Night shift to days, Which specialties are day shift friendly???

estherojin · Mar 17, 2008

My suggestion won't work if you want to stay in acute care, but how about cardiac rehab? They have great hours and be able to build relationships with your clients.

If you want to stay on the floors, did you ever give thought to critical care nursing? It's still very busy, but since you're working with one or two patients at most, it's not the mind blowing chaos of juggling a team of 4 to 7 patients who have call lights.

Cath lab is also a great place to work and there might be some call required that might provide extra income. I worked in the lab setting for 6 years and loved it. In the lab you work as a part of a team consisting of mds, nurses, and rad techs. You'll get a chance to work cases that are wicked challenging and fast paced- pts with acute MIs to pts in cardiogenic shock, and the routine diagnostic cases. Many cath labs might require you to have some critical care experience, but some don't.

Another cardiology related area is noninvasive cardiology testing- stress labs, nuclear medicine, and echo labs. I've had to cover these areas while working in the cath lab and found it to be an enjoyable place with a easy pace of work.

Good luck finding your next step!

BrokenRNheart · Mar 17, 2008

Days are busy PERIOD.

I would say ICU since you already have cardiac/tele experience.

Let us know what you learn.

showbizrn · Mar 17, 2008

day-shift friendly unit?

start looking at some of the out-patient clinics

or teatment centers

in or related to

your specialty.

day-shift is hard all over!!!---really! :bugeyes:

NurseCherlove · Mar 17, 2008

Hi. I've been a night shifter for over a year and I'm eternally exhausted. My background in Cardiac progressive care and telemetry. I've worked a busy tele
floor on days and HATED it. I love my job at night, but I don't want to have that
kind of a pace during the day.
Which kinds of floors are day-shift friendly? Obviously I know that all floors are super busy, but are there any areas that days aren't so bad?
It sounds silly, but you're opinions would really help.
Thanks in advance.:smilecoffeeIlovecof

Not silly at all - have wondered the very same thing myself. Also, like you, I do tele. I really want to stay in any kind of cardiac setting.

kayla123 · Mar 17, 2008

Get out of the hospital!!

Felt the SAME way. Went from full time nights to same day surgery PACU. Mon to Fri, No on call, w/e, or holidays. Sweet. Then went to Hospice Case manager, same deal, only now I make my own schedule for the week. If you like complete autonomy this job rules.

carachel2 · Mar 17, 2008

Cardiac rehabilitation is a GREAT days only, no holidays, no weekends career for cardiac nurses who enjoy teaching and the challenge of cardiac patients but do not enjoy the frantic pace and chronic understaffing. Most cardiac rehab programs only see patients M,W,F and do paperwork and case management the rest of the week. The pay may be a bit lower because there is no shift diff/weekend diff but I have loved cardiac rehab nursing for years because it allows me to be the kind of nurse I enjoy being and it allows me time to really be with the patients. The pace can be busy and challenging.......but in a different way than on the floors.

chowlover · Mar 17, 2008

You have CCU experience? Take advantage of it! Cardiologist offices are always looking for nurses & I understand they pay very well- the same for Vascular surgeons. Or as some one else mentioned, Cardiac Rehab is a great place to work Good luck

JaredCNA, CNA · Mar 17, 2008

At my facility, I'd say ICU. Most of the fast-paced care seems to happen at night. (I've NEVER given more than three baths by choice on a med/surg unit at night...unless the pt needed it because of incontinence. When I was floated to ICU the other noc I was assigned 12 bed baths.) The nurses told me most of what they do happens at night because family is there during the day. I don't know if that's just their perogative, though.

Of course, there's also something like comp. rehab. At our hospital, the unit is more like a SNF. You may have 12-14 patients but they are doing most everything for themselves. I think they pass meds 3 times a day for everyone and they have a nurse who just does meds.

smurfy · Mar 17, 2008

To bad you are leaving us. You will be missed!!!! Hope you change your mind and stay!!!! :smokin:

bluesnurse · Mar 17, 2008

IMO there are no "day-friendly" floors in acute care. I'll add a "me too" to those who suggest cardiac rehab and/or cardiology office nursing. I've been in OP cardiology for almost two years now for the same reason (just can't do nights). I alternate weeks doing nuclear stress tests/stress echos and working in clinic with triage, labs, coumadin management, and patient education.

Part of me misses the adrenaline rush of hospital care, but I can't bring myself to go back. I love getting to know my patients, knowing their history in-depth and long-term, and actually being able to spend time with them one-on-one. The pay is not bad either. And I clock out at 5:00 sharp every business day.

In a perfect world I'd do this 3 days a week and work PRN in the hospital, just to stay sharp on all my skills.

Best of luck whatever you choose -- you are in demand!