Straight nights or day/nt rotation for new grad w/ kids

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi there! I am a new grad seeking opinions from nurses who have experience with day/night rotation vs straight nights. I see pros and cons w/ each. The rotating would be two weeks days/two weeks nights. This is a large teaching institution. I have two boys ages 8 and 10. Hubby works days. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated! TIA.

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One important thing to realize is that some of our bodies just can't take it. I personally had serious issues adjusting to a night shift job and had to quit, and I have no kids.

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I would think that the straight nights would be easier on maintaining a family schedule since it is more consistent.

I'm still a student that works as an extern and I work a combo of evening and nights (and occasionally day shifts) and it is the flopping back and forth that messes me up. It's hard. I can't imagine doing that with kids.

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm in the same situation. I have to rotate while training, but after that I think thath going onto straight nights might be easier. I guess I'm going to play with my schedule a bit and figure out what works best for myself and my family in the end.

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Specializes in rehab.

I found that straight nights is easier then rotating because then your body can get used to it. Rotating you have to readjust your sleeping schedule every time, and it gets hard. But then again it depends on how you can take that type of changing!

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I'd pick straight nights. I hate rotating.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I work full time nights and have my kids half the week so I always switch every week. If you can reliably sleep every day then nights might work. But what about weekends? If you have the option, the two weeks days then two weeks nights would at least give you less time trying to fit into your family's life versus full time nights. Good luck!

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Rotating is very hard on the body. I think straight nights are much better.

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I agree that rotating shifts is the pits. You always feel tired. When my kids were the age of yours, I worked a lot of nights. I got in the habit of going to sleep as soon as I got home in the morning and slept all day when the kids were in school. Then I got up around 3 PM so I had the whole evening with them. Then went to work. It worked for me but you have to discipline yourself to get into that type of sleep pattern. Good Luck and Congratulations. :nurse:

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

I think you will be exhausted with a rotating schedule ....your body will not know if it is coming or going. I say straight nights is the way to go for your health and quality of your life.

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I'm a new grad myself with two school age kids, and I'm going to nights in a few weeks. The pros of nights (for me) is shift differential (extra $400is a month), plus it saves me at least $300 in before and after school child care which I needed when working days. I think I will be able to see my kids more than I would working days, because I am gone before the get up in the morning and see them for *maybe* 30 minutes each evening before they go to bed.

Just a few of the pros I've listed to convince myself that lack of sleep is a good idea :lol2:

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I'm not a nurse yet, but agree with everyone saying rotating would be hard.

What do people do when the kids aren't in school yet and they work nights? I guess daycare or MDO programs?

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