Rotating Shifts

Pattiecake · Dec 4, 2004

Today, I interviewed at a hospital that has rotating shifts. I had never heard of that before today. During the fellowship that I interviewed for, you are required to rotate D/E/N for 12 weeks. After the fellowship you either rotate days/nights or nights/evenings. I don't like that at all, but everything else about this place is great.
Do you have rotating shifts in your hospital?

When I worked in Canada, many different provinces, I worked rotating shifts. You get used to it. The management's mind set was the staff wouldn't develop that typical clique about "Those day people always....." That part was very true. We all worked al shifts, so we all knew what it was like. About 10 years ago I started working in the US and learned about permenant shifts. Wow, I love it. You actually get to establish healthy sleep habits. I thought I was one of those people that always had to sleep most of my day off, but when you get on a regular shift, you go to bed and get up without an alarm clock. It took some getting used to, but like I said, I love it.

Pat

stbernardclub · Dec 4, 2004

awwww...one of the worst things about hospital nursing.....SHIFTS....Hard on your body and difficult if you have a family...hope it works out for you:) I did 17 years of 11pm -7am....i hope i never have to do it again fulltime( crossing my toes and fingers :) )

Today, I interviewed at a hospital that has rotating shifts. I had never heard of that before today. During the fellowship that I interviewed for, you are required to rotate D/E/N for 12 weeks. After the fellowship you either rotate days/nights or nights/evenings. I don't like that at all, but everything else about this place is great.
Do you have rotating shifts in your hospital?

Tony35NYC · Dec 4, 2004

They don't do that here and I think if they tried more people would quit. A lot of people have family commitments, school, etc. and I doubt they'll disrupt their thing to continue working here when they can so easily get another job elsewhere with the hours they want.

If you're not used to working rotating shifts its going to take a while to get used to.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2004

We rotate at our hospital. d/e or d/n. Some work 12hr shifts and rotate, some 8's. Heres the thing. If you can find someone willing to stop rotating and that works the exact opposite shifts and rotation as you, see if they are willing to switch out with you and one work all the nights, one work all the days. That's what i do and it has worked well for over 3 years. Of course if one of you quit or go to a different position you inherit your old rotating schedule back, but... you never know someone else may come along. Some people hate nights, others hate the stress and bother of day shift. It works well for both people and all are happier sticking with the shift they enjoy. Shouldnt be any staffing problems, but both have to agree to stick to the shift they accept until the other one leaves the position. It's not something you want to keep changing back and forth on, that makes the staffing office crazy.

RNforLongTime · Dec 4, 2004

Where I work, we rotate shifts, either D/E or D/N. A select few work straight evenings. NO ONE works straight Days except the Nurse Manager and CNS. So the above posters suggestion of switching their off shifts with you simply would not happen where I work. I had someone to take my day shifts and I'd take his nights and he was told by the Nurse Manager that it was not possible to do that as there would be too many complaints. The last hospital I worked at, I was on a D/E rotation.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2004

There is only complaints when some cant find people to switch with them. Doesnt happen much where i work, for the most part everyone that wants straight days gets them just the way i outlined. If we have two people and are on different schedules but one wants days and one wants nights they try to trade schedules permanently with whoever is on opposite of the person wanting a straight shift. Unless they have people working all kinds of different combinations of day/night/evenings. Where i work everyone has another person that works exactly the same schedule as them, only on the opposite rotation. Only difference is when they switch they dont have to rotate anymore,, they still work the same scheduled days of the week.

peeps79 · Dec 4, 2004

In Canada, where I worked before. the Union set up a shift rotation that meant you could only rotate D/E or D/N all 8 hour shifts. I thought that was difficult...

Now, in the US (but also unionized) I work Days, evenings, nights and a Combination of 12 and 8 hours (some weeks I may only work 3 12 hours others its 1 12 hours and 3 8 hours. other weeks it's 4 or 5 day shifts.

I hate it. I hate what I've become because of it. I'm depressed moody and lethargic. I'm gaining weight by the week and I've become the heaviest and most unhappy I've ever been. I'm too tired to do anything other than sleep, most days. I would love to go back to either days/evenings or days/nights. At least I would have one consistent 8 hour period in which I could sleep.

Thanks for letting me rant!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Dec 4, 2004

Where I work, we rotate shifts, either D/E or D/N. A select few work straight evenings. NO ONE works straight Days except the Nurse Manager and CNS. So the above posters suggestion of switching their off shifts with you simply would not happen where I work. I had someone to take my day shifts and I'd take his nights and he was told by the Nurse Manager that it was not possible to do that as there would be too many complaints. The last hospital I worked at, I was on a D/E rotation.

Oh for heaven's sake! Can't they at least wait for something IMPORTANT to come along to get themselves all worked up over?? Just for me, if I was able to work something out with a co-worker, but the hospital batted down the effort, just to maintain control over us (let's call a spade a spade here - after all, anyone who complains would be free to strike up a deal with a coworker themselves), I would find other employment. It's petty little crap like this that makes nursing suck.

dolphinRN · Dec 4, 2004

Where I work, they consider it a priviledge to work a straight off tour. You are "responsible" enough to perform your duties without the Nurse Manager watching you. If you screw up, they will pull you off the tour.

The only tour that rotates is the day shift. The only place you can work straight days is in the clinic or specailty areas. Day people either cover evenings or nights. It is not a true rotation. When all the off tour positions are full, the only time you don't work days is to cover when one of them is on leave.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Dec 4, 2004

Where I work we do rotating shifts. Most people do day /nights. But we also are unionized and have written in to the contarct that 40% of the day FTE's have to be staight shifts. Consequencely we have a matching number of staight evening and night shifts. I know several of the nurses on nights myself included with a waiting list of others because we would rather do the straight shifts than rotate.

Rj:rolleyes:

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 4, 2004

Do you have rotating shifts in your hospital?

Nope and I would avoid doing that at ALL costs. SO Not worth it, believe me.