Should I quit my job?

renerian, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2004

I guess only you can decide that. I worked the 3-11 shift for 3 years before getting a day shift.

What is your gut telling you?

renerian

allnurses Guide · Dec 15, 2004

Try talking to your manager, tell her what you were told when you took the job. Can you switch to 12 hour shifts? Then you'll be home 3 days instead of 2, or go part time? Is there a possibility of rotating, days and eves?

I prefer nights myself, you would be asleep while they are in school, home in the evenings, then work when they sleep.

2 months is rather short, it may not look good, but your emotional and physical health are important too. Are there other places in the same place to transfer to, with better hours?

There are always more options than just quitting, see if your manager has any other solutions.

Good luck and God bless

Trauma Columnist · Dec 15, 2004

When my kids were small, I always worked nights because I could be home with them in the morning and when they got out of school. Worked for me. Now that my kids are adults, I work a rotating day/evening position. Not something I particularly want to do, but will do for now. Good luck with whatever you decide.

BETSRN · Dec 19, 2004

I just graduated from nursing school and immediately got a job working at a rehab hospital. I was not too thrilled about working the 3-11pm shift but Human Resources assured me it wouldn't be long before a day position would be available.
Well, here it is 2 months later and I found out it's nearly impossible to get on to days. (Most new employees have to wait 6mo-1yr.) Right now I'm an emotional wreck!!! I miss my kids and husband terribly. I was a stay-at-home prior to graduating and now I see my children 2 days out of the week. I leave for work 10 minutes before they get home from school.
I've been applying and interviewing for other jobs but I just want to quit and give my two weeks notice today! What would you do, stick it out and wait until a new job offer? Or, quit and hope for the best. I'm just worried that my resume won't look good working at a job for 2 months. Please help!!!!!
Tiffany

Evenings is a WONDERFUL shift for people with young children. I have been on evenings almost my entire career. You don't miss any of the holidays because you are home in the mornings. Regardless of the floor you work on, it takes a long time and a lot of seniority to get to days and the grass is NOT always greener! Not to mention the fact that if you find a bunch of day openings on medical floors you may be far MORE unhappy than you are now. Days has a totally different personality. If you are a new grad and were a stay at home mom, then I woulod assume that you knew what you were getting into. If I were you, I would hang in there (especially if you like your rehab job) and suck it up. I don't mean to sound mean or anything but nursing (any shift) is NOT a piece of cake, nor was it ever made out to be. The more seniority you accumulate the more flexibility you will have as far as holidays and all goes. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face, as the saying goes. Stick with it. You don't always get what you want in life. You may wait many years for the day opening. Maybe you could speak with your manager and even get one of your days each week to be a day. By the way, people who work days are often so tired they are in bed by 9,hardly seeing their kids or being able to interact with them. There is a down side to days as well, you know. Good luck, but I would wait it out. All of us pay our dues in nursing (you as well). It's well worth it in the end.

Stitchie · Dec 20, 2004

I agree with the above poster. The day shift is much more 'busywork' and the managers are always breathing down your neck. Getting up at the crack of dawn to get to work on time isn't great. The rounding of the physicians at 10:00 and the general attitude of the floor personnel is much different.

PM's are busy (especially in ER's, where I work) but working during the day means my manager has that much more control over me. And that is worth it to me, at least it used to be (please see upcoming rant!)

hang in there, and try to see the positives. The first two months I was out of RN school I thought I'd made the biggest mistake of my life by getting the RN degree, but it opens a lot of doors (good place to be FROM, again see upcoming rant).

If you can talk to your manager and try to work out a solution that would be best. Try not to quit. Things do get better although it's very difficult in the beginning -- and they don't teach you that in school, either!

SarasotaRN2b · Dec 20, 2004

Well, 2 months really isn't too long. If you can, I would suggest that you just try to stay with this job for one year. I know that the idea of spending more time working a shift that you are not happy with stinks, but think about it this way. With the holidays coming up, the kids will be home from schools which will mean that you can be with them during the day, and then before you know it, it will be summer and you'll have the days with them again. Poof, then your year is over. The other option is to keep looking for a day job, just don't quit before you have one. It'll look better for you and easier for you to explain that although the job was fine, you need to have a day job.

I just graduated from nursing school and immediately got a job working at a rehab hospital. I was not too thrilled about working the 3-11pm shift but Human Resources assured me it wouldn't be long before a day position would be available.
Well, here it is 2 months later and I found out it's nearly impossible to get on to days. (Most new employees have to wait 6mo-1yr.) Right now I'm an emotional wreck!!! I miss my kids and husband terribly. I was a stay-at-home prior to graduating and now I see my children 2 days out of the week. I leave for work 10 minutes before they get home from school.
I've been applying and interviewing for other jobs but I just want to quit and give my two weeks notice today! What would you do, stick it out and wait until a new job offer? Or, quit and hope for the best. I'm just worried that my resume won't look good working at a job for 2 months. Please help!!!!!
Tiffany

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Dec 23, 2004

I agree with most of the posters, that 2 months is not a long time. Besides, It is not usually customary to get hired to days (I know it's not impossible). So if you get a new job that's not days, you're back on the bottom of the totem pole. Also 6 months-1 year is not a long wait for days ( I've known people to wait much longer). Another thing to consider, if you get a job that promises days sooner, that may not be a good sign. After the day I had today, I never want to do days again (with the big wigs right there the whole time).

Is it the job, or the shift? Also, if you were to change jobs, I don't know how good it would look that you changed jobs after 2 months because you didn't like the shift. Just my $.02

renerian, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2004

Well said and right on target. I have known people who waited up to 5 years. Afternoons to me really are almost the perfect shift. I can get my housework done, sleep in past 5am, run errands, see hubby off to work and such.....Days if 12s are really hard/running all day, most of the time breakless, docs and managers swarming, LOL JMHO. What did you decide to do?

renerian

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2004

You and your family come first. I don't think it unreasonable to want to see your kids more than two days a week. If you're not happy, then definately find something else. Life's too short and there are other options.

I agree two months isn't long, when a recuiter says "it won't be long" never believe them because their timetable and yours are totally different. To them "not long" could be a year. So chalk it up as a lesson learned.

It's tough being a working mom and having to do nursing because the shifts are so crazy.

Also, you might want to talk to the recuiter and see if there's something within the hospital you can do, or talk to your manager and find out how long it truly will be.

If you don't need the money, then putting in your notice now isn't going to hurt while you wait for another job. But if you need the income, definately have something lined up first.

Best wishes in finding something that makes you happy.

Town & Country · Dec 24, 2004

Why don't you try third shift?

At least you would get to see your kids. I have never worked second shift because I didn't want to be away from my children.

Thirds worked for me.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 24, 2004

I also chose to work night shift. It gives me more quality time with my family. As soon as my youngest is 18, I'll switch shifts. Haven't decided which one yet. At my hospital, even though we don't always have openings on every shift, the first choice always goes to the nurse who's been there for awhile rather than a new grad.

So you might want to check with your HR dept. about that too.

Finally, remember you're making two difficult transitions--being away from the family, and starting as a new grad. I was a SAHM for many years, and just going back to work was a shock, not to mention being a new grad nurse in the bargain. It's going to be difficult to do this, and only experience will teach you what's best for you and your family.

Best of luck to you.