Need some help tonight, please!

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Hi everyone!

I graduated in May and was offered a job on a cardiac floor for nights. I was not crazy with the hours at first but had the entire summer for it to sink in. I accepted the hours and was Ok with it. I started orientation last week and tomorrow is my 1st day on the floor. I met with the head nurse today to go over my schedule and while I was there she offered me a day position (2 days 7AM-7:30PM, 2 days 7AM-3PM) I told her I would let her know tomorrow when I report to the floor. This totally caught me off guard. For the past 2 months I was counting on working nights. Don't get me wrong I really want days but I am not sure what is best to do. Are there any new grads out there that feel days are better than nights (as far as the learning goes). I have 2 small boys (5 and 8 years old) and I am just worried that I am going to have a hard time working days and managing everything that they have. (what happens if they get sick or have a day off from school?) But then again at least I am sleeping at night. I know how hard nights can be on your body, I worked as a CNA while I was in school, and it beats you up especially if you do not get enough sleep and with small children I never did. I think I am going to tell the manager that I would take the day position but I wanted to hear from some other nurses first. I would also lose about $7,500/year working days. Thanks!

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As much as night time is quieter and thus more *time* maybe to learn, I think you learn way more on days. Thats when docs round and discuss plan of care, procedures are done, specialists come on by (OT, PT, SLP) etc. It's much busier b/c theres so much more going on and thus much more opportunity to learn.

My opinion.

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Specializes in Clinical exp in OB, psy, med-surg, peds.
As much as night time is quieter and thus more *time* maybe to learn, I think you learn way more on days. Thats when docs round and discuss plan of care, procedures are done, specialists come on by (OT, PT, SLP) etc. It's much busier b/c theres so much more going on and thus much more opportunity to learn.

My opinion.

That is so true.

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Take the days. They are not as easy to come by as nights and if you want to switch to nights later, you will probably be able to. You will learn more working days. Also, if you are working nights, you will lose your sleep time if the kids are sick whereas if you are working days, you won't.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

I'm a card nurse, TAKE THE DAY SHIFT! lots more happens, it fast paced. Just remember be confident and ASK FOR HELP! good luck, remember troponin is the key :)

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I second, third and fourth what everyone has said.

TAKE THE DAY SHIFT!!!!!!!!!

I precepted on days, then went to nights. I have an 8 year old and a tremendously supportive husband, but nights stunk. It's very hard to sleep away the day after being away all night, esp on weekends when everyone is up and about. It's hard physically and mentally.

In my perfect world, I would make new grads work days for at least the first year. You learn SOOOOOO much. I think I learned one new thing since switching to nights.

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I graduated in May 2006, I had 10 weeks or orientation on Days and then just recently switched to nights. Days you seem to do alot more skills, and see new opportunities and Dr's are around to ask questions with. But at times I feel like a chicken with my head cut off. It is a very busy floor, trying to keep up with dr. orders, Medications, Procedures, what patient is going where. It is sometimes hard to get organized. I am such a day person so at first nights were a little difficult to adjust to but nights are somewhat easier, in the way that patients are usually in their room, (not down for tests) you can get more orgainized as a new nurse -but you don't do as much as far as skills that you do during the day. I work three 12's. so it is not to bad, and the pay is much better at night $4.00 more. . My kids are older (in their early 20's) so I don't have to worry about them. It's a hard decision which shift to work. I will give nights a shot for a few months, If it gets to much I will try and find a day shift. Good luck

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Thanks everyone for responding and giving me your input. I am going to take the day shift and I am just waiting to hear back from the nurse manager. I did so much today and it was only the first day that I cannot wait to go back on Fri. Granted I was busy, very busy but I didn't mind. I just can't believe how much I learned!

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