Is it worth it?

[LibraNurse27]

Hi all, Hoping to get some advice from those who work nights. I am hoping to leave my current job or go PRN because of the lack of response from upper management regarding verbal/physical abuse on nurses by patients. I have an interview for a different hospital, considered "prestigious" and some of the best pay here in Bay Area. The post was for day shift, but manager said someone from nights may be taking the day position and then I would be interviewing for nights.

I have worked nights for short stints to cover people and it really exacerbates the symptoms of my bipolar disorder due to changes in circadian rhythms. I have many more manic/depressive episodes working nights, and trouble sleeping in the day. I'm thinking of taking the night position if I get the offer because I want a foot in the door, maybe do it for a year and try to go to days or another unit day position. Does this sound like a good plan? If so, any tips on surviving nights if you're not a night person? thanks!!

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

If you are offered the night position and truly know from experience you just can't function on that shift respectfully decline the offer.

If however you think you can manage those hours after your body adjusts to the schedule it might be worth a shot as long as the position offered is truly nights. Where I live not a single hospital offers straight nights anymore. Every single posting outside of a few specialties requires rotating shifts, either AM/PM or AM/NOC and I can't imagine a more unforgiving schedule to the human body that an AM/NOC rotation. 

In most circumstances I'd have just stuck with the turn it down if offered nights group but I kind of changed my mind when I noticed where you live. The bay area is a notoriously tight job market and if this is a place you know you want to work it just might be worth a try. The downside of course is because it is such a notoriously tight job market will you have any difficulty securing another job if you try it and find it doesn't work for your mental health?  Is that a risk you feel comfortable taking?

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

13 hours ago, kbrn2002 said:

If you are offered the night position and truly know from experience you just can't function on that shift respectfully decline the offer.

If however you think you can manage those hours after your body adjusts to the schedule it might be worth a shot as long as the position offered is truly nights. Where I live not a single hospital offers straight nights anymore. Every single posting outside of a few specialties requires rotating shifts, either AM/PM or AM/NOC and I can't imagine a more unforgiving schedule to the human body that an AM/NOC rotation. 

In most circumstances I'd have just stuck with the turn it down if offered nights group but I kind of changed my mind when I noticed where you live. The bay area is a notoriously tight job market and if this is a place you know you want to work it just might be worth a try. The downside of course is because it is such a notoriously tight job market will you have any difficulty securing another job if you try it and find it doesn't work for your mental health?  Is that a risk you feel comfortable taking?

Good point about Bay Area job market! It seems after 7 years I finally don't have difficulty getting interviews! LOL it can be rough out here, upside is the ratios and pay, downside tight job market, high cost of living, and terrible traffic