2 year night shifter thinking about days need help!!

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Hi fellow nurses!

I would really appreciate all of your input in this. I am a nurse of a little over 2 years. I had orientation on days and hated nursing (I am not sure if I hated it because I was so overwhelmed, I didn’t work in patient care until nursing school so I had no idea about anything). On orientation I cried all the time and wanted to quit. I went to nights and that all changed. I didn’t dread going in and I gained confidence and skills. I became a charge nurse on nights after a year and I believe I am really good at being charge. Lately I have been feeling on nights that I don’t belong, the other nurses have gotten younger very clicky and I feel out of place now. All of my friend night shifters have since moved away or gotten new jobs :/. I have also been catching any and every cold possible (I am sick atleast once every 2 months). I talked to my doctor and he said it’s because I work nights. I’m so used to nights that I think I’m used to no sleep, being in a bad mood, not having motivation to get things done on my days off, etc.

A days position popped up and I have 4 days to decide. Everyone on days has been supportive and telling me I will be ok and I will feel better. But on nights my schedule is pretty great, I am every 3rd weekend which will change to every other on days. I also get 8 days off every 6 weeks, which I will lose going to days I will only have a 4 day stretch now. I will also lose being able to park in the parking ramp and will now have to shuttle in on days. Days scares me because I feel I don’t know a lot that goes on and I feel a lot will be thrown at me and I will drown. I have never planned on staying on nights forever either due to wanting to start a family eventually. This decision has been eating away at me. I would love some support and advice from you all.

Thanks so much!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.
4 hours ago, Smartash89 said:

Lately I have been feeling on nights that I don’t belong, the other nurses have gotten younger very clicky and I feel out of place now. All of my friend night shifters have since moved away or gotten new jobs :/. I have also been catching any and every cold possible (I am sick atleast once every 2 months). I talked to my doctor and he said it’s because I work nights. I’m so used to nights that I think I’m used to no sleep, being in a bad mood, not having motivation to get things done on my days off, etc.

Change can be scary but you yourself said you have gained skills and confidence. You are not at the same place you were when you started out. What good is 8 days off if you have no motivation to get things done and are always in a bad mood? Also with days, your first day off you’ll be tired but you won’t have to sleep it away. However if you love all the perks of nights then stay on nights, figure out a way to get more sleep, and make time to enjoy your real friends on your days off so you won’t be so concerned with your co-workers. Many will be moving on someday as well so it won’t be like this forever.

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

Talk to the manager, day you want to try days to get a better work life balance but ask if it doesn't work out will you be able to go back to nights. In most cases that's a yes.

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I was on nights before going to days. Days works better for me for my family and plus I felt I gained so much knowledge during days. I was getting bored on nights because I finished my work so early and then went and read every progress note about my patient. Time went by so slow and I would just eat to stay awake.

The biggest thing I lost about nights was my pay differential. I lost an average $1000 month by going to days. I work more now and my checks still don’t reflect it.

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Specializes in ICU.

I’m glad you posted about your struggles as I’ll be starting on night shift after I finish my new grad orientation. Thanks for sharing! As for your predicament, your health is so important! Like another poster said, try days and go back to nights if it doesn’t work out? I think you’ll probably get used to the day shift issues like the shuttle. If you feel better and have better quality of life, I bet you’ll acclimate to those annoyances easily.

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Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown, PCU.

We recently lost three of our night shifters to the cruel,evil sun that conquers this thing they call day shift.

One was excited, loved the move. Took him a while to settle in because he made the change while treating day shift like it was night shift. You really can't. Day shift is a different beast, at least on my unit.

One was a long time night shifter. Like... 20 years. He couldn't be happier. His only complain was he waited so long.

The third, struggled. She was worried about losing shift diff, but went from PT to FT. It took her a good month to adjust to days. It was dreadful for her at first,but she stuck with it. She's very happy now.

So... If say go for it. Give it a good investment. And if after a month or two you're just not feeling it, ask to go back. There always someone looking to go to days.

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The only reason I worked night shift as long as I did was because of money. That's it. I'm glad I finally left that behind because I was sinking and sinking fast.

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm in a similar boat- have been on nights for 4 years and start day shift next week. For me it's been a decision that was a long time in the making. I know I'm going to have to work harder for less money, but it's going to be so nice having a work-life balance on my days off. I would try it. Worst case scenario you can always go back.

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I will always be partial to days because of health and a more normal sleep-wake schedule. Sure, days can be hectic and buzzing but the day might go faster because of it. I would say go for it since you are more experienced and more confident.

Back when I worked days on the floor (I am now in outpatient setting and haven't worked on the floor in 12 years) we had to pass our own trays and did a lot of work that would usually be relegated to techs and aides because of understaffing. It's different now at my place of work. Sure there is still understaffing but there are techs and transporters, and dietary passes trays instead of nurses. When you are lacking support it makes hectic days even more hectic. Does your day shift have plenty of ancillary support?

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Go for it! The other posters are right- usually if you want to go back to nights, they will gladly take you back and typically there are more staffing issues/needs at night so it's not usually a matter of staffing.

Who knows when this opportunity will come around again?

Just from my personal experience, I have been a nurse 13 years and I worked roughly the first 6 years on nights. I didn't realize how bad I felt and how much sleep and life I had been missing out on. I sleep so much better and it's truly so much easier to make appointments/go to classes. And I also felt like I didn't really belong on day shift initially. I didn't know any of the people but as time progressed, they have become just as close as my previous nightshift family.

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I was a night shifter for 7 years then I changed positions to a new hospital and although I applied for nights they only had 7-3 or 3-11. I took the 7-3 (which has since changed to 12 hr shifts. It took me about 3-4 months to really feel comfortable with the change but I didn’t just change shift I changed hospital and into a specialty.

Yoh will get the hang of it. Day shift is different but you are a nurse and you are more confident caring for patients and handling the patient load now. You will adjust to a different routine and maybe even like it! Talk it over with someone you know and get them to answer you honestly what it is like in the day shift in the position you would apply for.

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