love my job hate the hours

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · May 26, 2010

You name the schedule, I have worked it, and I must say that straight evenings was my least favorite! (I even prefer straight 11p-7a).

I wish I knew what to tell you, because it is very difficult to find an enjoyable job. I guess you need to figure out what is most important to you.

Is there any option of working a rotating schedule, or swapping hours with people so you have longer days at work but more days off? If you really like the job there must be some way to figure it out for the better!

Sorry I don't have better advice. I do understand exactly what you are dealing with in terms of having "no life" with this schedule!

Wish you the best, and keep us updated!

sslickerson · May 26, 2010

I think the bottom line is this: always do what is best for you no matter what. However; that doesn't mean quit immediately just to alleviate the "bad" feelings that this job has given you. You must stick this out but you must also start looking for a new job immediately.

I think it's very important to remember that you owe nothing to your job or the people you work with or for. Always put yourself first but do it in a matter where you are truly watching out for yourself (that is to say you need a paycheck more than you need to quit).

Hang in there but start applying elsewhere. The instant an opportunity presents itself take it. There is no reason to give a 2 week notice (your employer woundn't give you notice before firing you would they?) and then move on, there is no reason to get all cutesy about it, you have got to watch out for numero uno. Good Luck!

niteowlrn29 · May 26, 2010

Wow, I feel the same way.... I have been battling in my mind what to do about my job. I work 7p to 7a. I hate being awake and asleep during all odd hours on my days off. sometimes i wake up at 8pm or 2am and it completely throws off me off. I feel more depressed and just don't know what to do with myself. I love the job and most everyone i work with. I just don't know how much longer I can take working nites. Good luck to you.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · May 26, 2010

I workI work in a psych facility where we also have 8hr shifts (7-3, 3-11,11-7). I work 11-7 and enjoy it. Since you enjoy your job, and we all know enjoyable jobs are hard to come by in nursing you might want to just stick it out there until you can get a better shift there. Have u talked to your manager to let her know your concerns? I would.

Until then maybe focus on the positive aspects of your situation. I really think most nursing jobs suck and your blessed to be in a job you enjoy. I think its worse to have a job you hate! I can deal with any hours or days, just not a job I hate. Eventually the 7-3 or even 11-7 (if u like nights, I love them) will open up. Unless you just hate 8's and desperately want to go back to 12's. I have worked both and find pros and cons with both.

Good luck : )

Ahhphoey · May 26, 2010

I totally understand how your are feeling. Early in my career I loved doing evening shifts and did do the 5 day-a-week thing for a while. As I changed jobs, though, I began to prefer day shift or 7a-7p, then I ended up accepting a evening shift job as a staff nurse 5 days a week. My manager even offered to let me do M-F with no weekends. I chose to do every third weekend though so I could occasionally have days off during the week. Well, that schedule only lasted a couple of months! I absolutely hated it! I thought since I'd done it before I could do it again, but couldn't do it. Fortunately my manager worked with me and allowed me to do two 8's and two 12's a week to get my 40 hours in for which I was hired. I still ended up decreasing my hours as soon as I was able to which was 6 months after starting.

If your manager is absolutely not going to budge on the hours, I would really sit and think about what my priorities are and if it was worth moving to another unit. Personally, I would try to find something else that I may enjoy; family time should come first and your never going to get back that time you've spent at work instead of with them.

cb_rn · May 26, 2010

I think the bottom line is this: always do what is best for you no matter what. However; that doesn't mean quit immediately just to alleviate the "bad" feelings that this job has given you. You must stick this out but you must also start looking for a new job immediately.
I think it's very important to remember that you owe nothing to your job or the people you work with or for. Always put yourself first but do it in a matter where you are truly watching out for yourself (that is to say you need a paycheck more than you need to quit).
Hang in there but start applying elsewhere. The instant an opportunity presents itself take it. There is no reason to give a 2 week notice (your employer woundn't give you notice before firing you would they?) and then move on, there is no reason to get all cutesy about it, you have got to watch out for numero uno. Good Luck!

I absolutely disagree! She owes her employer the minimum notice of 2 weeks. (Many hospitals say 30 days)

#1 it puts the rest of the unit in a bind to give absolutely no notice. Very unprofessional.

#2 she loves this job -- what if they suddenly open a 7-3 position and she's unable to reapply because she "burned" her bridges

#3 any employer that she interviews with will know she's already employed due to her resume/application. If she says she can start immediately what is to keep that manager from thinking "If she'll quit her old job without notice, she'd quit this one without notice. Next candidate please!"

#4 The interviewing employer would expect to not have her be able to start immediately because the majority of professionals do give notice. Often employers only offer orientation once or twice a month.

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · May 26, 2010

our psych unit also works 8 hr shifts, many however work 2 16's and an 8 in order to have more time off, would this be something you might be willing to try, your manager might be willing to try it as well to cut down on turnover. Good luck, keep us posted. :)

allnurses Guide · May 26, 2010

What in the world is it about psych units and 8 hour shifts? =)

Seriously, I work psych and I also work in a facility that offers 8's only, except if you are able to get a Baylor position, then it's two twelves and an eight every weekend, for 40 hours of pay. I want nighttime Baylor, but there's none currently available.

For now, I work straight 11p-7a and it's tough with kids at home. I'm actually able to come home and sleep most days, but for some reason when I wake up in the afternoon I still feel so washed out and not energetic at all. It would be nice to have a day shift job that I enjoy. Only working three nights a week instead of five would be nicer as well.

RNmommie · May 26, 2010

I understand what your going through. i'm going through the exact same thing!! i work 3-1130 at a rehab facility. It's my first job outta nursing school. My 3-11 staff is amazing. I have a lot of fun with them, and i've learned a lot. A friend of mine worked at a health center in womens health, and recently quit because she got another offer at a nursing home. (she wants to become a DON in the future) Anyway, Since I LOVE womens health, she recommended that i apply for her old position. I hesitated at first,and thought long about it, and PRAYED about it. So I decided to apply!! i had an interview yesterday. :clown: The hours at the health center are mon-fri 8:30-5. Work one weekend a month and its sat:9a-1pm. No holidays :) Obvioulsy where i work now, i have to work every other weekend, and compete for holidays. I've been here for 3 months. i have a loving boyfriend and a 10 month old at home. I too feel as though i NEVER get a chance to spend time with my family. To me, family, and God always come first. So let me get to the point..lol

What I'm planning on doing is cutting my hours at my facility. just working Every other weekend. then work mon-fri at the health center. i want to stay at my place now b cuz I love the people i work with now. i can also do per diem, but I like the floor i work on only. going per diem would make me available for the whole building!! I'm not feeling that. But hey, I love womens health, the hours are great. so that is my plan...IF I get the job. If i don't, I'm going to stay here and keep looking. DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU nah mean? hope that helps!!

Blackheartednurse · May 26, 2010

Yeah I can understand your frustration I used to work second shift while I was in nursing school-hate it,I had no life besides getting home at 11 pm,taking shower,hang out online or watch some movie...this is like the worse shift I believe.My ideal would be 3 12's overnight.

sslickerson · May 27, 2010

I absolutely disagree! She owes her employer the minimum notice of 2 weeks. (Many hospitals say 30 days)
#1 it puts the rest of the unit in a bind to give absolutely no notice. Very unprofessional.
#2 she loves this job -- what if they suddenly open a 7-3 position and she's unable to reapply because she "burned" her bridges
#3 any employer that she interviews with will know she's already employed due to her resume/application. If she says she can start immediately what is to keep that manager from thinking "If she'll quit her old job without notice, she'd quit this one without notice. Next candidate please!"
#4 The interviewing employer would expect to not have her be able to start immediately because the majority of professionals do give notice. Often employers only offer orientation once or twice a month.

#1 Anyone who believes they "owe" thire employer anything has their heads in the clouds. You mean very little to the corporation except a dollar sign (how much work you can do for as little as possible). Yes, we all care about those we work with but those are not the people that sign our paychecks. Again, once an opportunity presents itself you take it. This has nothing to do with how "professional" someone is.

#2 In the words of Tim Gunn, "make it work!" I'm not so sure she loves her job and if she did she wouldn't be so stressed about the hours. You take what you can right now and you make it work. If we were all to simply wait for something to "suddenly" open up so many opportunities would be missed. How many times have you sat around thinking to yourself, "just a little while longer, maybe something better with pop up." Please, I took your job while you were waiting!

#3 Are you kidding me! This has never happened nor will it ever happen. You are putting way too much faith in what is supposed to happen as opposed to what does happen. Again, while you said "I'll play nice and give 2 weeks or month" I took your job.

#4 Again, this has nothing to do with being professional but everything to do with watching out for yourself and your bottom line. I don't know about you but I try my best to keep my head out of the clouds. If someone is hiring they are hiring now not a month from now. While you were twiddling your thumbs, you guessed it--I took your job.

The bottom line is this: I am highly respected for the work I do, I'm an excellent team player and I always get the job done. When I was being interviewed for my job I was asked the question about strengths and I told them the above stuff but I also told them that I come first, always. I told them, and have proven over and over again, that I am very good at what I do but I also told them that the instant something better came along I might be leaving. I was hired the next day--and yes, I probably took your job.

Hang in there OP, find the job you love not the job that everyone says you should love. Stop worrying about all of these truly antiquated rules that do not make sense in today's environment. Do what you need to do to get it done.