My transition to day shift after 7 years working nights

So, it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted and I’m still trying to get the hang of this whole blog thing. I enjoy doing this but sometimes I just feel like it’s hard to write and figure out what to write about. I have so many ideas but I sit down to write, and then barely write anything, or what I write just doesn’t sound right. I hope you are enjoying everything so far and stick with me.

What a life?! I worked for over seven years on night shift before finally getting a job that allows me to function like most normal people. I honestly have mixed feelings about it but I am enjoying the evenings I get to spend with friends and family.

I started my career in healthcare on night shift.

My very first CNA job was on nights and I never looked back. The people were AMAZING and the schedule worked better at the tie I was in nursing school and also serving at a restaurant on the weekends. I was able to go to school in the morning and then work at night or vice versa (which was tough sometimes to stay awake during class). And it was also more money which was nice.

As a nurse, I worked night shift back in the same unit I started on as a CNA which was great because I already knew at least half of the people. It was nice to only work three nights and then have the other nights off and make my schedule to where I could have 8 days off without taking PTO. But…I was tired ALL the time!!! Even on my nights off, I didn’t always feel like going out r doing anything besides sitting on the couch. Sometimes it took a couple of days to recover because I didn’t stay on a night shift schedule on my off days. All my friends and family (besides nurse friends) were on normal weekday schedules. I missed out on a lot of events and parties because of working at night. I also started working a lot of overtime because my hospital was offering extra incentives so ended up working four to five days every week.

I have been working a day shift job for over two months and I really like it.

Sure, I have to work five days per week every week and will have to cover weekends occasionally once I am on my own but I don’t have any plans to go back to night shift or any regrets about switching to this new schedule. I get to play volleyball again, see my friends every weekend, go mountain biking on the weekends, and go for evening motorcycle rides with my husband. I don’t miss out on birthday dinners or holiday get-togethers so I feel like I have some of my life back. It’s not always about if I can make it or other people scheduling things around my work schedule.

It was definitely rough the first few days of having to be awake all day, but it has been soooo worth it. I feel good, and I am happy in my job. I was so worn out at my old job and was ready for something new. I am so grateful for the experience of night shift because, in some ways, it had more responsibility and autonomy which has helped me in my new job as an NP. Looking back, I wouldn’t do anything differently because it has all led up to this point in my life and I know I am joyful and blessed.