I want to quit 4 months in

Hi AN,

I am getting burned out of my job and I am only 4 months in. I work 11pm - 7:30am night shift 5 nights a week and I don't think I can take it anymore. I actually like my job and I like my coworkers, but staying up all night so often is hurting my well-being. I get 6-8 hours of sleep per day but I am still tired all the time. I never have time to cook or clean and I constantly feel nauseous and fed up. I want to quit now.

I know that quitting with 4 months of experience looks really really bad. But I can't take working nights anymore. Every day before I go to work, I want to quit because I never have time, never have energy, and am tired. I don't think I can manage a year. I know no one wants to hire someone who quit after 4 months, so I may just leave nursing entirely.

EDIT: I can't exactly job hunt now, as my schedule is too messy to allow for me to go to a job interview

I'm very sorry you are having trouble. Night shift isn't for everyone. Have you talked to your manager about this? Is there a possibility for you to go to days even part-time or PRN while you look for another job?

I assume your statement that you have no room in your schedule to go to interviews is due to personal and family obligations. Otherwise there is no reason you couldn't squeeze in an interview even if it means sacrificing some sleep for one day. Heck, call off if you need to.

You have to do what you need to do for you. Hopefully things work out for you.

[luthien.rn]

Did you try to transfer on day shift? On my unit there are new grads that switch for days after six months working nights. Also, you can consider going per diem. That will allow you work your own schedule.

I'm very sorry you are having trouble. Night shift isn't for everyone. Have you talked to your manager about this? Is there a possibility for you to go to days even part-time or PRN while you look for another job?

I assume your statement that you have no room in your schedule to go to interviews is due to personal and family obligations. Otherwise there is no reason you couldn't squeeze in an interview even if it means sacrificing some sleep for one day. Heck, call off if you need to.

You have to do what you need to do for you. Hopefully things work out for you.

I am going to talk to my manager soon, but I am nervous she will think I am lazy or tell me that I have no other option.

I have no room in my schedule because I basically work 5 days a week and my off days are not really days off since I finish the morning of one day and then start the night of the next day.

I cannot afford to pay rent working per diem at my job, but I can move in with my parents and then find a different per diem job.

Did you try to transfer on day shift? On my unit there are new grads that switch for days after six months working nights. Also, you can consider going per diem. That will allow you work your own schedule.

I am going to talk to my manager but I am scared she will say it's not a possibility or that I am lazy for wanting to do nights, or that I have to pay my dues for a year or two first.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

EDIT: I can't exactly job hunt now, as my schedule is too messy to allow for me to go to a job interview

When I worked the 11pm-7am shift, I was awake during the day to take care of business (appointments, shopping, job hunting, health club) and slept during the early afternoon and evening hours (1pm to 9pm). With a few schedule alterations, I'm sure you could fit in some time to schedule interviews.

Good luck to you. Working five night shifts per week is a bleak existence to some people, but total unemployment is even bleaker.

When I worked the 11pm-7am shift, I was awake during the day to take care of business (appointments, shopping, job hunting, health club) and slept during the early afternoon and evening hours (1pm to 9pm). With a few schedule alterations, I'm sure you could fit in some time to schedule interviews.

Good luck to you. Working five night shifts per week is a bleak existence to some people, but total unemployment is even bleaker.

My sleep schedule is not like that at all I sleep from 9-3pm then from 7-9pm. I wish I could easily sleep 8 hours straight in the day but I can't.

Being unemployed would not be bleak for me, albeit depressing. I would be able to live with my parents and take some community college classes and try to further my education while searching for another job. I am more concerned about leaving after a few months instead of staying a full year.

[luthien.rn]

I am going to talk to my manager but I am scared she will say it's not a possibility or that I am lazy for wanting to do nights, or that I have to pay my dues for a year or two first.

You can ask her when you will be eligible for different shift on your unit? If you are doing 8hr shifts evenings are good too. You can also go part time. If I would be you, I would stick with this job until you find something else. Remember, it is temporary and if you will be patient something will come your way :)

You can ask her when you will be eligible for different shift on your unit? If you are doing 8hr shifts evenings are good too. You can also go part time. If I would be you, I would stick with this job until you find something else. Remember, it is temporary and if you will be patient something will come your way :)

i will try to stick to it, but every inch of my being is screaming "quit now!" I can't job hunt very well when I am always sleeping in the day and working all night.

[ladyvp05]

Do you have kids or something that is keeping you from sleeping and job hunting? If not, I don't understand how you don't have time. You have your whole day. Honestly, it sounds like you have your mind made up. Talk to you manager, find another job, but don't just quit nursing completely. Nursing school is too much hard work and time just for you to give up. I could understand if you just hated nursing, then I would say screw it, quit and find another career. However, you are going to quit nursing completely over a shift you don't like. Think about those blood, sweat, and tears in nursing school. Hang in there.

Do you have kids or something that is keeping you from sleeping and job hunting? If not, I don't understand how you don't have time. You have your whole day. Honestly, it sounds like you have your mind made up. Talk to you manager, find another job, but don't just quit nursing completely. Nursing school is too much hard work and time just for you to give up. I could understand if you just hated nursing, then I would say screw it, quit and find another career. However, you are going to quit nursing completely over a shift you don't like. Think about those blood, sweat, and tears in nursing school. Hang in there.

no, I don't have a family. But I don't feel safe staying up all night to do a night shift, going home, dressing up for a job interview, going to the job interview, coming back home in the afternoon, then sleeping a few hours in the day then going to work again. Some people have no problems doing this and they are the types of people who can do night shift work. Doing that would result in me getting into a car accident or being so tired at work that I make a careless mistake.

i worked hard for my degree and that makes me bitter, which is no good at all.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

My problem on night shift is I can't stay asleep long enough during the day or in don't feel I get into a deep enough sleep. I got a script for trazadone which helped tremendously.

[ocean.baby]

Not everyone can work night shift, regardless of how hard they try to make it work. Do not worry about your manager thinking poorly of you. Just tell her you have been unable to get quality sleep in the day.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

I don't mean to sound harsh but, you have 16 hours per day to sleep and get things done. Get blackout curtains, a sleeping mask and a sleep aid and do what you have to do. You are being short sighted. Ask if you can switch to another shift but for Gods sake don't quit your job or career because you haven't acclimated yourself to working nights yet. Part of the problem may be that you are working 8 hr shift so five days a week sounds awful.

I feel similar to you--I also work 5 nights/week, sometimes 6-7 depending on how they make the schedule. It's a miserable schedule. And yes, I've gone to interviews and even took a continuing education class after my shift although I was really exhausted afterwards. It's not easy at all for me, but doable. I don't see a problem if you ask to switch to day shift if you just can't physically handle nights. The manager should understand that nights is not for everyone. If you can afford to do it, you can even try switching to part time or per diem nights if they don't want to give you days. That way you'll have more time off, can sleep a normal schedule and job hunt. Just don't quit. Especially if you like the job and the coworkers. It will only make it harder to get a job. I have almost a year experience as of now and I am still having such a hard time even getting interviews. I'm trying to get into acute care and am currently working subacute so that's likely why. Maybe you'll have an easier time but I still wouldn't quit if you're a new grad.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

Hoorah for those who petition for 8 hour shifts in nursing. Getting up every day, driving to work 5 days, burning gas money to travel the same distance for an extra 2-3 days...I want nothing to do what that. If you were working 3 -12's it would leave you with 4 days to recoup and feel normal.

My problem on night shift is I can't stay asleep long enough during the day or in don't feel I get into a deep enough sleep. I got a script for trazadone which helped tremendously.

I sleep deeply in the day but I have to devote my whole day to sleep and rest. I can't go out to the grocery store or do too much cooking and cleaning because I am pooped all day

Hoorah for those who petition for 8 hour shifts in nursing. Getting up every day, driving to work 5 days, burning gas money to travel the same distance for an extra 2-3 days...I want nothing to do what that. If you were working 3 -12's it would leave you with 4 days to recoup and feel normal.

amen

I agree