Graveyard / Night-Time shift???? Any opinoins?

[AminoAcid777]

Hey everyone,

So I am getting an opportunity to work in a hospital, but its a graveyard shift 7 on/7 off. Originally I was opposed to the idea, but it seems like I cannot find any other hospital job without prior hospital experience (What a catch 22). Anyways, I was wondering if anyone has experience working night shifts, and their personal experience. Is it worth it? Does it totally mess up your circadian sleep cycle? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

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[Old Timer]

I have never worked overnights for a long period of time, just a week here and there. Your body becomes accustomed to this schedule. If this is a hospital that would like to work at, then take the shift, do the job well and move up when the opportunity presents itself.

 

[RNtoPharmD]

7 on/7 off or 3 12-shift is ok. But not 5 8-hour night shift.

You will lose some days for time adjustment though. Do they pay any shift differential?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Wow. Usually the night shift thing is only for people with experience as you are all alone. I suppose there is another pharmacist there with you? Having a new grad alone would scare me for a few months...

 

[Transformer]

Wow. Usually the night shift thing is only for people with experience as you are all alone. I suppose there is another pharmacist there with you? Having a new grad alone would scare me for a few months...

Does your hospital have only 1 or 2 night shift pharmacists on duty??

My hospital schedules at least 3 pharmacists for the Noc. 7 on/ 7 off shift. The Noc. supervisor is a newly graduated pharmacist and the other two are old timers; these ladies have a great sense of humor.

I would like to think there are other pharmacist(s) on duty with the OP as well.

 

[StaviZFingerZ]

Does your hospital have only 1 or 2 night shift pharmacists on duty??

My hospital schedules at least 3 pharmacists for the Noc. 7 on/ 7 off shift. The Noc. supervisor is a newly graduated pharmacist and the other two are old timers; these ladies have a great sense of humor.

I would like to think there are other pharmacist(s) on duty with the OP as well.

That's a luxury of large hospital. Hospitals up to about 250 beds usually have 1 graveyard pharmacist.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

The few times I've worked night shift I really liked it...because I was alone. No manager...no experienced pharmacists trying to act like they are my supervisor...just me...a tech...and 220 patients. It's very sink or swim...which oddly, I like.

My natural sleep cycle (i.e. if I'm left to myself without a schedule) usually has me going to sleep at like 5AM-6AM and waking up at 1PM-2PM (I just woke up like an hour ago...lol) Nights worked out very well for me. I had WAAAAY more energy and made less mistakes than I did during morning shifts when I had to wake up at 5:45AM. I'm tempted to just give in and take a 7-on-7-off position for the sake of my own comfort and quality of life...

 

[mike36]

I worked nights for two years full time before pharmacy school (5 days/week). It took me about 6 months to really adjust to it. The biggest problem I had was that I would go back to a day schedule on my off days, which threw everything off.

After I was adjusted, I actually liked it for the most part. For one thing, it makes it much easier to schedule things during the day without worrying about having to leave work early (like doctor's appointments). It does take its toll though. After two years of it, I began to long for the yellow Sun.

 

[MountainPharmD]

Hey everyone,

So I am getting an opportunity to work in a hospital, but its a graveyard shift 7 on/7 off. Originally I was opposed to the idea, but it seems like I cannot find any other hospital job without prior hospital experience (What a catch 22). Anyways, I was wondering if anyone has experience working night shifts, and their personal experience. Is it worth it? Does it totally mess up your circadian sleep cycle? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Bad idea to do this as your first hospital job, IMHO. You are all alone with no backup. Strange things happen at night and you have to be familar with everything. Now if you will be working with one or two expeienced pharmacists no problem.

 

[Transformer]

The few times I've worked night shift I really liked it...because I was alone. No manager...no experienced pharmacists trying to act like they are my supervisor...just me...a tech...and 220 patients. It's very sink or swim...which oddly, I like.

My natural sleep cycle (i.e. if I'm left to myself without a schedule) usually has me going to sleep at like 5AM-6AM and waking up at 1PM-2PM (I just woke up like an hour ago...lol) Nights worked out very well for me. I had WAAAAY more energy and made less mistakes than I did during morning shifts when I had to wake up at 5:45AM. I'm tempted to just give in and take a 7-on-7-off position for the sake of my own comfort and quality of life...

I wonder what other obligations/concerns are holding you back from giving into your temptation of working the 7 on 7 off position...

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I wonder what other obligations/concerns are holding you back from giving into your temptation of working the 7 on 7 off position...

Where I work now, they let me off for every WVU football and basketball game. You have no idea how big of a deal that is for me. Pathetic? Yes. But I is what I is....

 

[Transformer]

Where I work now, they let me off for every WVU football and basketball game. You have no idea how big of a deal that is for me. Pathetic? Yes. But I is what I is....

Nah. Not pathetic. Sounds like fun.

Fortunately, my current employer tries to work around my schedule and I love it cuz this gave me the opportunity go back to school and consequentially, helped me get into pharmacy school.

As of this moment, I'm strongly considering working for them again after I become a RPH.

 

[AminoAcid777]

Thanks for the all the good input guys. When I said I have an opportunity for a graveyard shift, I meant to apply. I just wanted to get some firsthand opinions before I did it. But I am starting to think graveyard shift really would not be so bad. I don't think any DOP would be stupid enough to put a new grad alone for a night shift(atleast I hope not). Thanks again! 🙂

 

[Allure]

Where I worked before, we had 2 night pharmacists. One with 7on/7off and the other person 5on/5off. It's an 11-hour shift. It's a fairly large hospital and the pharmacists sometimes have to go go to the floors. So I don't think you will be by yourself unless it's a fairly small hospital. My pharmacist was always grumpy on the 6th and 7th night..lol. It's a lot to work 7 nights straight for 11 hours a night, but you get paid more and don't have to deal with management. The problem I see with 7on/7off is that on the 7 days off, most pharmacists would go find a second job instead of enjoying the time off!!!

 

[AminoAcid777]

With the amount of debt I am in....a second job really does not sound that bad...better do it while I'm still young right?

 

[BuckPharmer2010]

Where I work now, they let me off for every WVU football and basketball game. You have no idea how big of a deal that is for me. Pathetic? Yes. But I is what I is....

That's amazing, one of my biggest concerns of graduating is finding a job that gives me Saturday afternoons in the fall off so I can watch college games.

I would definitely do 7on/7off for the vacation every other week if I thought my body could handle switching things up like that.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

That's amazing, one of my biggest concerns of graduating is finding a job that gives me Saturday afternoons in the fall off so I can watch college games.

I would definitely do 7on/7off for the vacation every other week if I thought my body could handle switching things up like that.

The key is to go to the burbs of a major pro sports city. I work in the outer suburbs of Pittsburgh...and everyone I work with is ALL about the Steelers. I work every Sunday...they let me take WVU Saturdays off. I'll work Penguins home games...I get of WVU basketball home games...

 

[Allure]

That's amazing, one of my biggest concerns of graduating is finding a job that gives me Saturday afternoons in the fall off so I can watch college games.

Are you friends with xiphoid2010?? lol

 

[BuckPharmer2010]

Are you friends with xiphoid2010?? lol

Don't know him, my undergrad degree is from OSU.

WVU - good strategy, I'll have to keep that in mind. Also looking at military, which I hear is a lot of M-F scheduling.

 

[pillpusher2007]

Where I worked before, we had 2 night pharmacists. One with 7on/7off and the other person 5on/5off. It's an 11-hour shift. It's a fairly large hospital and the pharmacists sometimes have to go go to the floors. So I don't think you will be by yourself unless it's a fairly small hospital. My pharmacist was always grumpy on the 6th and 7th night..lol. It's a lot to work 7 nights straight for 11 hours a night, but you get paid more and don't have to deal with management. The problem I see with 7on/7off is that on the 7 days off, most pharmacists would go find a second job instead of enjoying the time off!!!

Absolutely! 80% of the pharmacists I work with have 2+ jobs! It can get out of hand sometimes. You should work your seven and enjoy the time off. Sure the hours can be a bit harsh sometimes, but realize that you are priveliged to be in the position your in. I have friends in salary positions that work 70+ hours per week, non-pharmacy of course, that would kill to work this schedule and make a pharmacist salary. Work your 7 and enjoy the rest. You are truly blessed to be in a position that you can take advantage of this.....not to mention you pay for just working one job is enough to let you enjoy yourself!😀

 

[BlueCrayon]

That's amazing, one of my biggest concerns of graduating is finding a job that gives me Saturday afternoons in the fall off so I can watch college games.

I would definitely do 7on/7off for the vacation every other week if I thought my body could handle switching things up like that.

Ha! I hear ya! I thoght I was the only one who tried desperately to arrange me schedule around having off Sundays to watch NFL.

 

[Momus]

I work 7 on graveyard 7 off in Retail..

During that 7 days off... I have 1 day off, 5 days on dayshift (overtime), then 1 day off, and I am back to do 7 days graveyard...LOL... no problem at all for me.

Last year, a hospital in Santa Barbara, Calif offered $67/hour nightshift -.- but they want an experienced pharmacist... I'd take that job in a heart beat if I had the experience lol

 

[The Sonoran]

I'm a night shift VAMC hospital pharmacist working a 7 on/off schedule.

I purposely sought and chose this shift and wouldn't work a different shift unless I had no choice. I LOVE the night shift! However, many younger and single pharmacists wouldn't work this shift as it crimps their social scene.

Seven things that I really like about the night shift are:

1. 7 on/off schedule.
2. Higher rate of pay.
3. More autonomy.
4. Less "noise" and interruptions.
5. I like the night-shift people.
6. I'm less likely to be replaced/laid-off.
7. Vacation works out to be longer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N6rzfoWHzg

 

[NormalSaline]

For you folks working overnights at hospitals:

Is there an overnight "clinical" type pharmacist on staff, or do you get to step up and do more clinical work as an overnight staff pharmacist?

 

[The Sonoran]

For you folks working overnights at hospitals:

Is there an overnight "clinical" type pharmacist on staff, or do you get to step up and do more clinical work as an overnight staff pharmacist?

It depends upon what you consider "clinical"?

If you mean formulary enforcement.. oops I mean drug selection, renal or hepatic dosing adjustment, pharmacokinetic monitoring, code response, and maybe even discharge counseling, then yes, there's clinical work. If you mean going on rounds and presenting cases, then no.

But luckily, I happen to work with a team of the best clinical pharmacist staff in the State, and can often alert and defer more "hands on", in-depth problems onto the day-shift clinical team, when the patients are awake and more attending staff are available.

But, as the only pharmacist at night, I have to prioritize and manage my time effeciently towards more immediate concerns such as order-entry, medication distribution, IV compounding, and responding to nursing needs.

 

[solzont]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/jobs/03pre.html?_r=1&8dpc

 

[type b pharmD]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/jobs/03pre.html?_r=1&8dpc

cool article, thanks!

I plan on working the night shift for at least a while when i graduate. Works out much better with my body's rhythm