OPINIONS? PLEASE

[promote.health]

So I am fairly new RN. I got offered to work Days. My schedule currently is nights I work 3-12h on 1 off 3-12h on then have 7 days off. My new schedule would be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. To have every weekend off? amazing right? Well I am indecisive, I love my 1 week off, but it is gruesome the week I work. It is becoming hard switching from nights on work week to days on week off. I often feel like a zombie due to being so tired. I have a son who just turned 2, with nights I am home (sleeping) and there have been times he has needed his mom and I am here for him. Now 3 days out of the week I am unavailable to my son. Both are ideal schedules and I am having a hard time deciding. I work at an assisted living/Alzheimer's/dementia community. my family is very outdoorsy people who love hiking, fishing, camping etc and summer is coming up. I am young so i can handle nights so far. Day shift seem like they are hard to come by, especially with every weekend off. The nurse before me worked there 5 years. Just looking for insight/opinions. THANKS!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I'd be on that spot like white on rice!

[Dumplins, MSN, RN, APN]

take it! i know i would

is there any pay difference jumping from night to days?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

who cares? some things are worth more than money! grab that one, girl!

[NoviceRN10]

Nights will kill you, go to days.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

That's almost my schedule and I love it.. Yeah, 12 hrs makes it difficult on the days you work, because you are away from your kids longer. On the other hand, the weekends off and feeling normal would be worth it.

[prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP]

Take it.. Those spots don't come open often.. Also you will have the weekends for outdoor stuff with your family.

[mrr5745]

I'm a night owl by nature and loved working nights. The problem is the rest of the world operates on a day shift schedule. I found after a while I was missing out on time with family and friends even on my days off because it was so hard flipping back and forth. I switched to days despite the pay difference and my hatred of waking up early. I'm still not a morning person, but I find it is much easier on my body to keep a "normal" sleep schedule. I've also been able to spend much more time doing things I enjoy on my days off because I'm not so tired from flipping back and forth.

[DixieRedHead, ASN, RN]

I would leave my administrative job, where I lift nothing heavier than a chart, and run like a scalded dog to this position. I would never look back. You will be available to your son after your shift and 4 other days a week.

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

Your current schedule sounds too grueling for me. The 7 days off would be great, but in between sounds like a nightmare. I think overall I would have to take the new job. It gives you more balance and as a mom that is hard to get. But nights are good for a mom too because if you HAVE to be there for something during the day you are. Just without sleep. There is no perfect schedule for a working mom unfortunately. Something has to be sacrificed, but your current schedule sounds like the hardest to cope with.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

If it were me, I'd go for it. Days PLUS weekends off is a very rare combo to get, especially as a new nurse. It would give you plenty of family time and be kinder to your health...and that may be worth giving up the night differential for.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

[Old.Timer]

Take It.

I'd take your current schedule if I was foot-loose and fancy free and able to really benefit from the unconventional hours. I'd use the opportunity to just take off, travel, totally chill out etc.....

As it is, you're living a family life with children and others on a more traditional schedule. Not only are you not able to really reap the benefits of that schedule; it's particularly grueling because your responsibilities remain. It's brutal.