Is that the general consensus amongst hospital RNs? I for one had a terrible time with night shift... actually I seemed to adjust alright, outwardly. Inwardly, my endocrine system went haywire and I ended up in the hospital with an exacerbation of a previously well managed health condition, and out from work SICK for an entire month.
Due to the health problems, I had to quit that job only 5 months into it. After searching month after month, the only other day shift hospital position I could get was on a HORRIBLE ortho/medsurg unit 70 miles away from my home.
Despite the heavy work load, extreme favoritism, crazy boss, and absence of teamwork, I appreciated the opportunity and tried to make it work for me. The employer itself was a pretty good one I think, but with the commute and the other issues, I only made it for 6 months--- and quit.
Every other hospital job I've been seeing is for night shift.... If I see another day shift advertised will that be a red flag that the unit is very bad?
I was willing to work nights, but I really can't risk getting sick by going on nights again. Should I just stay away from hospitals from here on out?
Everytime i changed hospital systems i had to start on nights. It seems the faster i was able to switch to days, the more difficult the facility was to work at. Probably the best hospitals i worked at had the longest waits with 5 to 7 years for days.
Im not saying its not possible, i just haven't encountered that in my career.
I would look for clinic and other outpt types of positions in your shoes.
It definitely all depends where you are and what's available. As a new grad, my 1st hospital nursing position was days. There were actually a few new grads hired on days. After a year, I applied at a hospital chain closer to my home, a daytime position as well. I've never had to work nights. Some people have switched from days to nights due to the high stress level, but that was by choice...the day position had been there. Just keep looking :)
HOWEVER, a documented medical condition that is a contraindication to working nights may give you preference for a day shift position.
Or it may limit you from getting, or keeping, a job. My previous employer had a nurse get a Dr statement stating she could only work day shift, and only 8 hours at that-could not be mandatoried, due to x health issue. She was let go, as the job description plainly states that you must be flexible in hours available to work, and that sometimes mandatory overtime was required and would be rotated among available employees. The point was she was not able to perform her job per job description. We all signed a copy upon hire, and there was a book on each unit with every description in the facility
Perhaps it would be best for you to apply for clinic or doctor's office jobs. Those jobs are generally less stressful and less physically demanding, but that is usually reflected in the compensation.
Beware of hospital postings for a lot of dayshift positions. Dayshift positions are coveted everywhere and are usually filled internally. If not, that is often times a red flag that the unit may be subpar. Just my two cents...
Inability to work night shift CAN, in some cases, be considered a reasonable accommodation under the ADA regulations. If your health condition is covered, you could look into that.
Probably would only help if you already were "in" at a hospital where you were unionized and willing to work on whatever unit they put you on.
I wish I could go with the glitz/glam/excitement of a hospital--- I might not be cut out for the physical or emotional stress of that right now, or ever. I sincerely thought I could do it and I haven't met anyone else who tried, quickly decided it wasn't for them, and moved on. Most people I know seemed to know what they wanted (or could handle) in school.
Could you look for a position in a days-only area, like an infusion clinic or ambulatory radiology recovery type thing that was still kind of part of the hospital, but closed at night?
As a new nurse I rotated days to pm to night and it was mostly OK. My social life sucked and it put a strain on my relationship. I eventually decided to work mostly nights as it seemed easier than jumping around. But then, I found it was was used against me by my peers when I would need to switch to days for things like study or a life. I found the same true in my next job as I was hired to rotate but chose to work mostly nights for the sake of my sanity. When I needed to work days, I was challenged. Fast forward, in my forties, I wrecked my car as I fell asleep driving home after a night shift. I became unable to sleep for days on end and became a bit nutty when working nights.
Working nights is not normal, it is not healthy and it is not for everyone. It is easier for some people than others and our abilities change over time due to age or health conditions. I don't do the night thing anymore and that means that most hospital jobs are not an option. I still have a great career, but I don't chase the money or subscribe to the belief that a nurse must work in a hospital. For me, this has been a blessing. I am mentally more stable, I have a better social life and I don't have to deal with petty hospital politics where I constantly have to argue about how important I am to keep a healthy work schedule.
There is a life and a career outside working night shift. It just means that you have to change your perspective. You paid your dues when you paid for your education and obtained your registration. All the rest is just hype and sometimes your co-workers are crabs in a barrel.
Advice: A lot of the information people gave in this thread is very bad. Instead,get paperwork from a psychiatrist stating that he will not support you working nights. If you have a mood disorder already, working nights will likely exacerbate it. This has been supported by a virtual tidal wave of evidence. If you haven't been diagnosed with a mood disorder, well, now might be the time to do that.
Even if you haven't worked for an employer long enough to be eligible for FMLA, there is very little chance that they will try to dispute your paperwork. They still have the ADA to contend with.
This is a good, safe way to get out of a night shift position. They'll have to switch you to days or be short. They'll have to have another nurse or other nurses work those nights instead while you get to work days.
In my unit we all fight over nights. It's much calmer most of the time...not to mention without night differential, we pretty much get paid a teacher's salary. And we don't get holidays and the whole summer off.
OP, I can relate, nights were rough on me, always constipated and seriously sleep deprived. But is there no responsibility on those choose to pursue a education in an industry known to have night shifts in a glutted market? Why should a new grad get to move to the front of the line? I would be so mad if I got bumped for someone who could have gone to HH or LTC for a day shift.
OP, I can relate, nights were rough on me, always constipated and seriously sleep deprived. But is there no responsibility on those choose to pursue a education in an industry known to have night shifts in a glutted market? Why should a new grad get to move to the front of the line? I would be so mad if I got bumped for someone who could have gone to HH or LTC for a day shift.
In ltc, anymore dayshifts are fought over. No line jumpers there. Too many waiting too long to go to days. It would definitely create friction.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Well, did try to work it out. I submitted paperwork from my endocrinologist, hospitalization, etc to HR per their request so that I could return to work--- they did put me on a day shift position that just happened to come up ~~~ I was a newer grad at the time, it was my first hospital job, and I had been off sick for an entire month prior--- they put me on full-force, no additional day shift orientation, and I didn't feel like I was doing well. There was a lengthy commute involved with that job too. At the time, I just felt like the whole thing wasn't good for me. I never had it in mind to quit that hospital or night shift until I got so sick. It really shook me. Caused me problems with my finances and marriage. My resume might look terrible. I don't know, except to say that I had a pretty rough 2015.
So you "couldn't work night shift due to a health condition" but your employer was willing to work with you and give you a day position ahead of all of those more senior nurses who have been waiting for that day shift position. But you "didn't feel like" you were doing well, and instead of working with those nice people who were willing to work with you, you just quit. Oh, and there was a lengthy commute which you evidently didn't know anything about when you took that job. You "just felt like the whole thing" wasn't "good for you," so you quit.
I'm very sorry you had a rough 2015 -- but I really don't see you as a victim here, nor do I feel sorry for you. You said you couldn't work night shift due to a health condition, they were willing to work with you and you quit anyway. I'm not sure what you're looking for -- that elusive "perfect job" maybe? But your resume will look bad, so you're going to have to work really hard to find it. And when you find someone willing to hire you, you are going to have to stay at the very least a year, preferably two or more to clean up your resume.
I wish you luck, but I hope you don't end up working anywhere near me. Someone who quits at the slightest adversity isn't someone I'd want to spend my time and energy training.
NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN
2,387 Posts
Everytime i changed hospital systems i had to start on nights. It seems the faster i was able to switch to days, the more difficult the facility was to work at. Probably the best hospitals i worked at had the longest waits with 5 to 7 years for days.
Im not saying its not possible, i just haven't encountered that in my career.
I would look for clinic and other outpt types of positions in your shoes.