annabash_rn

Hi, I have no advice to offer personally but I feel your pain! I love the kids but night shift is a struggle for me also. I feel like a zombie on most of my days off and I get sort of lonely.

I recently started working in a pediatric hospital on a med surg floor. Night shift is generally slower than day shift bc we don't have as many discharges, but we still get a ton of admissions. 7-11p is generally super busy but after midnight vitals/med pass/assessments it usually calms down. Sometimes there are less family members at night, but not always. I do feel you get a little more one on one time with your patients during night shift because it is slower than days and there are no (or fewer) PT/OT/management/whoever blowing up your phone all day.

Well, I'm not the OP, but I'll give you all my update. I left my public health job in January and have been working on a neuro/stepdown unit at a level 1 trauma hospital. I left public health for a few reasons. Some days after a chaotic night shift, I think I was crazy to leave my Monday thru Friday 8-5 job. But then other days, I'm reminded why I left. My coworkers on my floor are amazing, and I've learned so much in 6 months. I feel like I'm growing as a nurse and also as a person (sounds so cliche, but it's how I feel!) I'm still nervous pretty much every shift, but it sounds like that's normal for the first year of nursing. I personally felt I wasn't being challenged enough in my public health position. I enjoyed it, I enjoyed working with the patients, but it became very routine to me very quickly. To be completely honest, I was bored most days. I think it was just the particular division I was hired into. There was a lot of down time. I don't sit still well, never have. I also owe quite a bit in student loans, and needed the opportunity to pick up extra shifts. I couldn't do that being a salary employee at my health dept. I tried to look for a PRN position in a hospital setting so I could stay in public health, but no one wanted to hire a new grad RN and spend all the time and money to train them for a PRN position. I have much respect for public health nurses as the work is not easy. I don't think an "easy" nursing job exists. Maybe I'll return to it someday when my back can't take bedside nursing anymore. But for now, I think I'm where I need to be.

This happened to me too in nursing school. It sounds silly, but before going in the room I would shake my hands a couple times and take a few deep breaths. It really helped. Also, make sure you're eating enough. A couple times I realized my shaking was because I hadn't eaten or drank any water in hours. Even just a quick bite of a protein bar helps! As posters above have mentioned, practice practice practice. This too will help ease anxiety and build confidence. Remember you are still learning and as you gain more experience, this anxiety will decrease :)

I am curious about this process as well. Yay Sallie Mae.... not

Call in and don't feel guilty. Its norovirus season. Its not worth the risk of infecting your coworkers and patients. Rest up, drink lots of fluids, and feel better :)

OP, thank you for starting this post. I was about to post something similar to this but I didn't really know how to word it the right way. I really appreciate all of the responses from nurses who have been working nights. I am starting nights on a med surg floor next month (7p-7:30a) and trying to figure out how to transition from working day shift. I changed my unhealthy ways (drinking too much alcohol, binge eating, and fast food) and began living a much more healthy lifestyle about 5 years ago, lost 40 pounds, and have kept it off thus far. I have been unsure how working night shift and planning my meals is going to affect my weight. I workout 4-5 days a week and was unsure when I should work out. Should I work out right after getting home, before going to sleep? Or get up at 5pm and work out before my shift starts? I have heard both suggestions from nurse friends. I'm not sure what will work best for my body and I plan to try it out both ways to see what works best for me, and not to distract too much from the original post, but any other suggestions would be much appreciated :)

Yes I just graduated in August 2015. I believe our ratio is 1:6/7 too. I'll be in orientation on days for 4 weeks, then 4-6 weeks more orientation on nights. After orientation, I'll be on night shift permanently. Hoping my body will adjust to that change.. Lol

Yes I just graduated in August 2015. I believe our ratio is 1:6/7 too. I'll be in orientation on days for 4 weeks, then 4-6 weeks more orientation on nights. After orientation, I'll be on night shift permanently. Hoping my body will adjust to that change.. Lol

Sending hugs and happy thoughts your way! I am starting on a med surg floor this month. I have no seasoned advice to offer, since I haven't exactly "been there, done that" just yet. It sounds like you are approaching your one year mark, and you should be very proud of this. My more experienced nurse friends have told me med surg is a place that people don't always stay for a long time, but its an excellent place to learn. Hang in there! Hopefully you can take a vacation or some personal time coming up.

Good advice! I am starting on a med surg floor later this month. I have been working in public health for about 5 months now. I am really excited/nervous to start on med surg.

My planner is my diary. LOL but really, I'd be so lost without it. Even after graduating from nursing school I still use it every day. Time management was a huge part of nursing school for me.. so those that do not currently use a planner I highly recommend getting one!

It sounds like either position would suit you. Did you verbally accept the first offer? Or have you signed any sort of new hire contract? Those might be things to take into consideration. Not sure what the terms would be to "bow out" of the first job offer. Talk to a L&D and also NICU nurse if you are able to, about pros and cons of starting as a new grad in either specialty. Their advice may help you make your decision. If you feel NICU is truly where you want to be, go for it. Either way, congratulations! Both sound like exciting opportunities for you.

I interviewed in an ER for a new grad position, but I chose to take a med surg residency position instead. I have several friends who are new grads who are in their fourth month of ER orientation. It varies from hospital to hospital, but from what I understand ER new grad orientation is longer than say a med surg orientation. I too would check with the hospitals HR department.

Congratulations and good for you! LTC needs more nurses like you. Keep up the good work :)