New grad wanting to switch to day shift

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 21, 2011

I feel for you. I was on nights for nine months before I went to days; and my department has a slow turn over (one of the nurses I work with has been there since 1975!) so I am very lucky that I ONLY had to be on nights for nine months. My doctor told me that if I did not go part time or switch to day shift she was going to put me on disability due to exhaustion. I was taking Ambien CR twice a day and still not getting more than 4 hours of sleep and never all at once; and we were doing 8 hour shifts so I had to work FIVE nights a week! It was horrible. I am 100% happier on day shift even though it is crazy busy. I did learn a LOT on night shift though since there as more time to take my time and to learn from other nurses. Day shift seems to be a seniority thing in most hospitals so you might just have to wait it out...P.S. why don't you get a day shift over the new grads on the morning shift??

crb613, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

Were you hired for strictly nights?? If not I would say go for days if thats what you want. You can only do what you can do....nothing is worth your health. I will also add it takes a while to adjust to nights....and some never do. Go speak to your director....explain whats going on hopefully they will help you out if they can. Best of luck!:)

Mr I Care · Jul 21, 2011

I so feel for you. I worked night shift for only 3 weeks and I changed my mind about the switch; luckily I was able to switch back to mornings. My manager was not happy but she got over it after I bought her starbuck for a month. Try your best to hang in there for two more months. If not, speak with your manager soon you never know one of the six new grads might perfer nights.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

All you can do is ask, but I am guessing that all the positions are taken and you may be stuck. Where I work, we can only switch shifts if there is an opening not because you hate nights or can't sleep, etc. You have only been there for 3 weeks, you have to adjust to it and 3 weeks isn't enough time. Are you working 8's or 12's? You have to make sleep your number one priority, get home, make sure your room is dark...invest in some black out shades or hang dark sheets on the windows, turn off the phone, no computer or TV before sleeping, make sure it is cool. Sometimes taking a warm bath before bed helps too.

Good luck!

destinyRN · Jul 21, 2011

I work 12 hr shifts and they hired me for strictly night, u name it Ive done it. I got new curtains to block out light, I got to bed as soon as I get home, ear plugs, and I get at least 6 hours of sleep before work. The problem is that I am not sleeping during the night on my days off and thats whats killing me. The only thing that gives me hope is that I heard its actually easier to get days than nights and my preceptor told me the day shift is always losing nurses. I guess Im going to try my best and learn as much as possible and then I'll speak to the manager in 2 months. I will diff give guys an update, wish me luck.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Jul 21, 2011

I work 12 hr shifts and they hired me for strictly night, u name it Ive done it. I got new curtains to block out light, I got to bed as soon as I get home, ear plugs, and I get at least 6 hours of sleep before work. The problem is that I am not sleeping during the night on my days off and thats whats killing me. The only thing that gives me hope is that I heard its actually easier to get days than nights and my preceptor told me the day shift is always losing nurses. I guess Im going to try my best and learn as much as possible and then I'll speak to the manager in 2 months. I will diff give guys an update, wish me luck.

I was hired strictly on nights and I am going on my 4th week of orienting and I was asked if I wanted to switch to days! At my facility, a spot has to be open to be able to switch. I declined, because I personally love nights and I think as a brand spankin' new grad it is better for me to be on nights for awhile before I make the switch. Speak with your director/manager and discuss about wanting to switch. Like other users have mentioned, one or more of the six nurses that just got hired on days may prefer nights.

After I am doing working my 3 night stretch (I do all of my nights in a row that way I can stay on my sleeping schedule), I only sleep in until 12-1pm the morning after I work my last shift. It gives me some sleep and yeah I'm pretty tired the rest of the day, but if I sleep longer than that I find myself being awake all night. I just go to bed earlier that night. I don't know what your sleeping habits are, but that really works for me when I'm trying to make the switch.

As for the drive home, that's tough. When I worked as a PCNA I had about a 45min commute and I worked 12 hour nights. I can't tell you how many times I have dozed off and almost crashed into the median barrier on the highway! It's scary! I find that driving with the windows down, blasting your music, and chewing gum or something helps keep me awake. Some mornings I would call my-then boyfriend or even my mom just to have someone to talk to on the drive home. I know driving and talking on cell phones is bad but that really helped me stay awake.

Good luck!

obenfermera1 · Jul 21, 2011

Good luck with getting transferred over when orientation is finished! In the meantime, have you tried to keep the same schedule for wake/sleep even when you're off? I mean, don't try to sleep at night on your days off if that's not what your body wants to do. I know, it sounds miserable since you'll miss some stuff that goes on only during the day, but you need to be able to stay sane and healthy until you can try to get onto dayshift. If you MUST sleep on your nights off, have you tried an over the counter sleep aid to help?

I've worked nights for my entire 16 year career and can tell you that it DOES get better! Think about it....either it gets better and you get enough sleep to function, or you get sick and have a breakdown from exhaustion. Sounds harsh I know, but I've never known a new night nurse (or tech or secretary either for that matter) that had a physical/mental breakdown from working night shift. I'm not saying it's impossible! But it's more likely that if you continue trying different things and tweaking your routine, your body will slowly accept the schedule and you'll start feeling better and better. Hang in there!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

That's how I feel working days. Today I had to get up early to go to my new grad residency and it took all my might to stay awake. I was so tired and I got 8 hrs of sleep.

I prefer nights and I love I get paid more for a shift I prefer. I am naturally a night person since I was a little kid. Not usually until 9 in the morning. (get off around 7:30-7:40 and commute home, so it's about 9 when I can get into bed) so it does take some getting used to. I still prefer it though.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Jul 21, 2011

That's how I feel working days. Today I had to get up early to go to my new grad residency and it took all my might to stay awake. I was so tired and I got 8 hrs of sleep.
I prefer nights and I love I get paid more for a shift I prefer. I am naturally a night person since I was a little kid. Not usually until 9 in the morning. (get off around 7:30-7:40 and commute home, so it's about 9 when I can get into bed) so it does take some getting used to. I still prefer it though.

I am the exact same way. I hate getting up early and always find it hard to stay awake in the morning, but at night it's totally different. I also love the shift differential :)

Basically, I would much rather wake up at 5pm than 5am!

MECO28, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

Ah, but let us not forget: "swing is king!" You can get up late AND sleep at night! (I hate both getting up early and staying up all night!)

EmergencyNrse · Jul 21, 2011

New grad wanting to switch to day shift...