May Need to Get Back to Nursing, Third Shift?

[pnurseuwm]

Hi all, some months ago I received great advice on this forum about getting out of nursing. Well, I did and this month will be my 7th month as a health unit coordinator (more of like a receptionist for a clinic). I'm thinking of moving to another state. The particular city is very small. It will be the first time I've lived on my own and I'm dreading if I will be able to make enough money to support myself. In this particular town there are some nursing homes close by that I may be able to apply for some clerical positions, but I know I will be able to get a DEFINITE job as a nurse.

I'm feeling very anxious about not being able to find a job in a new city, and ultimately have been thinking about getting back into to nursing (something that I truly hate). I've had 3 Nursing Jobs in the first year after graduation, never made it off orientation, but they were all on first shift. I think one thing that I despised was the constant interruptions on first shift (like going into my patient's room with meds only to find the room empty because physical therapy has taken the patient, doctors interrupting my assessments by blowing up the cell phone they make us wear to ask stupid questions that they could find the answers to on their own, the constant admissions, the dieticians interrupting me to "talk" to my patients, patients families preventing me from doing dressing changes because they want to "talk some more, so can you come back later to change the dressing?" etc.) I've been thinking about being like a .5 (that is pretty much all I can stomach of nursing) like on third shift. The particular hospital I was thinking about has a rule of no visitation after 8:00 P.M. so that would be cool with me, there are no "visits" from physical/ occupational therapy, priests, dieticians, etc. on third shift, there are no doctors walking around writing tons of orders on third shift.

I know I'm going to get the ol "You should stay out of nursing if you hate it so much" replies but I may not have a choice. So if any of you work, or have worked, third shift, can you tell me some of the positives about it as opposed to first shift? (Second shift is out of the question because of other things I will be doing).

Thanks

[pnurseuwm]

Anyone?

[HealthyRN]

Hi Pnurseuwm,

I remember you well from our discussions and similar desire to get out of nursing. I have also moved on from direct patient care and I am much happier now. However, I am actively pursuing a degree that will open up more options outside of nursing. Is this an option for you?

I have tried working nights and found that the pace is slower, but my body couldn't handle it. The atmosphere on nights is more relaxed and the people that work nights tend to be as well. There is more of a feeling of cohesiveness and I found coworkers more willing to stick up for each other and help each other out. But I couldn't deal with the lack of quality sleep and my body just couldn't handle it. Some people can and some can't, so don't let that scare you off. The main reason why I left though is that it all comes down to the fact that I don't like bedside nursing, regardless of the shift. I suspect that you may find the same. I would recommend really doing some research into the jobs available in your new location. Even if it is a small town, there will still be opportunities for non-clinical jobs. Good luck!

[NurseCurtis]

Hi all, some months ago I received great advice on this forum about getting out of nursing. Well, I did and this month will be my 7th month as a health unit coordinator (more of like a receptionist for a clinic). I'm thinking of moving to another state. The particular city is very small. It will be the first time I've lived on my own and I'm dreading if I will be able to make enough money to support myself. In this particular town there are some nursing homes close by that I may be able to apply for some clerical positions, but I know I will be able to get a DEFINITE job as a nurse.

I'm feeling very anxious about not being able to find a job in a new city, and ultimately have been thinking about getting back into to nursing (something that I truly hate). I've had 3 nursing jobs in the first year after graduation, never made it off orientation, but they were all on first shift. I think one thing that I despised was the constant interruptions on first shift (like going into my patient's room with meds only to find the room empty because physical therapy has taken the patient, doctors interrupting my assessments by blowing up the cell phone they make us wear to ask stupid questions that they could find the answers to on their own, the constant admissions, the dieticians interrupting me to "talk" to my patients, patients families preventing me from doing dressing changes because they want to "talk some more, so can you come back later to change the dressing?" etc.) I've been thinking about being like a .5 (that is pretty much all I can stomach of nursing) like on third shift. The particular hospital I was thinking about has a rule of no visitation after 8:00 P.M. so that would be cool with me, there are no "visits" from physical/ occupational therapy, priests, dieticians, etc. on third shift, there are no doctors walking around writing tons of orders on third shift.

I know I'm going to get the ol "You should stay out of nursing if you hate it so much" replies but I may not have a choice. So if any of you work, or have worked, third shift, can you tell me some of the positives about it as opposed to first shift? (Second shift is out of the question because of other things I will be doing).

Thanks

Just a thought-- Have you thought about Home Health Nursing? The interruptions that you mention on day shift in Hospitals is a fact of life-- and has run off more nurses than you know-- many to third shift for just that reason. But at least in home health, the patient's are expecting you-- and the interruptions should be minimal.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[queen777]

There is also agency nurse work. I had never worked as a pool nurse and like you I had a difficult time dealing with the hospital staff. A friend recommended agency work and I loved it!

Yes you do go from place to place, but if for any reason you don't want to return to a certain facility you can simply say "no thanks". You can't do that in the hospital or if you work anywhere on staff. Some staff nurses are not so nice while others are which make it bad for the ones who are nice to work with.

If you want appreciation for just showing up for work, by being a pool nurse you will get a smile every time you show up (because if you didn't show up, they would have to work the shift).

Plus you don't catch the politics of being a staff nurse...like attending meetings on your day off.

Just do your job and they will love you!!!

I myself am thinking about getting back into nursing, but I left for other reasons than you did...mainly given too much responsibility, like the DON expecting me to work 2 floors and when I called her about it (I was the only nurse in the facility) she told me to "wing it". I did wing it all right and a lady's new pacemaker did not kick in and I was on the other floor giving out morning meds and such so I didn't even know this was happening! Later I found out, to make a nurse work 2 floors all by herself was against the law!. I can see why too. Another new pt was on liquid oxygen, I knew nothing about liquid oxygen, his O2 sats were in the low 80's, why was he even there? He should have been in the hospital. He acted all crazy pulled out his foley cateter and I got in trouble for not putting it back in, but he was going to the BR without any problems.

See why I got out of nursing??