rotating shifts

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Hi all,

I  am struggling with how to approach the issue at work. I was hired for the night shift at ICU. I thought it was an awesome opportunity and accepted without thinking. In meantime, I found out I was pregnant. I am still on my orientation and just found out all new hires have to rotate (2 weeks on days, two on nights). This was upsetting to me because:

1. I wouldn't accept rotating shifts position - never

2. My pregnancy is not easy (nausea, exhaustion, insomnia) and now add the miserableness of having to switch the inner clock like crazy. My doctor said for now he cannot give me a restriction note but MAYBE later as I feel more "physically limited"???

My question is: how do I approach my manager about it? If I wasnt pregnant I would give it a shot, but I don't want any additional stress (by the way, I think rotation is senseless and no need for it as 50% of new people want to do nights and 50% days).

I may even give it a shot pregnant but once the baby comes, I would have no choice but to be night shift as my partner works days and finding rotating child care is not easy (I don't want child care when the baby is very young, anyway). 

It just seems very unfair to me and I am even thinking of just finding another job but would like to talk to the manager first.

Do you think I am being unreasonable?

 

 

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Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

It sounds like you were hired for night shift, is that correct? They were up front with you and you confirmed you were hired for nights? Some orientation is on a certain shift - when I was in the ER, sometimes nurses hired on days had to start on nights because of their preceptor’s schedules and vice versa, then they were moved to the shift they were hired for. 
 

If not of this is true and they did hire you for nights and the rotating shifts are not temporary, then I understand your frustration. 
 

Either way, it sounds like you have a choice to make. I understand the frustration because I lasted 6 months on a rotating schedule (this was a job that wasn’t honest with me either). Nights are bad enough but rotating is miserable in my opinion.  But I also don’t think my body adapts well. Some people just deal with it. It depends on if you want the ICU experience or if you want to feel better during your pregnancy. Or you could work the job while looking for other jobs. 
 

I wish you the best in your pregnancy and job!

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1 minute ago, speedynurse said:

It sounds like you were hired for night shift, is that correct? They were up front with you and you confirmed you were hired for nights? Some orientation is on a certain shift - when I was in the ER, sometimes nurses hired on days had to start on nights because of their preceptor’s schedules and vice versa, then they were moved to the shift they were hired for. 
 

If not of this is true and they did hire you for nights and the rotating shifts are not temporary, then I understand your frustration. 
 

Either way, it sounds like you have a choice to make. I understand the frustration because I lasted 6 months on a rotating schedule (this was a job that wasn’t honest with me either). Nights are bad enough but rotating is miserable in my opinion.  But I also don’t think my body adapts well. Some people just deal with it. It depends on if you want the ICU experience or if you want to feel better during your pregnancy. Or you could work the job while looking for other jobs. 
 

I wish you the best in your pregnancy and job!

Thank you! No , I understand preceptors' schedules. I am orienting on days and will have few shifts on nights and then, when on my own I would start rotating. I would give it a try but I don't want any negative impacts on my baby. The manager may make an exception for me (I was gonna talk to her tomorrow) but I honestly doubt it.

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"My question is: how do I approach my manager about it?" Arrange for a meeting, or send an email.  Your pregnancy is irrelevant to the administration.  The policy is already in place.

 Continue with your orientation. Feel out the staff to see if switching shifts is a feasible  option. I could see where many staff would switch days for nights.

 Congratulations and good luck with your new position.

 

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1 hour ago, FutureNurse0201 said:

Hi all,

I  am struggling with how to approach the issue at work. I was hired for the night shift at ICU. I thought it was an awesome opportunity and accepted without thinking. In meantime, I found out I was pregnant. I am still on my orientation and just found out all new hires have to rotate (2 weeks on days, two on nights). This was upsetting to me because:

1. I wouldn't accept rotating shifts position - never

2. My pregnancy is not easy (nausea, exhaustion, insomnia) and now add the miserableness of having to switch the inner clock like crazy. My doctor said for now he cannot give me a restriction note but MAYBE later as I feel more "physically limited"???

My question is: how do I approach my manager about it? If I wasnt pregnant I would give it a shot, but I don't want any additional stress (by the way, I think rotation is senseless and no need for it as 50% of new people want to do nights and 50% days).

I may even give it a shot pregnant but once the baby comes, I would have no choice but to be night shift as my partner works days and finding rotating child care is not easy (I don't want child care when the baby is very young, anyway). 

It just seems very unfair to me and I am even thinking of just finding another job but would like to talk to the manager first.

Do you think I am being unreasonable?

 

 

I don't think you're being unreasonable, and I would never agree to rotating shifts. The pregnancy is irrelevant (as been there states). I wouldn't even mention it. They don't have to honor your doctor's restrictions, either. They can just write you off the schedule.

Ask about the possibility of all nights and go from there. If they say no, you'll have to consider what other options you have.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

I would ask because there are probably more people who want to work only days and if you work straight nights they'll get more days. And 2 weeks on days and then 2 on nights is ridiculous and dangerous.  I know in the past they've done studies and have shown that's it's really not safe to rotate that often.  

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

As others have mentioned, the pregnancy is irrelevant and on a side note unless it is extremely high risk, there really shouldn't be a doctors not excusing you from rotating shifts based on being pregnant.

Does your offer letter that was sent to you specify night shift specifically, or any shift? If it does, then you may have a leg to stand on there. If it doesn't specify the shift like it should say, then sounds like you are a victim of the bait and switch that some hospitals use. Another approach could be to find someone else who rotates shifts but only wants to work day shift, and go to your manager with the proposal of you working only nights for her and her only working days for you.

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20 hours ago, FutureNurse0201 said:

Do you think I am being unreasonable?

Nope, absolutely not.

But you need to leave your pregnancy completely out of this. Completely. You accepted the position under significant terms that changed before you could even get off of orientation. This is not the position you accepted.

I would look for another position. That's just me.

(I cannot reiterate enough: Do not make this about your pregnancy.)

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