Comments on: Working the Night Shift http://www.codeblog.com/archives/general_medical_happenings/working_the_night_shift.html tales of a nurse (homepage) Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:21:18 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: AMY http://www.codeblog.com/archives/general_medical_happenings/working_the_night_shift.html/comment-page-1#comment-1646 AMY Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:49:08 +0000 http://s261628773.onlinehome.us/download/wordpress/?p=306#comment-1646 I am a brand new RN graduate, and after missing out on EVERY job in the first round of hires a few months ago, finally took a night now. I haven't even started yet, and even though we are litterally starving to death...I am divorced with two children, I am already wishing I had opted for welfare instead. I know, never did that, probably should have at some point...but I'm afraid. I know myself, and while I can sleep on a moment's notice anywhere, well...I can sleep on a moment's notice anywhere, and if I don't get enough sleep, or am not rested enough, I'm a nightmare. When I had both chlidren, as much as I loved mothering, I still remember the lack of sleep as near suicidal stress for me. I'm praying for a day job, and have every intention of walking out and burning this bridge forever if it takes that to accept a day job, but with all our new hire dates in June, that's still months on nights. ANY suggestions, feel free. My fear, is that as the only adult in the house, I might not even know how it's affecting me. A friend will watch the children when I'm gone, a rare chance to get my foot in the door, and something I never anticipated as available to me, but still... How bad, sincerely, is it to walk out after a few months on your first job in favour of a day offer? Am I even going to find a hospital willing to hire me knowing I'm about to walk out of the first hospital after just a few months? I'm also insulin resistant, tend to be very hypoglycemic, though not diabetic. I'm on medication for that, but worry how nights will hurt my health. I'm the only parent left for the children, but also the only support. So the money is worth the risk, but I need to find a fast-track transition to days ASAP, even as I'm starting nights. I don't think there is ANY way we could survive until even a possible day job around June, nursing school was already more than I should have put us through. Help! There isn't anyone to monitor my funtionality, or help here at all. Everyone in my family is gone, and the only 'help' is the friend taking the children...and even she says only until end of July. How do you make it through the night shift for now, and how do I get the day thing going when I'm running out on a new job? thanks so much... I am a brand new RN graduate, and after missing out on EVERY job in the first round of hires a few months ago, finally took a night now. I haven’t even started yet, and even though we are litterally starving to death…I am divorced with two children, I am already wishing I had opted for welfare instead. I know, never did that, probably should have at some point…but I’m afraid. I know myself, and while I can sleep on a moment’s notice anywhere, well…I can sleep on a moment’s notice anywhere, and if I don’t get enough sleep, or am not rested enough, I’m a nightmare. When I had both chlidren, as much as I loved mothering, I still remember the lack of sleep as near suicidal stress for me. I’m praying for a day job, and have every intention of walking out and burning this bridge forever if it takes that to accept a day job, but with all our new hire dates in June, that’s still months on nights. ANY suggestions, feel free. My fear, is that as the only adult in the house, I might not even know how it’s affecting me. A friend will watch the children when I’m gone, a rare chance to get my foot in the door, and something I never anticipated as available to me, but still…
How bad, sincerely, is it to walk out after a few months on your first job in favour of a day offer? Am I even going to find a hospital willing to hire me knowing I’m about to walk out of the first hospital after just a few months?
I’m also insulin resistant, tend to be very hypoglycemic, though not diabetic. I’m on medication for that, but worry how nights will hurt my health. I’m the only parent left for the children, but also the only support. So the money is worth the risk, but I need to find a fast-track transition to days ASAP, even as I’m starting nights. I don’t think there is ANY way we could survive until even a possible day job around June, nursing school was already more than I should have put us through. Help!
There isn’t anyone to monitor my funtionality, or help here at all. Everyone in my family is gone, and the only ‘help’ is the friend taking the children…and even she says only until end of July. How do you make it through the night shift for now, and how do I get the day thing going when I’m running out on a new job? thanks so much…

]]> By: LesleyJoy http://www.codeblog.com/archives/general_medical_happenings/working_the_night_shift.html/comment-page-1#comment-1645 LesleyJoy Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:59:26 +0000 http://s261628773.onlinehome.us/download/wordpress/?p=306#comment-1645 Geena, For the past seven years I have worked as a Patient Care Services Supervisor from 2000 to approximately 0830 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at a medium-sized hospital on the Pacific Northwest coast. I also participate in daytime, weekday management meetings. I have yet to adjust to the noc shift. I never feel rested, and my judgement is wobbly at times (staff certainly - and kindly - let me know when my brilliant problem-solving falls short of the mark). I MISS SLEEPING AT NIGHT! I miss puttering in the yard during the heat of the day. I miss sitting with friends in the shade of the picnic tree. I miss my brain, my joie de vivre, and I MISS THE LIGHT. Last month, at age 55, it occurred to me that I have only have about 25 more summers to live. Consequently I have begun an employment search which will, if successful, result in a daytime job! Looking forward, Joy Geena,

For the past seven years I have worked as a Patient Care Services Supervisor from 2000 to approximately 0830 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at a medium-sized hospital on the Pacific Northwest coast. I also participate in daytime, weekday management meetings. I have yet to adjust to the noc shift. I never feel rested, and my judgement is wobbly at times (staff certainly – and kindly – let me know when my brilliant problem-solving falls short of the mark). I MISS SLEEPING AT NIGHT! I miss puttering in the yard during the heat of the day. I miss sitting with friends in the shade of the picnic tree. I miss my brain, my joie de vivre, and I MISS THE LIGHT.

Last month, at age 55, it occurred to me that I have only have about 25 more summers to live. Consequently I have begun an employment search which will, if successful, result in a daytime job!

Looking forward,

Joy

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