to become skilled at caring for such acutely ill patients at a time that might be a little less hectic than days...without also having to contend with family members, lots of procedures that are done during the day, etc.

I know I'm not cut out for night shift long-term, but I think I'll be okay for a while until something opens up on days...just 3 shifts per week...

Adonai

obtech2nurse · Jun 15, 2006

I love to work nights! I have worked nights for several years as an OB tech. I am now during my orientation on days for 12 weeks. I can not wait to go back to nights. I have worked at several hospitals and it seems that people are more helpful and friendly at night. You become friends with your co-workers and everything is a team effort.

Future_RN_Kamaria · Jun 15, 2006

I think when I become a nurse, that I would like to work night shift. I like to be out in the day time. I have time to do my regular "day time" thing...

malarwen · Jun 16, 2006

I think when I become a nurse, that I would like to work night shift. I like to be out in the day time. I have time to do my regular "day time" thing...

I'm afraid that your regular day time thing will become sleeping then.

Drysolong · Jun 29, 2006

I work 11p-7:30a in a L-T-C. It was my first choice preference. I find that I'm able to stay up for a few hours after working and get some things accomplished. I've also tried going straight to be after arriving home and then I'm able to get things done within the few hours before work.

I'd rather be in a hospital setting working 7p-7a 3days per week.

ex1140 · Aug 23, 2006

I work 11p-7:30a in a L-T-C. It was my first choice preference. I find that I'm able to stay up for a few hours after working and get some things accomplished. I've also tried going straight to be after arriving home and then I'm able to get things done within the few hours before work.
I'd rather be in a hospital setting working 7p-7a 3days per week.

Depending on the facility 3 days may not be enough. I thought the same thing 12 hrs a 3 day work week...not necessarily.

Remember there is a shortage of nurses so some facilities will hire you at 12 hr 3 days a week, but if they become really short then they may require you to work more days if you are working full-time.

The very thing happended to me...an extra day was added a week and I found myself working 5 days @ 12hrs, Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat, and Sun twice a month, and it was brutal. This change occurred in March and it was just this month that I requested to change from full-time to per-diem. So I no longer have to worry about that crazy schedule anymore and thank God for that because I was really burned out. I hope to find a good evening position because I have grown tired of working at night.

trixytop4 · Oct 21, 2006

Hello fellow night shift people,

I love night shift I work 12 hour shifts one week 3 days the other 4 days. I dont do weekends and every 6 weeks I take weekend call. I wouldn't change it. Plus guys the pay is more.

bchboy · Oct 22, 2006

I had to work nights to get the position I wanted (Neuro ICU). I did it for four months and I became accustomed to it. I didn't like it too much because the rest of the world was awake and alert while I was sleeping or wishing I was asleep. You may like it, alot do, that's why I was able to get on days after 4 months.

jamangel · Oct 23, 2006

I use to love working nights. right now I'm on a day/night rotation. I use to work 12 hr. nights prior to this job and would most times have 6 days off between my shifts. It was quite lovely. I think I'd like to go back to that.

NurseBunky · Oct 28, 2006

I work at Scottish Rite Hospital and yep I pretty much took what they gave me. I think they start all new grads out on nights b/c it gives us a chance to learn the ropes. We do get orientated on days. I dont like day shift as much. There's way too much going on and it was hard for me to get organized and get my bearings. Nights is a lot better. I work 3 days a week 7p-7a. The only people suffering are my friends, family and my social life but heck I'm off 4 days a week so I have a lot of time to catch up!!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2006

I'm afraid that your regular day time thing will become sleeping then.

Yep, that's the problem some night shift nurses have. They try to be up and about all day long, so as not to "waste" any time, but then they're dead tired all night when they have patients' lives in their hands. Bad idea.