Nursing is Making Me Sick

MADHAT6 · Aug 3, 2009

As you get more experience you will be able to bargain for better hours and jobs,know your worth,you may not be able to make your current employer give you good /better hours,but job hunt and parlay your experience into the hours you want,make it a condition of being hired ! and good luck it may take time but you will succeed !:wink2:

miss81, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2009

At my hospital you can't bargain for better hours. You have a schedule that everyone follows and a pay scale that can't be changed. That's one bad thing about unions, you can't use your "worth" to bargain for better conditions. Seniority is important here and after a few years of building seniority and experience many ppl get days jobs like ambulatory clinic, cancer clinic and management jobs.

I was like you first when I started and I'm still not a good sleeper. It does get easier, my first year was the hardest. Especially since I would lie in bed and dwell in all the stuff I might have missed during that night shift. But, I agree that I can't do this for the rest of my life either. Everything in my body changed. My skin, hair, bowel habits, mood all changed,and not for the better! You really have to make an effort to eat healthy and drag your butt out of the bed to exercise (my biggest problem). It was easier since my husband and 90% of my friends are nurses too and we pretty much had the same days off! Good luck to you and remember that you body will get used to the routine!

luvbug · Aug 3, 2009

I think your body will adjust somewhat, but it can take a long time. You will have to decide if it is worth it to continue or not. Otherwise, just start job-shopping. Good luck!

nursebber · Aug 3, 2009

I think your body will adjust somewhat, but it can take a long time. You will have to decide if it is worth it to continue or not. Otherwise, just start job-shopping. Good luck!

Always listen to your gut. Sift through what you here from "seasoned" RNs. Some people are plodders, (not a bad thing) and really I wish i was. I havebeen an RN for 2 years and used to get sick evry shift. I didn't sleep. I couldn't believe the regimens and health of other RNs. Not food for 12 hours, chips, candy, obesity, smoking and we are supposed to teach about stopping this behavior? All were fine nurses and helped much, I looked around and actually found a couple positions that push wellness for staff and education and these were mostly"not for profit hospitals" If something feels that bad..it is. Oh, and don't listen to the typical "thats nursing"..it's not.

rjmjRN · Aug 3, 2009

I have been in nursing for 3 years as an LPN, and now I am new RN. I worked in a hospital for the first six months, working day/night shifts (which I agree with you--is awful), then I got very lucky and I got a great job as an admissions Screener for a Rehab center. I have some marketing experience and that is what landed me this

"RN job" as an LPN. Then my employer paid for my RN. This is a 7:30-3:30 Monday-Friday, no holidays, no w/e....so there are definitely jobs out there that will pay well and have better hours than the hospitals, but you do need to start somewhere. I was very lucky, the job kinda of just landed in my lap. I was able to move out the hospital after only 6 months. But mostly I have seen that after about a year or more of hospital experience you should be able to look around and move into a different position/job that is a little easier on your body. Good Luck!

interleukin · Aug 3, 2009

Your body asks, "What the hell are you doing to me?"

Your respond, "I wanna be a good nurse."

Your body," Are you nuts, this will kill us?

Listen, some people can do it, some can't. Don't fight it. Find yourself a better job. Rotating day/night is not suitable for normal human living.