Switching floors

[nurseontheway]

I work at night and requested to switch floors so I can work days instead of nights. I am not functioning well on nights. However I would be switching from a stepdown ICU to a med/surg floor which means I would have more patients. In some ways I regret saying something but I am really struggling to stay up all night and it has affected me negatively. I have also heard that the nurses that work on days are not helpful or easy to work with. Do I try to suck it up and stay on nights for nicer coworkers and less patients or do I work days which would give me a better quality of life? I do not thrive in a hostile environment and have left places before because of it. I feel so torn.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

While I have witnessed different "cultures" in nights vs days, there are great nurses on both shifts and day shifters do help each other! I know several day shifters are good friends on my unit, look out for each other, and even trained each other. I wouldn't let this (often untrue) stereotype be the reason you don't switch to a better life schedule. As for having more patients...I don't know what to tell you, you're the one who can best determine how that will work for you. But if nights isn't working, perhaps it's worth a try?

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

My advice will just be do not judge your day coworkers based on things you have heard rather than your own experiences. You'll set yourself up for failure if you do that and it isn't fair to them either.

In terms of your question, that really depends on what is important to you. For me, quality of life is the most important thing. I gave up night shift last year after doing it for over 9 years. Yes I often find myself busier on day shift now, but there are also more resources and people around to help and it makes the shift fly by. Plus my sleep and quality of life on my off days are significantly improved.