How long before a new grad can successfully transition to day shift from nights?

[beeker]

I want to go to days, I have been out of orientation since April. Some nights I do ok, others I still drown. How long before I will be able to handle the pace of days? I was told when hired it can take 1-2 years to get a day spot, but an unusual situation has occurred they have eliminated the weekend only staff because they got paid more. That caused the regular staff to now have to work every other weekend which is causing a lot of people to leave our floor. The spots are opening in October, at that point I will have 9 months on the floor. Working nights is killing my home life. I feel like I live to work. All I do is work and sleep. I am tired all the time and gaining weight and on my nights off I am lonely and miserable while my husband sleeps. I cant flip back and forth, it messes me up for weeks.

Any new grads gone from nights to days? Any words of wisdom?

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Four months on nights is not a long time. Depending upon the unit, it may be a year or more before a day opportunity comes along. Most units fill day openings based upon seniority. When it happens for you depends upon the number of openings, when they occur and how many people are ahead of you for the opportunity.