Transitioning from night shift to day shift.

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Hi, I've been an RN for 5 years, working full time on nights for the last 3+ years. I've accepted a day shift position and I'm completely stressed out. My whole life is set to a night shift schedule. My husband works 2nd shift so we basically just stay on a night shift sleep routine even on our days off (we don't have any children yet obviously). I feel my best when I'm at work. I've never really had issues being up all night or sleeping during the day. I've also never been a morning person. So I'm just looking for any advice on how to best transition from days to nights. Or if I should even do it? My hopes are that eventually my body will adjust to a day time schedule, but I've often heard people say " I just can't work nights, I never could get adjusted to it" and so on. And I worry this might be me with day shift since nights feel so normal to me.

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Specializes in M/S, Tele, Sub (stepdown), Hospice.

I've always worked nights so I can't say personally but quite a few co-workers have made the switch to days & say they never regretted it....they felt like they had a life again...hope that helps...good luck!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg., Oncology, Observational Units.

I worked nights for three years and switched to days about a year ago and have not regretted it. I highly recommend it for your health. In time you will get use to sleeping at night and it will have a positive impact on your health. The body is meant to sleep at night. You will be more productive on your days off. Do it, you will not regret it.

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I've had the same concerns myself. I just started nursing in May and I've been on nights and I really like it. My manager asked me if I'd be interested in days and right now the answer is honestly no. More work and $5 an hour less, no thanks. That being said, I've always been a night-time insomniac, especially when I have to wake up early. Nursing school was brutal for me only on clinical nights because I'd get horrific insomnia. I'm also a 26 year old single guy with no kids, so obviously my schedule is a lot more flexible than people with significant others and kids. I think it's doable, there's probably an adjustment period but I agree in the long run it's probably better for your body assuming you can make the transition. Best of luck.

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Specializes in MICU.

I just made the transition a few months ago after 2 years of nights. My husband and I were on opposite schedules, which was my main reason for switching. I never knew how bad I felt working nights until I went to days. I was always trying to flip back to a day schedule as soon as I was off and that left me with a constant "hangover" feeling. It didnt take too long to make the transition.

Yes days are busier (took me awhile to admit that one!!) but there is less teamwork. It is nice to have the docs there during the day, instead of calling the on call at night who likely didnt know the patient.

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Hahaha... My last night shift was on November 2-3, 2012. I got up that Saturday afternoon feeling like garbage as usual from working nights. Went to bed @ 10 PM that Saturday night, exhausted. Woke up on Sunday at a normal am time and went about like a normal person. Never looked back. I went back to work on day shift that Tuesday. No adjustment needed. Zero, zip, nada. I am not a night shift person.

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Specializes in CICU.

I went to dayshift for almost a year. Hated it and couldn't wait to get back to nights...

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I went to dayshift for almost a year. Hated it and couldn't wait to get back to nights...

Yea, what she said. Had hours most nurses would love, m-f, 8-5. No overtime, ever. Hated. It. With. A. Passion.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I am a natural night owl......Physically you will adjust easily.....however I never liked them for the noise level alone. There is just massive input all day long, phones ringing, people calling your name....it is deafening...as a manager.....I would make excuses to come in at like 3am "for the staff" a couple days a week....mostly so i could get work done with the peaceful night crew....the side benefit, they appreciated having me there at 3am.

I was glad to return to supervision at night a few years later.

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Specializes in CICU.
There is just massive input all day long, phones ringing, people calling your name....it is deafening...

THIS! Sensory overload in the worst way.

I always meant to count how many times my phone rang, buzzed or vibrated in a 12 hour shift. Talk about alarm fatigue.

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Specializes in geriatrics, IV, Nurse management.

I switched over to days 3 weeks ago after 2 years on nights. I still awaken at 2ish thinking it is dinner time (time I took my breaks)

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