New grad wanting to switch shifts

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

I started orienting on an inpatient psychiatric short stay unit about 2 months ago on nights (7p-7a). I love the autonomy of being on night shift, being able to help patients on more of a 1:1 basis rather than 5 people at the nursing station all asking different questions, and the teamwork that I feel with my co-workers on nights. I get to do 10p med pass, assessments, and 1:1 talks with patients early in the shift but then 11p-7a is mostly paperwork and sometimes admissions. We get most of our admissions during the day, which was a shock to me. I was initally scared of working days because I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle the stress of patients, docs, and running around doing a million things at once. I recently stayed over (they needed me) from 7a-11a and realized that I loved day shift. When I started orientation, I did a week of days and hated it because I felt no one had the time to help me and I didn't know what I was doing. I feel like I have a better grip on what nurses do on my unit and where things are and what to do in certain situations. My nurse manager was originally going to hire another new grad for days but the person turned down the position so I think it's still open. I feel really bad about wanting to switch shifts after 2 months but I think nights is really screwing with my life and I want more patient contact than what I'm getting. I want to talk to my nurse manager but I don't know what to say. I know I'll miss nights if I switch over to days but I feel like I'm just not challenging myself by staying on nights. Does anyone have any advice?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

are there any available shifts on days?....are you a night person?.....these are questions to consider as well. I think that you could do as well on days as nights as long as it's something that you can handle...let us know how it goes!

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
are there any available shifts on days?....are you a night person?.....these are questions to consider as well. I think that you could do as well on days as nights as long as it's something that you can handle...let us know how it goes!

I definitely think there are positions available on days. I feel like I'd be letting my NM down if I asked to switch from nights to days though. I am a night person, quite honestly but I think I could probably be a morning person 3 days a week. I'm scared that I won't get to sleep at a normal time and that's really my biggest fear. Is that stupid of me?

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No its not stupid of you. I hate hate getting up in the mornings so I work 7p to 7a. It is totally messing me up. I have been in some sort of a funk since I moved 1200 miles from home and I dont get out of bed till 5pm sometimes 8pm. Everything is closed by the time I have worked out, showered, etc. I ask myself to if its worth it to work nights. Just do what makes you happy and dont worry if your upsetting management. You have to do whats best for you and they should understand that.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Home Health, Geriatrics.

I would tell your NM basically what you told us. Honesty with yourself and the NM is always best. You can soft sell it, and just ask her if the dayshift is an available option to you. Then proceed based on her response. If she asks you if there is a problem on nights, tell her no, but you really enjoyed the add'l patient interaction and overall environment, etc of days (like you told us). Note: you are not demanding dayshift or refusing nights...you are inquiring. Just make sure that days are what you want because you don't want to switch back and forth making you appear wishy-washy or unreliable. Take into consideration the whole picture...sleep schedule, your personal best time of day, income (differentials), etc.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I would tell your NM basically what you told us. Honesty with yourself and the NM is always best. You can soft sell it, and just ask her if the dayshift is an available option to you. Then proceed based on her response. If she asks you if there is a problem on nights, tell her no, but you really enjoyed the add'l patient interaction and overall environment, etc of days (like you told us). Note: you are not demanding dayshift or refusing nights...you are inquiring. Just make sure that days are what you want because you don't want to switch back and forth making you appear wishy-washy or unreliable. Take into consideration the whole picture...sleep schedule, your personal best time of day, income (differentials), etc.

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll maybe ask if I can get some more time orienting on days and go from there with selling it, taking into consideration the whole picture.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
No its not stupid of you. I hate hate getting up in the mornings so I work 7p to 7a. It is totally messing me up. I have been in some sort of a funk since I moved 1200 miles from home and I dont get out of bed till 5pm sometimes 8pm. Everything is closed by the time I have worked out, showered, etc. I ask myself to if its worth it to work nights. Just do what makes you happy and dont worry if your upsetting management. You have to do whats best for you and they should understand that.

I hate mornings but the thing is, when I go to bed at night I end up waking by 10 or noon, so ideally I think I'd be suited for a 3-11, but my unit is doing away with 8's. I feel like I'm having a really hard time switching back and forth.

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Maybe ask if you can shadow a day nurse to see what it's like and if you can handle the sleeping schedule?

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
Maybe ask if you can shadow a day nurse to see what it's like and if you can handle the sleeping schedule?

Thanks! I think I'll do that. I shadowed a nurse on days for a week when I first started but everything was so new to me that it was just overwhelming and I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle it.

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Specializes in ER.

See if you can work both rotating days and nights. That way you get the best of both worlds!

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
See if you can work both rotating days and nights. That way you get the best of both worlds!

That's a good idea! I don't know if my NM would be cool with that, as no one else on my unit does rotating shifts but I'm definitely open to bringing it up.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

I HAVE GOOD NEWS! :)

I went in to meet with my NM today and she said has absolutely no qualms about offering me a day position, that one just opened up but she had to check with 2 other people who wanted dibs on a day position first. She agreed that days on my unit is a crazy place to start but she's got faith in me.

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