Night shift?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Specializes in Transplant, LVAD, cardiac.

I have 3 years experience as an RN. I have my BSN, and this is my second career. I was forced to work nights in my first career, and hated it. Then as a new grad, I worked nights...and hated it. I've sworn off nights forever because I'm a tried and true day person. I go to bed early and get up early.

I've been offered what is essentially my dream job, but they want to put me on nights for a while because of my lack of ICU experience. I consider this reasoning to be BS because new grads get day jobs all the time. In my interview, the manager didn't even bring up the possibility of nights, but I did mention that I don't function on nights when she asked what shift I want. She didn't explore or ask if I would be willing to try nights.

I am so stressed about this potential offer. I want this job a lot, and it's where I need to go to get the experience needed for my future goals. I am just not sure I can do nights again. What's a girl to do?

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.

Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

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.

Specializes in Transplant, LVAD, cardiac.

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...

Specializes in Burn, ICU.

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.

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!

Specializes in Transplant, LVAD, cardiac.

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.

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