New nurse wanting to return to nightshift

[pie123]

I started orientation on nightshift. After one month, I went to my manager and asked for a transfer to days. I told her that the schedule that I was on with my preceptor (who offered to change her schedule for me, but I said not to) was not working out. I also told my manager that my preceptor offered to change her schedule for me. I just didn't want her to change a schedule that she had become accustomed to, just for me. Now I wish I would have taken her up on it. My manager said that she noticed that for those who had difficulty with nights, breaking the shifts up only made things worse. My preceptor worked 3 nights in a row. What I think probably would have worked for me would be 2 on and 1 off. I did this once on nights and it worked fine. Anyway, now I am on dayshift and beginning to think about quitting my job altogether. I think for my personality, and newness, days is just too much. When I talked to my manager a week ago, she told me that she would rather have me on days and be "a little overwhelmed" than be on nights and make mistakes from being tired. She also told me that I was doing fine and that I needed to not worry so much and have a little bit of self confidence. Anyway, I think being "a little overwhelmed" has just as great a chance of mistakes as being tired. So now I'm wondering if she will let me go back to nights, or if she will try to talk me out of it. On days, there are so many distractions that sometimes no amount of organization helps. I notice a lot that my charge nurse and unit clerk don't get all of the MD orders taken off the chart. If I have time, I check my charts just to be sure no orders were missed. But I hardly ever have time to do this on a regular basis. Just one more stressor. I know I asked for days, but I tried it and see that it's not for me. Any advice? I am planning to talk to my manager again on Monday.

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

I started orientation on nightshift. After one month, I went to my manager and asked for a transfer to days. I told her that the schedule that I was on with my preceptor (who offered to change her schedule for me, but I said not to) was not working out. I also told my manager that my preceptor offered to change her schedule for me. I just didn't want her to change a schedule that she had become accustomed to, just for me. Now I wish I would have taken her up on it. My manager said that she noticed that for those who had difficulty with nights, breaking the shifts up only made things worse. My preceptor worked 3 nights in a row. What I think probably would have worked for me would be 2 on and 1 off. I did this once on nights and it worked fine. Anyway, now I am on dayshift and beginning to think about quitting my job altogether. I think for my personality, and newness, days is just too much. When I talked to my manager a week ago, she told me that she would rather have me on days and be "a little overwhelmed" than be on nights and make mistakes from being tired. She also told me that I was doing fine and that I needed to not worry so much and have a little bit of self confidence. Anyway, I think being "a little overwhelmed" has just as great a chance of mistakes as being tired. So now I'm wondering if she will let me go back to nights, or if she will try to talk me out of it. On days, there are so many distractions that sometimes no amount of organization helps. I notice a lot that my charge nurse and unit clerk don't get all of the MD orders taken off the chart. If I have time, I check my charts just to be sure no orders were missed. But I hardly ever have time to do this on a regular basis. Just one more stressor. I know I asked for days, but I tried it and see that it's not for me. Any advice? I am planning to talk to my manager again on Monday.

Good luck and try not to stress so much. If your manager is telling you that you are doing a good job, just take a deep breath. Maybe you should have a heart to heart with her/him about your insecurities, etc. Maybe you need more positive feedback? Either way, I'm sure you'll get it all worked out.:)

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I would worry that the manager is going to think "hm, this nurse can't make up her mind." Indecisiveness is not a desireable quality in an RN. The manager seems more than willing to accomodate you. Seems to me that same courtesy should be extended to her.