I've worked night shift now for most of my 7.5 years as a nurse. Most of the time I've figured I would always work night shift as I tend to be more of a night person or find it easier to stay up late than get up early. I have no desire to work the floor or do bed side care on a day shift. I did work a day shift doing pre-op education for about a year and a half but at the time I felt like I was forced into the position by a hostile work environment that I needed to get out of and no where else to go. In addition to that I took a huge pay cut to change positions. That all left me feeling dissatisfied after a while with the position.
Last year my decision to work on my BSN was partially motivated by knowledge that in the future I may decide to live somewhere other than Fresno where a BSN might mean the difference between landing a job and not. There was some consideration also though that continuing to bedside care was not really feasible as a long term option for me. I figure I've got close to 30 years before I can retire and looking at my chronic pain levels now, I'm aware that my body isn't likely up to be doing this same thing 30 years from now. My time off that I took for my surgery illuminated even more so the effect that my job is having on my body, especially the night shift part of it.
Since I've been back to work my sleep has been less than optimal. Granted prior to my surgery I slept a lot and probably often too much but I always felt tired and there was nothing standing in my way of spending 14 hours in bed sleeping. Now with a puppy who doesn't understand why we're not playing in the daylight that hasn't been an option. Hopefully that will improve some with time but so far I haven't gotten more than 4-5 hours (and those hours have been interrupted like every 2 or so) during the day since I've been back to work. I sleep fine at night although I've been getting up rather early (and managing it fine really) on my days off. Also so far I've only done 2 nights in a row which I don't love doing as it splits my days off up too much and I feel like I'm constantly flipping back and forth from days to nights which is also having a pretty negative effect on me. All of it has drastically increased my pain levels which has left me bitchy and whiny. Not a great combination.
Since I've been back to work now for the first time I find myself wishing for or considering a day shift position. I'm just not sure what. If I were to go to an 8 hour day shift it would again be a big pay cut. Not as big as a few years ago but still big. Plus its only having 2 days a week off which when I worked pre-op I didn't like. Now though that is sounding really good and I'm wondering how I can make it work to lose around $500 a month take home. Yet I'm afraid of making the change and then not liking it. Again that whole fear of decision making. I'm afraid of making the wrong decision. I don't think I can change positions for about 3 to 4 months still as I had transferred into the nursery prior to going out on leave and they want you to do 6 months in a position before changing. Also I don't know that my manager would let me leave our department (unless I left the hospital completely) at this point as we still have a lot of people out and are short enough that we're all having to take mandatory on call shifts (I HATE this!). I guess the 6 month waiting period makes me slow down and consider if I'm making a good decision but I'm thinking my days on night shift are numbered.
Last year my decision to work on my BSN was partially motivated by knowledge that in the future I may decide to live somewhere other than Fresno where a BSN might mean the difference between landing a job and not. There was some consideration also though that continuing to bedside care was not really feasible as a long term option for me. I figure I've got close to 30 years before I can retire and looking at my chronic pain levels now, I'm aware that my body isn't likely up to be doing this same thing 30 years from now. My time off that I took for my surgery illuminated even more so the effect that my job is having on my body, especially the night shift part of it.
Since I've been back to work my sleep has been less than optimal. Granted prior to my surgery I slept a lot and probably often too much but I always felt tired and there was nothing standing in my way of spending 14 hours in bed sleeping. Now with a puppy who doesn't understand why we're not playing in the daylight that hasn't been an option. Hopefully that will improve some with time but so far I haven't gotten more than 4-5 hours (and those hours have been interrupted like every 2 or so) during the day since I've been back to work. I sleep fine at night although I've been getting up rather early (and managing it fine really) on my days off. Also so far I've only done 2 nights in a row which I don't love doing as it splits my days off up too much and I feel like I'm constantly flipping back and forth from days to nights which is also having a pretty negative effect on me. All of it has drastically increased my pain levels which has left me bitchy and whiny. Not a great combination.
Since I've been back to work now for the first time I find myself wishing for or considering a day shift position. I'm just not sure what. If I were to go to an 8 hour day shift it would again be a big pay cut. Not as big as a few years ago but still big. Plus its only having 2 days a week off which when I worked pre-op I didn't like. Now though that is sounding really good and I'm wondering how I can make it work to lose around $500 a month take home. Yet I'm afraid of making the change and then not liking it. Again that whole fear of decision making. I'm afraid of making the wrong decision. I don't think I can change positions for about 3 to 4 months still as I had transferred into the nursery prior to going out on leave and they want you to do 6 months in a position before changing. Also I don't know that my manager would let me leave our department (unless I left the hospital completely) at this point as we still have a lot of people out and are short enough that we're all having to take mandatory on call shifts (I HATE this!). I guess the 6 month waiting period makes me slow down and consider if I'm making a good decision but I'm thinking my days on night shift are numbered.
