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?
Your foundation is so rocky that a great day shift may be sabotaged as well.
Based on on personal experience, I wouldn't wait for solid employment to leave an abusive marriage with an unemployed spouse. Depending on where you live, you could stuck with spousal support.
Unless you're in danger, then that's out of my league and I couldn't begin to advise.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Somehow, your post just doesn't ring true. I would hope that you wouldn't use a real issue like this just to seek attention because your thread isn't getting you the sympathy you feel you deserve.
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.
This is the chicken and egg question. Jobs and health don't cause the problems in abusive relationships.
I was married to someone who sabotaged my ability to work. Hostile sleep disruption. Taking my working car and leaving me with something I couldn't drive. Spending my earned money illegally and recklessly while I tried to keep our bills paid. Refusing to work consistently and when he did work he didn't contribute to the household but came home with more toys, or worse.
My increasingly inability to function wasn't due to my job, but for awhile I was in denial and wanted to blame everything but myself for being emotionally dependent on a mean loser.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Did you really just say that?
I really did.
The thread started out with self-justification about quitting two jobs in less than a year. The OP evidently expected to get a lot of posts expressing sympathy for her and agreement with her. Instead, she got a lot of posts that she didn't like because they didn't agree with her. So she attempts to up the ante. Surely now, she'll get sympathizing and agreeing posts. Nope. Still getting the honest answers she doesn't want to hear. So let's up the ante again.
I have not been shy about sharing my history with domestic violence. I wasn't looking for sympathy, I was hoping to influence someone else to not get trapped in the same situation or to get out as quickly as possible.
I will always be an advocate for ending domestic violence and for the survivors of abuse. I am just not sure we're looking at that here. If the OP is indeed in an abusive situation, I hope she'll start a new thread and post about it there.
No way would you be fired for that. You aren't required to disclose all health conditions to an employer anyway -- pre-employment physicals only ask about health conditions that affect your ability to perform job related tasks, such as lifting and so forth. I never had a job that asks about my psychiatric or substance abuse history. They don't go that in depth.
If anyone ever does ask such a question to people in this thread, I suggest they state that their conditions arose after beginning the job. It isn't as if they can prove otherwise. :)
You would be wrong on that. My employer wants to know about all health conditions, including substance abuse and psych history, so they can decide if any of that might impact your ability to do the job if they hire you. It's not illegal at all. And you are told that if you are not completely truthful on the form asking the questions that you can be terminated for cause later on. No appeal. If you knowingly hide a medical condition including a hx of psych or substance abuse, they can fire you later. And if you tell them about it and they decide to not hire, it's still legal. Someone told me he had to show he was clean for a year, rehab and stuff after a substance abuse problem, and it was only 30 days and no rehab done so he didn't get the job. You say it's not like they can prove the problem didn't start after you got the job, but that's pretty naive! Finding out if you have a medical or mental condition you didn't mention isn't as hard as you think
I have been seeing employers giving the potential employee a copy of the job discription in the interview, having them
read it, and then signing it agreeing they can perform all said tasks and functions- this includes working nights, working rotating shifts, lifting, etc. If you cannot do what is expected of you, then you are not hired. If you lie, and cover up an issue, then try to manipulate your way to what you want- they will fire you bc they have your signature agreeing that you can perform said tasks. In the ED, there is no accommodation for light duty, you take leave. That includes sprains, breaks, disorders in the mental spectrum. Also, since when do pregnant women get accommodated? If I knew that, I'd get pregnant more!
To the poster who said she enjoys our whip it friends post- please, in any capacity, take seriously how this nurse practices with their license. If you do, I fear you will have many issues when you do actually obtain a nursing license.
I admit I skipped around in the thread. Just wanted to point out that where I am from, even a doctor note requesting day shift is not considered a legally required ADA accommodation. The manager can consider jumping you in the line for that coveted day shift position but it is not required and most don't because the wrath of those that have been waiting for openings is not worth the effort.
Interesting, because we don't do shift rotations, there are people that adore nights and never want to leave and we do hire into day shift positions for new grads and experienced new RNs at times. It seems to come in cycles.
I get the night shift 'can't work it' moments that happen and family issues that creep up that make the night shift a burden. I did it successfully for a number of years and then my body said 'no more, no way' and it made zero difference how I adjusted my sleep times to even try to get more than 3 hours of sleep.
In my case, although I was working nights, I applied for a day shift leadership position and actually got it! Something to consider for those that are experienced RNs. As other posters have noted, there are options for day shift if you look carefully where you work. . . endoscopy lab, pre-op testing areas, day surgery clinics, Interventional areas, and care management are a few that come quickly to mind. Even if you have to take occasional call time, the benefits of working mostly days might outweigh that issue.
I do hope the family issues work out as they will impact whatever shift you do work. Best wishes for your success.
I am in a new grad nurse residency and several nurses in our cohort work on days. It seems like it was just luck of the draw, I haven't heard of any of the units being particularly toxic. I would encourage you to keep applying for day shifts, just not ones that are 70 miles away :)
Generally speaking, day shifts are seen as more desirable than night shifts, and positions that are only day shifts will go to the person with the most seniority/experience. That usually leaves positions with rotating shifts and straight night shifts as less desirable...and thus, they are what is offered, as those lines still needs to be filled.
I do not think that it is necessarily a warning sign if you see another day shift position advertised; just keep in mind that toxic work place will be toxic, no matter the shift you am work.
If you absolutely can't do nights, try to apply to clinics and doctor's offices as they do not open 24 hours. Or try to look for a position with days or evening shifts only, if you want to be in the hospital.
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.
I have worked night shift most of my career and my body is used to it. Unfortunately some places treat their night staff like crap, disrespecting and devaluing them. That is why very few want to work nights. It can be more challenging than other shifts in that when you are busy you have less than half the staff available on other shifts so it is really busy. Bosses rag on night nurses for failing to attend staff meetings which are held at 2 p.m., the equivalent of the day person's 2 a.m. They just don't get that you need to sleep during the day and can't function staying awake night and day, and God forbid if you should sleep during the night shift. Yeah, so no wonder no one wants to work it. I have asked a succession of bosses to change the staff meeting time to accommodate night staff and they never did. It was always 2 p.m. no matter what. I worked for one hospital that did alternate the times between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. so sometimes it accommodated night staff and sometimes evening staff. This was the only fair place I ever worked. The others always 2 p.m. That is also when they phone you at home for any little thing. I call it the witching hour. It is when the witches come out to haunt you.
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.
Otherwise wait your turn. Grow up.
And what side of the bed did you get up on? Maybe a little sleep deprived or maybe you are always that rude
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.
I agree with you. Old Smiling Blue Eyes is not a happy camper. Glad I don't have to work with him/her. Very rigid and very rude. Hey I thought nursing was the caring profession. If we can't even care about our co-workers, how can be care for total strangers effectively. Old Smiling is probably nasty to his/her patients too.
Libby1987
3,726 Posts
Your foundation is so rocky that a great day shift may be sabotaged as well.
Based on on personal experience, I wouldn't wait for solid employment to leave an abusive marriage with an unemployed spouse. Depending on where you live, you could stuck with spousal support.
Unless you're in danger, then that's out of my league and I couldn't begin to advise.