Well, not really. But it seems like hell... I just started working as a nurse in a big hospital in Tennessee. It was ok... until I got switched to night shift. Yuck... I just can't seem to get my rhythmn switched over. Not sure how long I'll be able to do this... guess I'm just a day person!!
Mark
Greetings from hell...
Moderator: Moderators
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mcooperstein
- Moderator
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:01 am
- Location: Big Stone Gap, Virginia
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Beemeridian
- Lifer
- Posts: 1280
- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:26 pm
I have been working "off-shifts" for 30 years. 10 on the "Owl shift" (hence my screen name) 20 on "Swings" I never got used to the Owl shift, I think most of us can learn to tolerate it. but you never truely get used to it. We are not nocturnal, it is simply unnatural. Swings is easy money though. But is hard on the family life, just about the time the kids are coming home from school, your off to work. I only saw my kids on weekends, holidays, and during summer vacations. I missed a lot during those years.
Don
Don
2004 Ferro R1150R the stealthiest color
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
Night work
I work a 12hr night too. The hours are goofy but the schedule is great. 3 days on / 3 days off / 4 days on / 4 days off , so every 2 weeks you work 7 days. Work Wed to Sat and one Sat night into Sun morning. Nice thing is that if you take vaction of a full 'week' you have 10 / 11 days off. 
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Member #48
pj
Member #48
pj
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mcooperstein
- Moderator
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:01 am
- Location: Big Stone Gap, Virginia
what it is!
Thanks everyone...for the kind words. Brian, to answer your question.. this may be permanent. They originally hired me for nights, and I accepted. Theres a $$$ premium which attracted me at first, but.. well, now I'm not sure I can do it. I have some meds (prescription..) that I'm gonna try on my next shift. I'm gonna take some ambien to help me sleep the next morning and see if getting 6-8 hours will make a difference. Right now, I go to bed at 8 am but get up between 1-2pm. I'm ok, until about 2:00 am the next day, when I start getting sleepy again.
Yong, I'm still a 'newbie' nurse. I'm not sure whether I can say I like it or not at this point. Where I work, cardiac intensive care, they say it can take as long as a year before I have enough experience to 'recover' a patient from open heart surgery on my own. It's a long steep learning curve, and besides having to endure the long shift (12 hours), it has moments of stress that I am not used to. I had a patient last week who had an MI on me at 1:30 in the morning and I had to deal with it. The resources at night arent quite as good as the day ones, so you really have to be on your feet. I'm just not used to this level of responsibility, but I'm trying my hardest to learn. The other factor against me... I'm 54, not exactly a spring chicken. I have my own health problems to deal with which makes work less then 'fun'. But, on the other hand, it does have rewards..I'm helping people that need it, and making some $$$ at the same time, although I made a whole lot more working at the software engineering companies before endeavoring this krazy life change. I suppose the short answer to your question is...I'll just have to wait it out and see. Ask me again next summer! Right now I'm stressing over my boards. I have to take the NCLEX exam this Thursday in order to get licensed. Once I get through that I'll feel a whole lot better, but right now.. I'm just stressed out!!
Y'all... keep me in your prayers!
Mark
Yong, I'm still a 'newbie' nurse. I'm not sure whether I can say I like it or not at this point. Where I work, cardiac intensive care, they say it can take as long as a year before I have enough experience to 'recover' a patient from open heart surgery on my own. It's a long steep learning curve, and besides having to endure the long shift (12 hours), it has moments of stress that I am not used to. I had a patient last week who had an MI on me at 1:30 in the morning and I had to deal with it. The resources at night arent quite as good as the day ones, so you really have to be on your feet. I'm just not used to this level of responsibility, but I'm trying my hardest to learn. The other factor against me... I'm 54, not exactly a spring chicken. I have my own health problems to deal with which makes work less then 'fun'. But, on the other hand, it does have rewards..I'm helping people that need it, and making some $$$ at the same time, although I made a whole lot more working at the software engineering companies before endeavoring this krazy life change. I suppose the short answer to your question is...I'll just have to wait it out and see. Ask me again next summer! Right now I'm stressing over my boards. I have to take the NCLEX exam this Thursday in order to get licensed. Once I get through that I'll feel a whole lot better, but right now.. I'm just stressed out!!
Y'all... keep me in your prayers!
Mark
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Just-Beeming
- Basic User
- Posts: 306
- Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:39 pm
- Location: Pacific Northwest
Mark
I'm a nurse too. Newbie or not. You night shifters set the pace and planning for the whole day. Day shift is usually so busy with tests, PT, baths etc that there is little time to really know what is going on with these patients. Good night Nurses even if new are hands down as valuable...if not more than the veterans on Day shift.
You will pass that Nclex!!! You know some questions are just samples anyway and do not count.
Keep up the good work and know that you are doing a great job!
I'm a nurse too. Newbie or not. You night shifters set the pace and planning for the whole day. Day shift is usually so busy with tests, PT, baths etc that there is little time to really know what is going on with these patients. Good night Nurses even if new are hands down as valuable...if not more than the veterans on Day shift.
You will pass that Nclex!!! You know some questions are just samples anyway and do not count.
Keep up the good work and know that you are doing a great job!
# 490
04 Black R1150 R...
06 Black F650 GS
72 Honda CT 90
Life It just gets better and better!
04 Black R1150 R...
06 Black F650 GS
72 Honda CT 90
Life It just gets better and better!