I thought when I started my job working night-shift would be a 1 to a 1-1/2 year thing. I would serve my time on the graveyard shift then I would take the first day-shift job opportunity when it was my turn on the seniority totem pole. The 2-year mark was my first opportunity for a day-shift position. I reluctantly turned it down due to the money. {Working nights, there is a significant pay increase.} Welllll...It's almost four years later and I'm still here! Since then, there has been 4 day-shift positions I have passed along to others. I keep saying, "Oh, just one more year..."
Our hospital is building a brand-spanking new, larger than life, state of the art, new hospital and has many new positions available. Again, the opportunity arises. Again, I ask myself, do I go to day shift?
I'm going to look into my finances in depth this week and see if I can afford the pay cut. The pay cut varies depending on how many weekend shifts and how much overtime I work. I want to be responsible with my finances {a New Years resolution I'm still committed to!}
I have some dept to pay, I would like to build my savings account back up, invest in some home improvements, and like any other girl, I have a shopping problem! So, by this statement, I think I know the answer to my own question...I can't go to day shift. I spend too much money! Haha. My friends at work {who have all left me for the bright side} keep begging me to come to days and I tell them: just find me a second income...aka: a husband. All problems solved! Then I can join them on the sunny side of life!
BRIGHT SIDE
PROS | CONS |
***Normal Life | **Lose shift differential |
**Feel better physically/less tired | *Pay for parking $350/yr |
All of my best friends who I started with are now working days. {We are friends outside of work too!} | Will be less senior staff member. {Will be required to work more holidays & weekends again.} |
In an environment more conducive to learning | More people in unit on days {all disciplines: MDs, students, PT/OT, social workers, etc.} |
More procedures: angio/trach&peg/OR |
VAMPIRE SHIFT
PROS | CONS |
**Shift differential | ***Physically exhausted {have needed more caffeine lately, why?} |
*Do not pay for parking | Always live an opposite schedule {awake in middle of night, sleep all day...very hard to flip-flop} |
More senior staff member {work less holidays and weekends} | |
Quieter environment/Less people in unit {not a zoo/circus} |
I'll pobably decide to stay on night-shift for one more year {which is what I've been telling myself every year...we see where this has gotten me} to work on debt and savings. I'll see where I am then and re-evaluate my situation {?}
ALL ADVICE WELCOME!
