Help! Manager won't let me off night shift

[DeLana_RN]

Hi, all,

I requested a transfer to day shift (after 2 day nurses suddenly, unexpectedly quit) 6 weeks ago, and keep getting excuse after excuse why I can't.

It's not a matter of wanting to go to days, it's a matter of needing to! And I told my manager that. I tried working nights, really I did, thinking it would get better with time. But after 6 months it has become crystal clear that I am not cut out for nights. Maybe if I didn't have a family (kids in elementary school) it could work, but I'm just not adjusting to it. I am exhausted on my days off, can't even exercise, gained weight... stay stressed out. What else do they need to know to accept that I can't do nights anymore?!

Maybe, if employees who left in previous months had been promptly replaced, there would now be enough FT staff on nights (one of the excuses I get). But we have PRNs who love nights and can fill in until new hires are trained. Another one is that I don't have enough experience yet to work days (huh?) Etc etc

I've worked nights many years ago and did not have any problem switching to days when I requested it. Have any of you encountered this kind of resistance (without a good reason, really), and how did you deal with it? I understand, of course, that it is much harder to find good help willing to work this awful shift (for me, anyway), but if she doesn't relent soon she'll just have to look for yet another nurse

I don't want to quit, really I don't, but I'm feeling that I'm being forced into it. Why do managers force people to do things they don't want to do (anymore), for legitimate reasons after giving it a decent try (6 months should be enough), and how do you reason with them?

And in case you're wondering why I took a night position, well, it was the only opening available in this speciality I love and I really thought I could do it. No false pretenses or agenda.

Thanks for any info/advice!

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

AS a manager I have have had people come to me with requests that they do not want to share with their colleagues until everything is signed and delivered. these could be the same people that tell every other thing to their workmates but they may not want it discussed or known. You NM may have requests like that. also she may need extra charges. It can often be near impossible for a charge nurse to call in sick when they know that noone wants to act as charge. She also may be "bottom heavy" and have too many junior people already on days and want someone with more experience.

[sauconyrunner]

In this economy, I think you'd be silly to look for a new job. They are hard to come by from what I hear. I'm sure there's someone else who would be THANKFUL for your night position.

YOu might not find a new job, but there is no problem in LOOKING. While someone might be thankful for a nights position, it is not for everyone.

I would look around and see if you can find something on days that you might like to do, if not, hang in there.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

You mentioned that the new night nurse has not started orientation to the floor yet. It may be one of the reasons for the delay. I would make an appointment to meet with your manager right after your shift, or at a time when you are off, and really get some good feedback. If you specifically say that you have been with them for "X" amount of time, that you put your time into nights, that you need to switch to days due to family responsibilities. Should you apply for the open position through HR to expidite the process--, that you understand that there's a delay, is there a timeline? When could you expect to transition, providing that you be considered for a day position? Why or why not? That perhaps once you are in a day positon for some time, you may consider a day charge position. Write down whatever questions you may have, and I would really sit down 1:1 and ask all of these questions. If she says to you that you are a strong night nurse, she wants you to be night charge, then I would say that although you really love the facility, it is not your goal to remain on the night shift. You need to know the process of transitioning to days. If she says that currently you are not being considered for days, even if you were to apply through HR, then at least you will know and can decide how you would like to proceed with that information. And that may be that you apply and get a day position on another floor. Or that you decide to go PRN (and I am not exactly sure I would play that card quite yet, see what she has to say 1:1 with specific questions that will get concrete answers). And I would even say that you are confused by the process, that you are attempting to do what it best for you and your family, and that night shift is becoming non-compatible with those things. I would at least look at what is out there for day shifts, but unless it is PRN, not sure if there is much of much. However, another choice would be school nursing or MD office--something that is all days all the time, until the kids are older.

Let us know how it goes!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I know, that's why I hesitate. There have been a lot of changes, the manager is fairly new to this position (not new to management though). The previous manager did hire even fairly inexperienced nurses directly to days for staff; at the time there were plenty of charge nurses. Now there are several openings on days, and now she tells me she needs to hire FT charge nurses. She did, however, hire PRN staff nurses. So maybe I need to inquire about changing to PRN status?

Why do we all have to play games... I don't like or want to.

Has anyone ever had to give an ultimatum of sorts and it come out "right"?

Yes .......but that was a WAY DIFFERENT economic time.....sigh

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Just to clarify, I don't work in a hospital, it's a small inpatient facility with no other unit to transfer to. Because there are so few nurses, I know them quite well and would be very surprised if any other night nurse wanted days; besides, in previous months there was more than one opportunity to transfer to days, which they could have taken advantage of. I'm reasonably certain I'm the only one.

But I agree with pp, I do need to make an appointment to have a face to face meeting with the manager, not when I'm tired and worn out after working night(s), but during the day when I'm rested and the kids are back in school (school starts soon). I don't think orienting to night charge would help me much to prepare for the day charge position, and because we're so severely short-staffed right now, I'm afraid I would get a "sink or swim" orientation and don't want any part of that.

I don't believe in playing games, and I think our facility has great potential, the new hires have much better attitudes then some of those who left. I have patience (to a point), and don't want to give ultimatums. Pp is correct, nurses' options just a few years ago were much better than today.

Again, thanks so much everyone for the input! I'll keep you posted.

[nursewreched]

I'm trying to imagine my unit keeping something like so-and-so is trying to move to days/nights/swing shift/weekends quiet. Or even so-and-so themselves not talking about it.

Entirely possible. In my unit, the manager has a list of people who want to go to days. No one knows who is on the list, people tell the manager directly to put their names on it. Generally, the manager will tell you how many people are ahead of you at the time you sign up.

That being said, it sounds to me as if a day shift is not coming your way at that facility in the near future. It certainly never hurts to look elsewhere.

[RNforLongTime]

And once a manager gets wind that you are looking elsewhere for a job it could go one of two ways... She'll move you to days or she'll make your life miserable until you're forced to resign..or look for ways to have you fired

[Wonderwopm]

I understand being in a specialty you love it makes the decision very complex. Give your manager a deadline. Consider a reasonable one for yourself and tell him/her it's days or your out. And mean it. You should have no problem with days. Yes it's more sensory but just as busy just a different kind of busy if that makes sense, at least on my floor anyway. Night's require more critical thinking and on days you have to play by the rules more but at least you have the resources to do so. You'll be fine just set a deadline and stick to it or leave. Cornering you to stay is not a place that cares about you or pts

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I understand being in a specialty you love it makes the decision very complex. Give your manager a deadline. Consider a reasonable one for yourself and tell him/her it's days or your out. And mean it. You should have no problem with days. Yes it's more sensory but just as busy just a different kind of busy if that makes sense, at least on my floor anyway. Night's require more critical thinking and on days you have to play by the rules more but at least you have the resources to do so. You'll be fine just set a deadline and stick to it or leave. Cornering you to stay is not a place that cares about you or pts

Welcome! Since this dilemma was posted more than three years ago, hopefully the original poster has resolved the night shift issue by now.

[sharonihum, MSN, RN]

Your health and family are your priority. No more excuses; as a former director and manager & charge nurse, I will confirm the excuses are about what's "best" for the unit which is a leader's priority in most organizations. You have to advocate for your needs and find someone you feel has your best interests as well as those of the department's as priority.

There are nurse leaders who know how to balance the needs of their staff members as well as the needs of the patients and organizations we work in. It's not easy. No position in nursing is easy, but that's also part of the allure and good feeling we have as we give part of ourselves to the needs of others.

Find another position if this current manager will not transfer you to days. If the political situation in your organization prevents this (ex: manager blocking transfer requests), then find another organization. The grass will not be greener at another place, just a different shade of green. Nursing issues are universal, but there are organizations that support its nurses better than others. Since you are young in your field, you have time to find your niche. Let this experience be a learning/growing experience that many of us have had …. night shift is not for everyone … it takes a special breed of nurse to be great at night! Most of us are made for the day. Go out and find your place in the day. I hope it can be in your current unit; if not, you will find a better fit elsewhere. Do not put this off, your health and family need you to advocate for yourself and them!

Be Blessed!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Go interview for another position on days somewhere, leave her name and number as a reference. Maybe when she gets that call she will realize you are serious. Then she can either give you days or lose you. You will get your answer but may not like it.

Brilliant.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Welcome! Since this dilemma was posted more than three years ago, hopefully the original poster has resolved the night shift issue by now.

Some day.. I will learn.