I started in a rural icu, night shift position for over a year now. I have a great team overall. Management is great and the unit is small enough that it feels like a family. A few crabby day shifters but overall chill, no complaints. However after a year I realize I just hate the stress of critical care. I switched to nights after my orientation and I have slowly realized it’s killing me. I’m a natural night owl but sleeping at 8-9am sucks. I also have a commute almost an hour each way. It feels like 4 days a week are consumed by work (my last day at work is technically on my off day since it’s nights). I have no time to do anything but walk my pets and get ready and sleep or go to work during those days. Since I started nights I feel like I’m drinking more and have fallen into a toxic lifestyle/community because I’m up all night. I can’t flip flop my schedule and just feel crazy sleeping all day on my days off. I have a possible transfer opportunity for a normal 8-5 day shift outpatient position that’s less than ten from my house. It also will pay the exact same. It sounds so alluring and I’m curious if anyone else has made a similar switch and if it was worth it.   submitted by   /u/telescopeminds [link]   [comments]