Rotating shifts

[lilcampy310]

Hello all,

I am soon going to be looking for a new job and would LOVE to be in a big teaching hospital. But so many of them (UMMC, Hopkins, UPenn) mostly have rotating shifts posted. I think they are so ridiculous and unsafe! Why do they do that?! What are your thoughts? Is there any way around this?

[jennycRN]

The experience of rotating shifts can vary from unit to unit, but it is a way of guaranteeing coverage of the less desirable 'off shifts'. As a new grad I had a nightmare rotating experience working five 8 hour shifts, every other weekend, and typically rotating between days and nights every week. My current unit has a stable permanent night crew and only requires two nights per month for the rotators. The schedulers try to give preference to the rotators to make sure that we don't have to work a night and then come back the following day.

It is hard to escape shift rotation unless you work permanent nights or have seniority on your unit, but it doesn't have to be horrible. Talk in advance to managers and staff on a prospective unit about the night obligation for rotators and decide for yourself if it is doable.

[lilcampy310]

Hmm good to know! I'll have to find out more information. I think I could handle it if it was just a couple of shifts a month. My best friend works at a well-known hospital in Philly doing rotating shifts. Everyone on her unit rotates, regardless of preference, experience or seniority. Recently they have the schedule so messed up that she changes shift every week.