New Grad=Night Shift?

[nghtfltguy, BSN, RN]

this is only a suggestion....

that is all i can do for you is offer advice.....

some people are not made for the night shift....

some however.... are born for it...

i am one of those ppl...

i have worked days...i have worked evenings.....

imma night person.....

don't give up so easily....

when i first went to nights as a paramedic i couldn't sleep during the day...i put aluminum foil on my window in my bedroom... i started drinking more than i should... i could not do it....

over the course of a few years and a stent in the navy.... im ok now

if it is dark outside...im awake... when the sun comes up... i get tired...

i suggest melatonin... you said you don't like sleeping pills....

well.... ambien is a horrible evil thing anyway....

melatonin is an over the counter drug you can buy almost anywhere... try that... 3mg...

i wish you the best of luck.....

[EmmaG, RN]

I've not noticed that new grads are forced into night positions. Those shifts are usually harder to fill, so it may appear that is all they're offering.

That said, it makes no sense to automatically place new nurses on nights. You have little to no ancillary back-up and fewer resources around to assist you. You have to be pretty independent to work night shift. A day/7A shift may be 'crazy' with all the hoorah going on around you, but at least you have the personnel available to help you when you need it.

[Becca608]

this is only a suggestion....

that is all i can do for you is offer advice.....

some people are not made for the night shift....

some however.... are born for it...

i am one of those ppl...

i have worked days...i have worked evenings.....

imma night person.....

don't give up so easily....

when i first went to nights as a paramedic i couldn't sleep during the day...i put aluminum foil on my window in my bedroom... i started drinking more than i should... i could not do it....

over the course of a few years and a stent in the navy.... im ok now

if it is dark outside...im awake... when the sun comes up... i get tired...

i suggest melatonin... you said you don't like sleeping pills....

well.... ambien is a horrible evil thing anyway....

melatonin is an over the counter drug you can buy almost anywhere... try that... 3mg...

i wish you the best of luck.....

Now I'm REALLY regretting that Elizabells grabbed you up during the whole disorganization thing!

[november17, ASN, RN]

2 of my classmates ended up in the same hospital that I work in with day positions. I was offered a day position as well, actually. I'm personally a night person so I prefer the graveyard shift so I opted for a night job. It pays better. And honestly, I do not do well if I wake up before 10am...

My mom always said, "You know what Ben Franklin said, Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise!" Obviously, B. Frank wasn't a nurse!! I'm happy I get to stay up late..it's like my childhood dream come true.

A black trashbag cut up and taped to the window works REALLY well if you aren't willing to invest in blackout curtains. I personally can't sleep with earplugs in (they hurt my ears). Noise doesn't really bother me though.

[kidnurse04]

When I graduated nursing school, I thought I would never want to work night shift but my best friend worked night shift and I wanted to be on "her" schedule so we could hang out more. Well, 3 years later, my body has begun to deteriorate!! I am so ready to go to day shift. I work 3 12 hour shifts a week and it's tough going back and forth between sleeping during the day and sleeping at night.

It is possible to work dayshift as a new nurse. Don't feel like you must work night shift in order to pay your dues. It's not a requirement. Some people just aren't night owls. I hope you are able to find a dayshift, you should have no problem. My unit has a 2 year waiting list for the dayshift!

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

Its nice to hear from people who have not had to work nights. I hope I will get as lucky! I see plenty of job openings on the hospital websites for day shift, hopefully they will be open when I apply!

Start applying now!! I started applying for jobs in Oct/Nov, didn't graduate til Dec. and told my future employers I wouldn't be able to start until Feb. because I was moving and didn't want to move until after boards. I ended up securing a position before my move and I am extrememly happy I did, it took a load off my mind. Point is, there will be lots of new grads competing for jobs in May, go ahead and send out some applications now, it won't hurt (unless you are fearing reprecussions from your current job?) At least you can get a jump start on finding a day position, if one place turns you down then you can move on to the next.