dienne

It is hard to live in San Francisco making that money unfortunately:( It's a sad state of affairs in California where if you make $ 120,000 you're considered a working poor.

Thank you everyone! I do feel I want to experience something new. I started as a new grad 4years ago at my current hospital and it's all I know. As I said this is a much better hospital and a floor that is closer to what I really want to do and that will be a stepping stone to cardio thoracic icu. I know in my heart it's the right decision for my career, I'm just worried because last time I worked night shift I was just miserable all the time. I believe some people have a harder time adjusting to night shift and I am one of them. This job is also closer to home so I'm hoping the shorter commute will make a difference. And I'm obviously hoping to go to day shift in a year or so.

Thank you! Yes it's a large unit. They actually just expanded. It's a 56 beds unit. I'm excited about this job and everything I'll be learning. If this was a day shift position it would be almost my dream job at my dream hospital. I've been trying to get a job at this hospital since I graduated :)

I was on nights for a year and a half. No reason in particular I just couldn't sleep during the day. I will be learning a lot of new things and skills I don't currently do at my job. This is more of a real cardiac step down unit than the unit I a working on now. Also I am starting an online bsn program in February and maybe working nights will help. It's a difficult decision and I'm really not sure what to do.

Yes I have been thinking the same thing. But this is a much better hospital with lots of growth opportunities. They have training programs for their icu's (they have specialty icu like medical, surgical, neuro, trauma, cardio thoracic). It's one of the best hospital in the country for cardio thoracic and heart transplant which is what I am interested. I wouldn't accept a night shift position at any other hospital but I have a hard time letting this opportunity passing me by.

Hello everyone, I have been a nurse on a step down telemetry floor for 4 years and a half. I started at my current hospital as a new grad and learn a lot. My career goal is to work in icu but at my current hospital the chance of transferring are very slim It's a 300 beds hospital with a small icu with a fluctuating census and the icu nurses get cancelled all the time and have to use their pto in order to get paid. I just got an offer at one of the best hospital in the state and country. It would be for a unit that takes care of people awaiting heart transplant and I'll be dealing with a lot of icu drips, assisted devices, and swanz catheters. The manager told me that ICU always recruit from this unit. So you are probably wondering why I am asking for advice :) I will have to start on night shift I currently work days. I worked nights when I first started and absolutely hated it because no matter how tired I was, I Just couldn't sleep during the day. The manager told me she can put me on the waiting list for day shift and currently she only has1person on the list. I know career wise this is a great opportunity, but I'm scared about going back to night shift. I guess I am looking for some reassurance from you guys. What would you do? Career or quality of life? Thank you for any opinions and input you want to give me. Daniela

When the nurse who should give you report is under arrest and detained by police in the nursing office and being accused of trying to kill a patient.

Amor28 do you have a BSN? I thought about going to the fair since I have more than 1 year experience in telemetry, but I have a few ex coworkers working there and they told me not to bother since I don't have a BSN.......

If you are a new grad take any job you can get, you need the experience and working at any hospital will give you that! If you are an experienced nurse I would suggest you keep looking.

I'm sorry I thought the application ended on the 21sth If you are in Los Angeles go to the job fair at Brotman Medical Center tomorrow! They had one in 2011 and I know they hired a bunch of new grads back then!!!

Hello there, I know there are a lot of new grads here looking for jobs and wanted to let you know that the hospital I work at is having a Versant program in March, applications are up online until Friday 21st. The hospital is Northridge Hospital Medical Center, go to the website under the career section and apply. This is where I started my nursing career a little over a year ago and I'm still there :) I also heard that Brotman Medical Center in Culver City having a career fair for ER, Telemetry, ICU, Med/Surg, Psych and surgery, on this coming Monday the 17th from 9 to 5pm. They didn't specify if they're looking for experienced or not but I know they are new grads friendly :) I hope this information is helpful. I remember being a new grad and how hard it was to find a job! But hang in there!!! Good luck. Daniela

I work night shift and there is no way I would work 5 days a week!!!!! I would have no life and I would always be tired with not enough time to recover between shifts. At least for night shift I think 3 12's are ideal, especially if you can group them together and have 4 days off :)

I've been working nights for a year and am about to switch to day. As everyone said nights have a slower pace (although they can be very busy) and you don't have to deal with management, other disciplines, and doctors that much. Because it's slower you can help each other out. If my body could do nights I would probably stay on nights, but after a year my body is literally falling, my health has declined and my quality of life has declined as well. To the point that I don't really have a social life anymore because all I do is work and sleep. And on my days off I'm so exhausted that I just sleep for most of the day. So it's really up to you and your body. Everyone's different.

Thank you everyone, you are making me feel better about my decision! I was having serious doubts last night but I think JessiekRN is right, life is too short to live it the way I am now!!!! I know I will notice the difference too but I'm hoping to regain my strength and health back. And maybe I can find a per diem job (on days of course) to make up for the pay cut :)

Hello, I'd like to see what other nurses think. I've been working nights on a super busy telemetry step-down unit. At first I was doing fine with the night shift and adjusting to the new schedule. But after a year my body is falling apart. I'm always tired, with no energy. I don't enjoy my days off because all I do is sleep (sometimes I'm only awake for a couple of hours a day). Even when I go out, sometimes I have to go back home because I'm literally falling asleep wherever I am. I used to workout and run everyday, but I don't do that anymore because I have no energy. I gained 12 pounds even if I'm not really eating much. And to top it all off I'm frequently sick. I am just miserable and I feel I don't have a life anymore, all I do is work and sleep. I was lucky enough to get a job offer for a day shift in a DOU. Of course being a day shift I will be taking a pay cut. It would be $ 6.00 an hour less. Would you take a pay cut in order to get a more "normal" life back? I'm debating what to do, on one hand I really want to work days because obviously my body doesn't like working nights, on the other hand it would be a significant pay cut. I know that ultimately I am the one who has to make the decision, but I would like to know what you guys think. Thank you Daniela