Terrible night shift experience, med-surg to ICU questions

Nurses Stress 101

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Specializes in Transplant.

Hey everyone!

This is my first time using this websites forum, and I'm here looking for some general advice / other similar personal experiences!

I became a nurse because I was obsessed with my anatomy / physiology based courses and I love helping people in need! Throughout nursing school I was striving to get into critical care clinicals whenever I could.

Right out of school I got a great opportunity for a night shift transplant services position at a magnet hospital in town. This position was an awesome opportunity for me to build a wide array of basic nursing skills with an awesome team around me.

After about 7-8 months on my new night shift position, I started feeling anxious / depressed about going into work, lost my motivation, didn't feel challenged, etc. All the things that I never expected nursing to cause me to experience, and I credit it to the night shift schedule.

I have since left nursing (temporarily) to start a separate business. Now, 10 months later I'm wanting to get back in there and try to get a job in an ICU,

My two questions are:
A) Has anybody else had a similar experience while on a night shift schedule, and found that a day shift position had made a huge difference in their job satisfaction? 

B) Are there any previous Med-Surg nurses out there who have found that the ICU was a much better fit for them?

Hope this wasn't too long, any feedback is appreciated!

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