Night shift?

RIRed · Aug 30, 2015

Can you try it temporarily, maybe for 6 months, to see how you do? If it's your dream job it may be worth giving it a shot.

amzyRN · Aug 31, 2015

You said you don't function on nights. Wouldn't it be better to find a day position if your skills are possibly impaired? I had the same issue, well similar. I was absolutely miserable and barely functional on nights. I can't sleep in the day and even when I got 5 hours, the max I could ever get, by 4am I was slow, forgetful, nauseated. I felt impaired. So I require that any job I take is either a day position or something that allows me to get to sleep when it's still dark. I can do late shifts, even if it ends at 3am, but not nights.

My dream job would be in the ED, but I wouldn't accept a night position because I think I would probably fail orientation, my level of functioning at night is that bad. If you are as bad as I am, try to find a day position.

TXcatcher · Aug 31, 2015

I am going to ask about what would happen if nights are not working out for me. It would have been nice if she at least mentioned it in the interview...

marienm, RN, CCRN · Aug 31, 2015

Hmm, I was hired as a new grad in an ICU...I was hired to work nights, but the first 3 months of my orientation were days (20 week orientation). I'm gonna be honest, days are harder (most of the time) on my unit than nights. The residents round at 0600, so sometimes at the end of a night shift there's a scramble to start implementing new orders, but the attendings don't round until 0800-ish or later, so the day shift gets the brunt of that. Also, most non-emergent procedures, OR time, scans, and dressings (most notably burn dressings) happen during the day. Plus, PT/OT wants to work with everyone, awake people need to be fed, families visit, etc... I'd think the *better* time to orient you would be during the day because it would be the better 'test' of what you can handle.

Maybe they only have a night position available, and I can't fix that. But if they think they're "easing you in" on the night shift they're probably not doing anyone any favors-- you've already said it doesn't work for you, and if you do go to days later you might be lost at first with all the extra stuff to manage.

dah doh, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2015

If it's truly your "dream job", I'd put up with a less than desirable situation such a temporary stint on night shift to achieve my long term goals.

It's not common for anyone to obtain a day shift position without experience in this job market especially a new grad. Maybe the area you are at is different and jobs are plentiful, but where I'm at, we have several hundred applicants for each RN position.

By the way, at my facility, any RN (experienced or not) who needs to obtain special training is considered a "new grad".

Good Luck to you!

TXcatcher · Sep 6, 2015

Thanks for all the feedback! I think I am going to turn down the position. When I asked about the possibility of transitioning to day shift, they mentioned there is a wait list. So they posted a day position, but have a wait list? Seems shady. I also think it was shady to not even bring up the possibility of nights during the interview. I'd be afraid they'd hire a GN to days, and I'd be stuck forever.

Because I've worked nights before, I know it would not be a good situation for me. If something were to happen because I was too tired, then I'm out there alone. I need to keep my license.

I currently have a great position, and my hospital is about to give raises, so the money in my current position would be better in the end.

I do work in a saturated market, but there is always a possibility of finding a day position. I know a lot of night nurses who don't want day jobs, so there are day openings out there. I'll just wait until mine comes along.