Help me decide! Please!

NeosynephRN · Apr 2, 2008

Personally I would go days. Because I do nights now, and I cannot imagine driving 45 minutes after working all night. Dang I drive like 5, and have a hard time some mornings. Good Luck!!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

me personally. i cant stand working during the week . i think if i was faced with working days next door to my home or working w/e in another state...id book the plane ride. especially night weekends..whhhooo now thats my kinda thing. i do day shift weekends work 32 get paid for 40 and works great for me....

is this in a ltc or hospital?

Perpetual Student · Apr 2, 2008

I would probably take the nights. The only thing that makes me go hmm is the driving times. I'd have to consider the nature of the roads before making a decision.

chenoaspirit, ASN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

Both are on a med/surg floor. If the weekend job was days, it would be an easy decision. I have worked nights for 3 years (3 nights/week) and the way Im scheduled is killing me....one on, one off, one on, two off, two on, one off, etc. So, I dont know how working 2 in a row would feel like and if I could manage a normal day life during the week. Im so confused!

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

I just can't do nights!

chenoaspirit, ASN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

Oh, Im going on days at my current job in 3 weeks. Thanks for all your replies. I have to decide today.

Wendy_RN · Apr 2, 2008

Only you know what schedule will suit you and your family best. Personally, I would take the day shift job and not think twice. I like to have more of a "normal" schedule. I know that working every weekend would be miserable for me. Some people would have a totally opposite opinion which is good because all of the shifts have to be covered. Just determine what will suit your needs the best. My last job was a 45 minute drive in heavy traffic. I absolutely hated it! The shifts are long enough without adding another 1 1/2 - 2 hours onto your day for travel time. Another factor with that is the rising cost of gas. I have a SUV so the difference in distance would have merit in my decision.

Agnus · Apr 2, 2008

When I am on nights you betterschedule me all my nights in a row or I will NOT do it. The only way I can have any semblance of a life or a reasonable sleep pattern on nights is to group my nights together.

Even on days I do NOT know anyone who does not complain loudly it they are on every other day. THis is not reasonable. On very rare occasions ok. but not a regular basis.

ON nights it will literally kill you and there is no reason for it.

interleukin · Apr 2, 2008

I firmly believe that any nurse working nights should get at least a 35% bonus.

Hospitals execs have been getting away with murder with the night shift. They pay a small premium and you screw up your life. Night shift work literally decreases your life span and, if not in row, the on-off, day-night thing pummels the immune system.

Of course, some nurse love it and more power to them.

But ALL night nurses should be put on padded pedestals for the sacrifices they make for the hospital.

Me, I'd sooner chop off an ear than deal with that 3 am nausea-- your body's way of saying, "What the hell are you doing to me!"

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

Days, and I say this primarily because of the commute. By the time you get home from your first shift and settle down to sleep, there is no way you'll get eight hours in time to get up and ready for the commute to the next shift.

I wish you the best!

chenoaspirit, ASN, RN · Apr 3, 2008

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice. I am going to take the day shift position. I am just upset with my manager because of the way she schedules me. I had a meeting with her concerning working 3 in a row, her comment was "I'll try". Working nights, I needed them in a row. But she never did and did schedule others 3 in a row who actualy wanted the every other day thing. But I'll just sit on that and see how this goes. Thanks everyone!