Hate my schedule...office or hospital

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I am a new grad. working in ICU. I hate my schedule, I work nights (3 12's), I feel like such a zombie. I am going to be married soon and hope to begin a family, I just can't imagine functioning much longer on this schedule. I was thinking about looking into an office job. If I work in a doc. office, at least it will be mon-fri. no weekend or holidays, but then I would be working more hours and making less money. Also...does anyone work 2 prn jobs or part time jobs instead of one full time job? How does that work out for you. Help...I dont know what to do.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I went agency nursing and now set my own schedules and types of places I work! I love it!

It is a bit scary at first, but I have gotten use to switching from different floors and certain hospital paperwork/duties..and well, I love the flexibility and choices over my own workday!

It also helps me to schedule things for my kids and hubby! Since I now work only 3-4 days a week (my salary also increased substantially..now I don't have to work as many hours if I don't want to!) it opens my schedule up for other things!

In addition, if I do not like a facility I just don't choose to work there anymore...I don't have to go through quitting...I just say I don't wish to work there anymore and it is taken off my list of places I wish to work...and I can always return later if I choose! The flexilbity is awesome!

You may want to check that out...I know that specility fields such as ICU get paid much more an hour than I do (I am doing med surge for now to get my skills back up since working in LTC for 3 years).

PS I don't work weekends and holidays if I don't want to...but it is 5-7 bucks more (dependant on shift and facility) an hour if I so choose to work them (like times I need a little extra money :) ).

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I've worked in doctors' offices at times. If you do this, you will get paid much less and not very good benefits.

If you can make it on a salary for an office nurse, then go for it. It is less demanding than working in the hospital. If you really need money to support yourself or a family, you'll will not be happy with the salary.

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Hi there, how I envy you 3/12hours---- I just really enjoy having 4 days off esp when I can schedule them in a row. Anyway if you chose to stay in a hospital and really want to work mon-fri 7a-3:30p check out the operating room. I don't know what your interest are (nursingwise) but this may work out for you. PS the OR does require a longer orientation than ICU but you will make the same maybe even more than your current unit 72/80 hours PP. Just a suggestion

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I am a new grad. working in ICU. I hate my schedule, I work nights (3 12's), I feel like such a zombie. I am going to be married soon and hope to begin a family, I just can't imagine functioning much longer on this schedule. I was thinking about looking into an office job. If I work in a doc. office, at least it will be mon-fri. no weekend or holidays, but then I would be working more hours and making less money. Also...does anyone work 2 prn jobs or part time jobs instead of one full time job? How does that work out for you. Help...I dont know what to do.

If you hate nights so bad, can't you put in for a transfer to day shift? :rolleyes:

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I think working days would actually be the best thing. As a new grad, going to work agency will be entriely stressful and may actually get you a bad reputation at many different places. Most agency nurses are super, but they usually have at least one solid year behind them.

What about trying days, or even trying 8 hr shifts if they allow it. I work ED and we have all sorts of crazy shifts available. I've worked 4 hr 6 hr 8 hr and 12. the 4 hr shifts are like a holiday, and 8's are similar to me, I feel as if I have barely worked at all...

Good Luck. If you are enjoying the ICU, I think you will find a physicians office not quite as interesting...it gets very nusy but in a very different way.

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I work 2-12's on Saturdays and Sunday's. Had to decide what was more important at this time...my education or having weekends off...

Personally, a home and food come to the top, along with education....so I had to do what I had to do....

Good Luck in finding what you can do!

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Specializes in ICU.

I agree with webb. Try to switch to a day shift. If that's not possible go to another hospital. I wouldn't agree with going to a doc's office, because there is less money and you get less experience. Being an ICU nurse will give you so much experience. Let us know how it goes. Good luck to you.

:) Ketcia:)

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Specializes in Home Health, Primary Care.

I'm actually in the same situation as OP. I work in the CTU. I also hate the 12 hour shifts and I hate nights. RN for 6 months. I'm with those that say that since you're in ICU. a doctor's office may be boring. Agency is for those with more experience. I'm with Hondurena about OR nursing. You'll have 8-hr shifts and you won't lose in salary. I'm actually checking out OR programs in my area. Based on my personality and the technical person I am, I think OR nursing would be a better fit for me anyhow. Maybe you should give it some thought. Good Luck!

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I'm not there yet but I might be in the same situation in a couple of months. I am a new grad nurse. I have explained my situation (got a kid, single mother) to my manager (she is understanding) but for some reason the nurse supervisor is insisting on putting me on nights I have about a couple of weeks before I am officially put on nights but I have started to look for other places. I am not about to be pushed into something I don't want to do. I have done many sacrifices through nursing school, I am willing to sacrifice through my career as a nurse, I'm willing to work holidays even x-mas but leaving a kid alone at night is not one of them. Besides I'm sick and tired of being pushed around just because you are new.

So good luck and try to request days if not, start looking for something new and insist on having the day shift as part of signing on. Alot of hospitals try to be very shady when it comes to what shift you will be working until you get on the floor.

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I'm not there yet but I might be in the same situation in a couple of months. I am a new grad nurse. I have explained my situation (got a kid, single mother) to my manager (she is understanding) but for some reason the nurse supervisor is insisting on putting me on nights I have about a couple of weeks before I am officially put on nights but I have started to look for other places. I am not about to be pushed into something I don't want to do. I have done many sacrifices through nursing school, I am willing to sacrifice through my career as a nurse, I'm willing to work holidays even x-mas but leaving a kid alone at night is not one of them. Besides I'm sick and tired of being pushed around just because you are new.

So good luck and try to request days if not, start looking for something new and insist on having the day shift as part of signing on. Alot of hospitals try to be very shady when it comes to what shift you will be working until you get on the floor.

But if she has already done nights for awhile, a transfer to days may not really be that impossible. I worked night shift for 3 months and than transfered to day shift.

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THanks for all the advice! I need to do some serious thinking:cool:

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