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?
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
You dont tell them off the bat that you cant do nights. Thats silly. The strategy is to get hired, finish orientation, then provide the medical paperwork saying you can't do nights.
Nurses who debate this topic need to keep in mind a very simple fact: In all industries that run 24/7, the employees with the least seniority get the graveyard shift. Those industries are expanding rapidly. It used to be doctors, fire officials, cops, and military. Now it's the guy stocking shelves at CVS and the girl taking your order at McDonald's.
We're nothing special anymore and our complaints look really silly to the guy who gets up at 2 a.m. to refill the napkin dispenser at the Kwik Trip you stop at for coffee.
No one should have to work a shift they don't want to work. People who want to work days shouldn't have to work nights. If there aren't enough people wanting to work nights, then you blame the organization for not positively incentivizing nurses to work nights. You dont just dump all the new nurses on nights. That isnt good for their health and its dangerous to patients. 5 to 10 dollar differentials are just crap to some people. Maybe time to pay even more. Otherwise I suggest people just get a doctor to sign off that you shouldn't be on nights.
Specializes in Pharmaceutical Research, Operating Room.
I don't think working nights is an absolute, 100%-it'll-happen thing that all new grad nurses should expect. HOWEVER, as a new grad nurse, applying to jobs in a hospital where the work is 24/7, 365 days a year, you absolutely, 100% have to be prepared to get the night shift. This doesn't happen for all new grads, and thankfully it didn't happen to me. That said, when I was applying to hospital jobs, I was fully prepared to be working nights or rotating shifts for a period of time. I lucked out and got hired into a Level 2 OR with (mostly) scheduled surgical procedures, and there was a night crew that was hired specifically for after hours. I didn't have to work nights, and I still don't have to, but I've also gotten out of the acute care setting. If you don't ever want to work nights, I think you need to search outside of the hospital setting for a job. That's the only way to guarantee it, especially with no seniority.
Where I work, FT nurses work 2 days,2 nights and PT nurses work a mix of days and nights. No one gets accommodated....the nurse that's been there for 30 years or the new grad.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
You work what you signed up to work. No one is being forced to do a damn thing. If you signed up to work nights, you work nights til a day position opens up. No one is forced to do it, they do what they AGREED TO DO. They do not get to lie their way to a plum position ahead of those waiting their turn.
Don't like it? Move on to another place where a day position exists. Like dialysis clinics, doctor offices, etc.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Where I work, FT nurses work 2 days,2 nights and PT nurses work a mix of days and nights. No one gets accommodated....the nurse that's been there for 30 years or the new grad.
Rotating shifts IMO are far worse than straight nights.
As a new nurse, I was THRILLED to work nights. Days were far too busy. Too much going on. It was a stressful situation that could have turned dangerous. Sure, nights start out fast paced, but it all slows down by eleven and you actually get time to read the charts and often find and fix things that day shift missed. It's not a bad place to start. ESPECIALLY if you're single and don't have family coming home all hours of the day waking you up. Ask your doctor for Ambien or Restoril if sleep is a problem. Your medical issues are probably exacerbated by lack of sleep.
Ya don't bump senior nurses for a new hire who has problems. Not how it's done. IF they can't live up to the job they CONTRACTED to perform they need to find another position. Most places have a probationary period anyhow. If they can't at least get through that, they should be out.
No offense but you're exhibiting textbook ableism/mentalism. What you are using is ableist language. Reread the sentence I bolded in your quotation. Mood disorders are illnesses too. It sounds like you have a problem with the disabled or disadvantaged getting any sort of accommodation whatsoever, if it poses even mild inconvenience to other staff or to the organization. If they can't live up to a job they contracted to perform, they shouldn't be working in that position? Sorry but that is what the ADA is. I used to think like you too, before I had some problems. You may want to check your ethics because you honestly sound just like those nurses who resent employees who are pregnant or are on light duty for a sprain or fracture. Sad.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
RNDYNAMIC:
If you have a mood disorder and you KNOWINGLY sign up for a night position, you are agreeing UNDER FALSE PRETENSES that you will fulfill a contract (to work a position). You do not get to bump others because of your "condition". The RIGHT thing to do is apply for day positions that exist already. You do NOT apply for night positions, keeping your condition a secret and then spring paperwork on your unknowing manager and expect to jump to head of the line for the day position.
That is dishonest, unethical, disingenuous and will make you VERY unpopular on your unit.
Why not just go to a place where day positions exist already instead of being sneaky and under-handed?
PS: (edited to add) Don't you assume for a minute, I don't have my own mood disorder....I have long term depression and issues with SADD and darkness but I worked night shifts for years. I did things the right way; I got counseling, medication and got a day shift position as soon as one opened up. I have sought and stayed on day positions ever since. NEVER did I play the "mood disorder card" in all my 19 years as a nurse to put anyone out of a rightful place in order to get what I wanted. And I have never relied on my so-called disability to get by. I have worked gainfully and honestly all my life. I realize for some, it can get severe enough that they cannot work at all.
But to use this condition to bump others from a rightful place is a disgrace and insult to those to those who are truly disabled enough not to be able to work. It's disgusting really.
The more I read your posts, the more I question your thinking, in general.
Don't you assume for a minute, I don't have my own mood disorder..
Even people with their own disorders can be prejudicial against others with them. Having such a condition does not make you immune to prejudice. You may have handled your disorder in a way that you think is satisfactory, but it isn't for you to tell others how they have to disclose or handle theirs.
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SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
Not surprised, this coming from the whip-it guy.