New Grad Stressed, Nights Easier?

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I'm a new grad on a ortho post-op floor doing my day shift orientation. I didn't know that this floor was the hardest in the hospital when I accepted the job, but that is it's reputation. Every day before waking up I feel sick to my stomach and my nerves are racked. During my last shift I almost had a breakdown (crying) at my desk and a couple of nurses had to come over and talk to me to help me calm down.

I am in a 2 year contract with the hospital (or I'd owe 6k to them that helped pay for my school) and am not supposed to move floors until at least a year has passed (or rather, they prefer if you didn't move for at least a year). I'm fairly stuck in the situation, but I go to nights this coming Monday (one week from now). I know that both shifts are busy and both have their pros and cons, but is it possible that nights might be easier for a new grad?

I'm a night owl by nature, sleep better in the day, and most of my stress comes from the admits and discharges and orders and referrals and that kind of thing.

Any thoughts or insights would be great! I went back to school and am now 30 with my BSN (no previous nursing experience) and JUST had a son (2 month old) and am trying to get my wife and child out of my inlaws place, I definitely need the money the night shift provides.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

I did my internship nights on a med/surg floor. We would stay busy but then there was BORING down time. I am not a night owl (early to rise, early to sack). It definitely was not as stressful as days cause there wasn't doctors or families running around. It was pretty chill. If you are a night owl, you will do great.

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I hope so, even though I've only taken 4 patients right now, my preceptor has said they have had way higher acuity than most patients. I keep hoping it will get better but it doesn't, I just hope when I switch to nights the pace is a little more manageable.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

It gets better with time. The first 6 months are tough but you will get a routine down and develop some confidence that will make work much more enjoyable. Nights can be crazy too though sometimes, patients coding, admits coming in all at once, higher ratios (some states don't have mandated ratios), etc. What I've observed on my unit is that the teamwork is stronger on nights. You should try to have some orientation on night to see how things are. If I were nocturnal by nature, I think I'd like the night shift. My body just can't handle it. I am a night owl, but I still like to get to sleep when it's still dark out.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Nights will be much easier. Speaking from experience -- Ortho patients with well-managed pain are usually able to sleep for long periods of time if they aren't disturbed. So just be pro-active with pain management & sedatives if needed. Ortho is generally a younger, more 'healthy' crowd (trauma = lots of "hey y'all, watch this" males 18-35) who don't enforced bed rest very well.

Have fun with your fellow night owls!

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Specializes in ICU, ED.

As a new grad, I was so thankful to start on nights! I think night shift is easier for a new grad. The main reason I like it is because there aren't as many docs rounding, PT/OT working with patients, families at the bedside, etc. Less interruptions is my favorite thing. Not to say that night shift isn't busy - it definitely is - but I feel like I can actually get stuff done and get my routine down without the interruptions that might exist on day shift.

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Specializes in Heme Onc.

Just make sure you know what the night shift staff ratios are when determining level of stress. Nights on a floor where the night ratio is 5:1 is all together different than when its 12:1. 12:1...and one ol' lady gets delirious and you've got to deal with her and 11 other patients...... Just something to consider.

Day shift is more stressful because of the aforementioned things: visitors, consults, tests, rounders...but if a situation goes to crap you've got more support.

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Just make sure you know what the night shift staff ratios are when determining level of stress. Nights on a floor where the night ratio is 5:1 is all together different than when its 12:1. 12:1...and one ol' lady gets delirious and you've got to deal with her and 11 other patients...... Just something to consider.

Day shift is more stressful because of the aforementioned things: visitors, consults, tests, rounders...but if a situation goes to crap you've got more support.

it is a 6 max floor at nights.

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Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

For me, nights on ortho is less stressful in general. Slower paced? At times... mostly 0200-0400 for me... unless you're the unlucky person who was handed the assignment with all fresh post-ops (don't you just want to throttle the day charge that fills the rooms sequentially as the new pts come back from surgery?)

I remember orienting on days & what a whirlwind it was, thinking how was I ever going to "get it". I found that on nights, I was able to take my time & didn't feel as rushed. No mgmt around, not sending pts out to radiology or for tests, no meals to deal with, fewer MDs & families, fewer admissions & more time to spend reviewing charts.

Like mentioned on a pp, be proactive about pain control; pts are happier with a good night's sleep!

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