Not sure I want to do this

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I have been working as a bedside nurse for almost 8 months now. I feel like the chaos never stops. I work nights, so my whole life now revolves around work. I sleep, eat, go to work, come home do laundry and try to recover from work. Forget going to days at my current job, that is just empty promises. And although I think I can do this, I just am not so sure I want to. I have no work life balance AT ALL. I feel like I live to work. The patient load is consistently 2 patients over what we are supposed to have and they always claim we are just short but if it is every night, it's not "just short" it is the norm. At night we are always short techs as well. I hit the floor running, and spend my entire night running in circles. I come home with headaches that linger for days. I am covered in bruises, and I am sore and cranky. I don't eat much at work due to constantly getting interrupted if I ever do try to eat, but I am gaining weight. The numbers on the scale aren't changing a lot but my clothes don't fit. Bottom line, I am tired and miserable. Why would anyone want to live this way for years? If I feel this bad after less than one year, how will I feel in 5? I see some of the people that have been on my floor for years, and I don't like the futureI see for myself. I need an exit strategy. This is not going to work out long term.

I know I should stay until I hit the one year mark. I am going to start crossing days off on my calendar.

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I know I'm only a pre-nursing student but I have worked in a hospital in close quarters with a nursing floor for almost 3 years and I think I understand. It's alway a good thing to stay for at least a year. You should maybe consider being a visiting nurse or trying a smaller facility, even a nursing home. A lot of nurses also work maybe 3days a week doing 12hr shifts.

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Specializes in PICU/NICU/ER.

My old floor sounds like what you're talking about. It was a NIGHTMARE. I didn't even apply there when I graduated. I would change departments. Give another unit a try. Where I'm at now is fabulous!! It's an ortho floor with a 5/6:1 ratio and great management. The other nurses are awesome and we all help eachother...nobody drowns. We take breaks. We go to the bathroom when we need to. We have time to chart. I work nights and love it. But I'm a midnighter for over a decade. I like working 3 12's and being off for 4 days. Our dayshift is a little more chaotic, but definitely doable. You should look around. Have you considered infusion nursing? I know a few and they love it. More laid back. Or homecare or clinic nursing? Maybe the health department? I hope you find a great place and don't choose to leave the profession. Good luck!

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Welcome to the wonderful world of nursing! Remember the first year of nursing is always the toughest! You will find some life balance when you find your way at work. If nights are not working for you, then start looking. I think all new nurses go through the same feelings you are having. My concern when reading posts from all the new grads is how quickly everyone just wants to quit! Trust me the grass is not greener it is just a different shade of brown!

Best advice an "old" nurse can give a "new" nurse.......

RELAX, learn and get some experience. Put your time in just like all of us have had to and one day you can write your own ticket.

Good Luck!

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I just started working nights a few weeks ago and I know exactly what you mean! I feel like I live to work. On the nights I'm off I can't call friends or go out and I feel very isolated, but forget trying to switch my sleeping schedule back and forth, on the days I've tried that I just feel like death all day and then can't sleep that night. I'm going to tell my supervisor that I would like to switch to days but I know it will be several months before that is a real option. I live in a very small town and I am fortunate to have a job at all so I can't really do anything about it, but if you're able to then I would definitely say by all means get a new job! I would, like you said, try to stick it out for a least a year though. You can make it through another 4 months!

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Now you know what does not work for you. Nights are the shift that either one loves or hates. No in between. By the new year you will have had a year experience on a M/S floor, and can look around at what you may want to do next. Would you like your floor if you worked days? Eves? Is there another floor you would like to transfer to that would offer something other than nights? Home Health is another good option. Or even a clinic. Now that your eye is on the goal, really concentrate on your clinical skills and fine tuning them to prep yourself for a new or different nursing experience. Just start looking around to see what kinds of things are offered and what you can find that you may like. Are there internal job opportunities posted at your place of employment? Sign up for one of those job search engines that sends you an email with opportunities. Maybe travel nursing? Then you can state on a contract you will not work nights. Best of luck, and try and get some sleep during the day--black out curtains and a fan or a/c. Four more months!! Woo HOO you will make it!! Best of luck!

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You are def not alone, I am going thru the same, working nights, have no life, bad unit with not enough staff, bad management, aching body 24/7! list goes on and on. Start applying at some other floors ... that's what I am doing, we worked hard to get our degree, don't let one unit ruin everything, good luck!

Going back to school is another option, NPs seem to have better shifts and don't have to deal with the big mess on the floor.

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