Rotating Shifts

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Specializes in Medical ICU, PACU.

Hello all - I have been an RN in the ICU at my community hospital for 2 years now. I like it, but I want to move on to a bigger, city, teaching hospital. Mostly all of the places I'm looking in (Philly, Baltimore) have rotating shifts (I just don't get it!) - this makes me nervous. How often do you rotate? What are your experiences like?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I don't know of any hospitals that still use rotating shifts in my neck of the woods. But 'back in the day', it was very common. The only alternative was to work permanent nights. Just like most things in life, rotating shifts can be scary if you haven't had to deal with them before. Forward rotations (D-->N) aren't too bad but when you have to rotate back to days, you'll need at least a couple of days off in order to adjust your sleep schedule. Hopefully, you will be on a set schedule so you can be sure your 'real life' is arranged around your work schedule.

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Specializes in Medical ICU, PACU.

That's all I can seem to find in Baltimore & Philly (and NY too!) - I think it's terrible. Where is your neck of the woods? Maybe I should go there lol

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This is one thing I have come across as well. I live in the dc area and it seems like that is all there is on the clinical floors!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Have you ever worked rotating shifts, or have you just decided that it's terrible based on the fact that you don't think you'd like it?

There are some very good and valid reasons for rotating shifts, and they become even more valid during the current "customer service craze." Anyone who loves day shift but is getting burned out on crazy families and their incessant, over the top demands may benefit from a week or two on nights when it's quiet. Recharges the batteries. Reminds one what one likes about day shift. Go back into the fray refreshed.

Some senior staff are on the unit during the night shift to balance out the newbies, and to have someone other than the charge nurse whom the newbies can go to for advice and help with trouble shooting.

The newbies get a chance to work day shift. There's more teaching going on during day shift, and they get a chance to participate in that and to learn more.

No one has to work night shift all the time unless they want to.

Here's a link to a thread on surviving and thriving rotating shifts:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/rotating-shifts-surviving-906451.html

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Personally, I am one of those people who would rather have the crazy days. I can understand why it would be appealing to some... But for others, mixing up your clock like that can be really harmful. Me for example I'm a type 1 diabetic, and if I don't sleep right my sugar goes wonkers and I have a sugar hangover for days it seems... That's just me personally though

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

It really depends on what the rotation expectation is.

Those that I hire are expected to rotate forward if needed for coverage, and some even like it.

However, it's actually pretty rare that anyone ever has to do it involuntarily. I try keep shifts evenly staffed so it doesn't happen much.

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