My long winded route to L&D.....

[seemerun]

and January 13th I am there!

L&D is what I have always wanted to do - long before ever starting nursing school. I graduated and had to take wherever I could get a job, then I spend 4 years in home health because it was flexible and easiest to accomodate family life. 2 years ago I finally decided if I ever wanted to get into L&D I needed to get serious. So I finished by BSN and went back to work in the hospital. After a year and a half doing ortho/plastics I FINALLY got the job offer I was hoping for. :-) (After a total of 9 years of clinical experience!)

So... advice? I will be working 72 hrs/PP 12 hr nights. Every 3rd weekend. My preceptor said she "had some articles that would be helpful for me to review prior to coming over". Haha.... try multiple large binders of basically the entire specialty. :-) Not sure if I should be casually reading to familiarize myself OR cramming like crazy and trying to memorize it all.

Naturally I expect to be on night shift for the long haul. People keep telling me 10+ years to get a dayshift position?! Any tips for making nights work long-term? Staying on a NOC schedule even on my days off is not really realistic because of family obligations - so how to you ease the transition betwen the 2 shifts?

Any other amazing words of advice?

[SwimNurseRun]

10+ years to get a day shift schedule???? Wow that seems extreme! Most of the nurses on my l&d unit rotate 12 weeks on days, 6 weeks nights with the exception of the people that prefer straight night shift. That might be true at your facility, but certainly not everywhere requires ten years of night shift.

And certainly don't stress about memorizing anything. Nothing will replace experience alone when it comes to getting better at your job. You're not expected to know everything on day one.

[NellieRN10]

I've done nights in LDRP for 10 years. I have 3 kids, the youngest is a baby...I have always preferred night shift. This is where you will find the best teamwork and teamplayers! With your schedule (12 hour shifts) you will be able to have ample days off to transition back and forth. It isn't ideal for family life, but I don't find it to be all that difficult. I actually need less sleep on a night schedule versus a day schedule!

[seemerun]

I have heard the 10 year statistic a few times but I suspect it is either plain old exageration or else it is not factoring in the people who choose to stay on nights.

I have 3 kids as well and I actually think it will work out great long term if my hubby can transition to days soon. We will see. Only a year and a half until my youngest is in school fulltime and that will make things easier too.

I have worked nights on an ortho floor. Even though the hours were rough EVERYTHING else about the night shift I love.