I don't want night shifts

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I know this may be impossible but I'm going to try to avoid night shifts. I hate working nights. I don't care if they pay me more. Am I the only one that feels this way?

Once I got used to being up all night, I loved it..still love it. Its so much quieter and chill. Plus my hospitals shift diffs are great. $5 night diff.$10 weekend diff. So night weekends which is fri night through mon morning is $15/hr. Sign me up :)

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Most nursing jobs in my area are hiring for night shift...it's hard to get a daytime position

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Specializes in APRN, ACNP-BC, CNOR, RNFA.
All the cool people work nights. Just sayin'.....

I like the way you think!

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Oh my gosh Lord help my poor patients if that's all I'm able to find. I'd be concerned I'd be a liability. If its all I have on the table I'd be shooting five hour energy drinks beforehand. We shall see.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Oh my gosh Lord help my poor patients if that's all I'm able to find. I'd be concerned I'd be a liability. If its all I have on the table I'd be shooting five hour energy drinks beforehand. We shall see.

Carly, there are ways to structure you life and your sleep/wake cycle to help you adapt. Search the threads - you'll find lots of information an how we do it. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and DO IT.

But if you go in with the attitude that it will be horrible and you'll NEVER adapt, then guess what? It will be horrible and you'll never adapt.

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I'm assuming the response to 'Carly' was to me, Carley. I'm fully aware our bodies our adaptable and there are methods to do so and never stated otherwise nor did I state I wouldn't take a night shift job. I believe in doing everything with a good attitude. I'm sorry for the confusion.

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I agree with not liking the idea of night shifts. It would be very difficult to structure my life around them given my life is structured around my kids. Once they are in school it would be manageable though

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I agree with not liking the idea of night shifts. It would be very difficult to structure my life around them given my life is structured around my kids. Once they are in school it would be manageable though

*** Strange since you have chosen a career that pretty much guarantees that you will have to work nights. Especially if you want that acute care experience. I am sure you will manage since thousands of others in the same boat have and are doing so

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People told my husband the same and he has never worked a night shift. If I end up not being able to find a job that doesn't require nightshifts then I just won't work until my kids are all in school. I don't want to manage with my children, I want to do what is best for them and my patients, since I would obviously be overly tired.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

*** Strange since you have chosen a career that pretty much guarantees that you will have to work nights. Especially if you want that acute care experience. I am sure you will manage since thousands of others in the same boat have and are doing so

^ this...

There is NO guarantee that one is going to not be on nights, even if one knows someone who didn't start out in night shift...each scenario and nursing life is different.

I ENJOY rotating shifts...I'm more of a "shift" sleeper; even as a child, I had difficulty sleeping at night.

When I work nights, and have to transition to days, I make sure that I stay up 8/12 hours I would be at work, and get one nap in, then switch to night sleeping, and vice versa for nights to day.

Some people are not able to do nights...However, if one is adamant in not doing it, I don't know what they are going to do...I know if it is such a deal breaker, in this market, one may have to rethink a few options, I'm just saying...

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
People told my husband the same and he has never worked a night shift.

*** The exception doesn't make the rule.

If I end up not being able to find a job that doesn't require nightshifts then I just won't work until my kids are all in school.
I

***Certainly one option. However it likely would be very bad for your career since you would be neither a new grad nor have any experience.

don't want to manage with my children, I want to do what is best for them and my patients,

*** Yes I understand. I am just saying that you might consider a different career rather than just hoping you will get lucky and be the exception to the rule if it's that important to you.

since I would obviously be overly tired.

*** We can ALL be overly tired working night shift. Lot's of us would like to get off nights but it's more difficult with all the newer nurses insisting on days only.

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I have a couple of nurse friends who have graduated and started on nights. They seem to enjoy it, and say they think it is less hectic to start on night shift rather than day shift. I have no clue obviously, but this is just what I hear. Many of them have young kids and say it is nice that they are at work while the kids sleep, and sleep while the kids are at school.

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