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 just want to throw out there that NOBODY has a perfect life. It doesn't matter what they do - or don't do - for a living, what hours they work or when they sleep. I've been a nurse for 20 years and have had NO choice ever about my hours because of the specialty I'm in. I work rotating 12 hour days and nights with short turnarounds. On my days off I don't have the opportunity to sleep in, I have to be up at 6:45 am to care for my handicapped adult son when my spouse leaves for work. I'm sure this constant flipping from nights to days and back to nights has taken years off my life. There's no point in me complaining about it because it just is what it is. If I want to work as a nurse, I have to work the schedule I'm given. I still find time to participate in my hobbies, meet friends for coffee, spend time with my family and get my laundry done. I do find that I get a little testy though when I hear new nurses complaining about working nights. I don't love night shifts, but somebody has to do it. At least if a person is working the same shift all the time they can have a regular routine and arrange their lives around their work.
It's not that I expected a good schedule as a nurse. It's that I thought I could handle it, and I can't. I went into nursing thinking I would be able to handle the hours and I feel like a schmuck doe thinking that. I deeply regret doing nursing and I deeply regret not waiting it out for a clinic job. I had all these humanistic ideals about being a nurse and now, early on, I am losing those ideals. I just want a normal life where I can sleep at night.
To those criticizing the OP about her saying she'd rather work 7p-7a versus 11p-7a I must say I AGREE with her.
Heck I work normal daytime hours but I'd rather work 3 12's than 5 8's any day. When I get home from an 8 hour shift I still feel like I'm tired and don't want to do anything. I'm most productive when I have the day OFF.
So I (personally) understand where she is coming from with that statement.
Anyway I do think planning out a better schedule may be helpful. And "sleeping pills" don't have to be anything drastic. Try melatonin, a little benadryl even. Also (in addition to my previous recommendations) try listening to "soothing sounds" or look up a sleep relaxation video on YouTube. They try to help you with progressive relaxation which can help.
oh man exactly! After an 8 hour shift, even in the day, I am not exactly bright-eyed, bushy tailed, and peppy. At night I am a zombie and in the day I am just tired. Why not be a little more tired 3
times a week and get 4 days off to catch up? Having 15 calendar days straight at work--even if you get 24 hour periods off in between, takes its toll.
It's not that I expected a good schedule as a nurse. It's that I thought I could handle it, and I can't. I went into nursing thinking I would be able to handle the hours and I feel like a schmuck doe thinking that. I deeply regret doing nursing and I deeply regret not waiting it out for a clinic job. I had all these humanistic ideals about being a nurse and now, early on, I am losing those ideals. I just want a normal life where I can sleep at night.
And that's going to be hard to find in nursing if you want to work in a hospital. Most new hires start on nights. That's just how it is. Hospitals are 24/7 and low man on the totem pole gets night shift.
Specializes in Cardiovascular Progresive Care Unit.
You can do it! As I mentioned in my previous post, most of my friends that started on nights (new grads) are on day/evening shift now.... And they didn't have to wait whole year :)
I really can't imagine working 5 nights a week! I worked 0.8FTE evening shift and I felt like it's too much lol I can't imagine working full time 8 hrs shifts!!!! Soon I am starting new position on nights, mix of 8 and 12 hr shifts. I will work 7 days on 7 days off. I am happy with it. I am born night owl :) I HATE mornings since I was a kid and for me it's criminal if I have to wake up @6AM (even when I will go to bed @9PM). I need to sleep 9 hours and I don't wake up before 9:30 AM. Sleeping until 10AM is not unusual in my life I tried once mornings working as a nursing assistant and I hated it... deeply hated it. So I really understand how you feel not feeling unhappy working nights.
I agree, with 4 months, doesn't look so good, but at 6 months if you're absolutely miserable, losing or gaining excessive weight, or something along those lines, and are just completely unhappy at all times, quitting may be for the best. I mean, it's not career suicide to quit early. It just may be harder to find a job and may take longer than it would a new grad. I can't imagine someone NEVER getting a job because they left their first job early, honestly. It's just a risk i wouldn't be willing to take bc i need money now and I'm the type where if i don't use it, i lose it, lol, that's all.
Mrs.ICURN, I am also precepting into ICU! I'm 5 days in! My orientation is 3 months. After that i'm on my own, but I have a designated resource person, which i'm sure i'll be going to a lot. I'm very curious, what do they have you doing? Are you on your own taking care of patients? I really want to know what kind of assistance you are getting from your preceptor at 1 month. how many patients do you have (i know it's up to 2, 3 tops but when you have experience..do u have 1 or 2).
Questions! lol
So far, the first 4 days, I kind of followed my preceptor and did a few skills here and there, passed meds. On the 5th day, I took care of a patient. He wasn't high maintenance and was much better than he was on day 1, so it wasn't much. I consulted with the RN as necessary. She helped me a bit, and probably popped in the room to do her own assessment or whatever..
I've been on my own off orientation since September 1. Our ratio is a strict 2:1 because we are a level I and have very high acuity.
At the beginning of orientation I was responsible for one main patient, then for the last month they expected me to be responsible for 2 to get me ready to be on my own.
I personally don't feel like 8 weeks of orientation is enough for the ICU, but that's all I got.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
It's not that I expected a good schedule as a nurse. It's that I thought I could handle it, and I can't. I went into nursing thinking I would be able to handle the hours and I feel like a schmuck doe thinking that. I deeply regret doing nursing and I deeply regret not waiting it out for a clinic job. I had all these humanistic ideals about being a nurse and now, early on, I am losing those ideals. I just want a normal life where I can sleep at night.
I think a lot of people go into nursing without fully realizing what will be required of them once they're in the work force. They want to "help people" and see nursing as something that will meet that need in themselves. They've never been in hospital, haven't spent any time with family members in hospital or long term care, don't know any nurses and haven't heard much about what nurses really do. The two nurses who were infected with Ebola may be changing the public's understanding of what it means to work as a nurse - providing highly-skilled and intimate care to people at their most vulnerable, risking our own health and well-being while we're doing it. But the message will still be blurred by such other competing messages as Grey's Anatomy where nurses aren't really visible, although we're the largest group of health care providers and are the ones doing the largest percentage of care provision.
I hear a lot of chatter in our break room about being told in school that nursing is such a flexible career and that having that shiny new degree is the key to a wonderful new life. Nursing may be a "flexible career", but the JOB of nursing isn't at all flexible. Inpatient care demands a minimum number of nurses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Newly graduated nurses, regardless of whether they're diploma, associate or full degree educated, are not going to walk out of school and into management, educator, research or clinic positions (the ones that have regular 8-4 hours). Each of these positions demand a certain amount of experience at basic patient care and that can't easily be obtained without working some nights. Had you held out for a clinic job, I'm afraid you probably would still be waiting.
Having said that, it rankles a bit when new staff nurses make no effort to conceal their contempt for those of us who choose to provide direct patient care, as if we're somehow inferior beings because we haven't striven for a higher calling like management, educator, research nurse or clinic nurse. Those are the nurses who eat lunch with us in the break room and say things like, "I'm just putting in time here until I can get a 'real' job. This was my foot in the door and now that I can put this job on my resume I'm headed for bigger better things." I'm not getting that vibe from you, OP. What I'm hearing is that you were idealistic and didn't really understand what you were getting yourself into. I also think you have a more realistic grasp of the uphill struggle you're in for while looking for that 8-4 position than you did when you created this thread. If you really feel that you made a mistake becoming a nurse, it's not too late to get out. You might be able to put your skills and education to work in another field that will give you the regular hours and sleep you crave.
I think a lot of people go into nursing without fully realizing what will be required of them once they're in the work force. They want to "help people" and see nursing as something that will meet that need in themselves. They've never been in hospital, haven't spent any time with family members in hospital or long term care, don't know any nurses and haven't heard much about what nurses really do. The two nurses who were infected with Ebola may be changing the public's understanding of what it means to work as a nurse - providing highly-skilled and intimate care to people at their most vulnerable, risking our own health and well-being while we're doing it. But the message will still be blurred by such other competing messages as Grey's Anatomy where nurses aren't really visible, although we're the largest group of health care providers and are the ones doing the largest percentage of care provision.
I hear a lot of chatter in our break room about being told in school that nursing is such a flexible career and that having that shiny new degree is the key to a wonderful new life. Nursing may be a "flexible career", but the JOB of nursing isn't at all flexible. Inpatient care demands a minimum number of nurses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Newly graduated nurses, regardless of whether they're diploma, associate or full degree educated, are not going to walk out of school and into management, educator, research or clinic positions (the ones that have regular 8-4 hours). Each of these positions demand a certain amount of experience at basic patient care and that can't easily be obtained without working some nights. Had you held out for a clinic job, I'm afraid you probably would still be waiting.
Having said that, it rankles a bit when new staff nurses make no effort to conceal their contempt for those of us who choose to provide direct patient care, as if we're somehow inferior beings because we haven't striven for a higher calling like management, educator, research nurse or clinic nurse. Those are the nurses who eat lunch with us in the break room and say things like, "I'm just putting in time here until I can get a 'real' job. This was my foot in the door and now that I can put this job on my resume I'm headed for bigger better things." I'm not getting that vibe from you, OP. What I'm hearing is that you were idealistic and didn't really understand what you were getting yourself into. I also think you have a more realistic grasp of the uphill struggle you're in for while looking for that 8-4 position than you did when you created this thread. If you really feel that you made a mistake becoming a nurse, it's not too late to get out. You might be able to put your skills and education to work in another field that will give you the regular hours and sleep you crave.
I responded to this very angrily because I thought you were accusing me of being a naive person who thought I would not do nights and that I think nursing is below me. I actually read through it and see you are not being accusatory so I deleted the comments, sorry, never mind.
To the OP, although some people are being "harsh", they're trying to put things into perspective. You are your own person, do what you want, but be advised you MAY not find a job right away if you say you only worked for 4 months. MAYBE if you didn't say anything they would take you in as a new grad, but ...lying MIGHT come back to haunt you.
I moved 3.5 hours away from my friends, my family, and so far am having what I think is a pretty tough transition into the role of being an RN in an ICU fresh out of school. I would never come on here and complain because I already know what the answer is...common sense and knowing what the job market is like should tell you the answer.
5 night shifts in a row is very hard and you are not lazy or anything for not wanting to do this. It's not a natural shift and not everyone can actually physically do it. Infact it makes some people physically sick. There are always other shifts and other employers will understand. 3 shifts are hard enough.
To the OP, although some people are being "harsh", they're trying to put things into perspective. You are your own person, do what you want, but be advised you MAY not find a job right away if you say you only worked for 4 months. MAYBE if you didn't say anything they would take you in as a new grad, but ...lying MIGHT come back to haunt you.
I moved 3.5 hours away from my friends, my family, and so far am having what I think is a pretty tough transition into the role of being an RN in an ICU fresh out of school. I would never come on here and complain because I already know what the answer is...common sense and knowing what the job market is like should tell you the answer.
I would not lie. I would be honest and upfront. I don't want to write out an example on here, but I would make it very clear that I liked my job, and that while I thought I could adjust to the hours, I simply could not.
Also, about the job market....I thought I was going to be unemployed for life thanks to reading the online nursing forums. I never worked as a CNA or anything. I got this job offer about 2 weeks out of school, and then I got 5 interviews in addition to that...all of which I turned down because I had a job offer. I thought no one would want me, and somehow about 20% of the places I applied to wanted me. 2 nurse managers in addition to that called me and told me to let them know after I pass my boards. I applied all over my state, within about a 100 mile radius, so not all of these jobs were next door, but I was so desperate and afraid for nothing. There are jobs out there. I know with a blot of quitting after 4 months, I will have a harder time, but if I had such "luck" with my other interviews, chances are I will get at least one or two.
Anyway, I am feeling less depressed right now so I don't plan to quit anytime yet. I will stay for as long as I can.
I tried once mornings working as a nursing assistant and I hated it... deeply hated it. So I really understand how you feel not feeling unhappy working nights.
Nonetheless
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Beyoncé is also fabulously wealthy, a singer, and gets to sleep every night.