I’m a nurse working shifts and sometimes 5 days without a pause and I still don’t know if I’m gonna take one of the 2 9 to 5 jobs my hospital system has offered. I’d earn less money, but I’m already 45 years old and I don’t know if I should call it quits and settle for a regular job 5 days a week and free weekends for the rest of my working life. Hustling in nursing is ok if you are in your 20s or 30s but in my 40s? I don’t see it.
I like the extras I get for working shifts but it’s taxing. I’ve been doing nursing for 6 years already and neither do I know how difficult is the transition going to be.
I didn’t adjust well to it because I have an erratic sleep schedule, probably partially from a decade of shift work. I am also not a morning person at all and adjusting to 9-5 (or 8-5 or 8-6:30 which is more common around here) was brutal.
Is the job actually 9-5 for real? Like an 8 hour shift that includes lunch? If so, that’s a pretty sweet gig. Like NOWHERE let’s your lunch be part of your day anymore.
Overall I’m happier at a more consistent job time now. Easier to plan around, no more close-to-open bs.