Third Shift Blues

Nurses New Nurse

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I was supposed to start working third shift last night (so to prepare I stayed up all night the night before and slept all day yesterday) and when I got to work, I was told my preceptor had switched days and would not be in that night. I was then told to go home and come back tonight. :angryfire

This happens a lot, so I was mad, but used to it. What I am really upset and worried about is that I have become very emotional and depressed in the last few days as I prepare for third shift. I am not sure how to remedy this, and was wondering if others starting third shift are experiencing this. I am not happy and am thinking that night shift is not for me...even though I have not officially worked overnight yet. Any thoughts?? :bluecry1:

Hi all. I am also a new grad and working straight nights by choice. I was just wondering where all of you work where nights are less busy than days?! On our unit it seems that the problems peak around 2a.m. We also get WAY more patients and no aide, unlike days who gets 4-5 patients and 2 aides. I am thankful that it is busy though, or I don't know if I would be able to stay awake!

Can't wait to try the melatonin tip. Thanks for that one!

-Corri

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Specializes in none, still looking.

It's all the same to me

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Cardiac, Med-Surg.

I have had a hard time adapting as well. I worked Sat and Sun nights...slept on and off all day Sun before work. Then today got home around 8 am and couldn't go to sleep for my nap until after 12. I could barely pull myself out of bed at 4:30. So now here I am unable to sleep at 1:20 am on my day off (have tomorrow off too). My body doesn't know which end is up.

I am actually switching back to days next week. The schedule will be easier to live with. Only problem is that the night nurses seem more easygoing and team oriented.

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The nurses on nights are definitely more laid back and easy going where I work too. I survived my weekend (worked fri, sat, sun) and have tonight off. But it is back to work on Tues and Wed. I am exhausted!!! I am so out of it. I am going to continue to give it a chance, but now I am not sure I want to be on the unit (MICU/SICU)...just don't know where to go or what i will like. What to do!!???

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Cardiac, Med-Surg.
The nurses on nights are definitely more laid back and easy going where I work too. I survived my weekend (worked fri, sat, sun) and have tonight off. But it is back to work on Tues and Wed. I am exhausted!!! I am so out of it. I am going to continue to give it a chance, but now I am not sure I want to be on the unit (MICU/SICU)...just don't know where to go or what i will like. What to do!!???

I have weeks where I hate my job, weeks that are just tolerable and weeks that I actually enjoy it. Such is the learning curve of the new RN. :uhoh21: My plan is to stay on my current unit for one full year then look into transferring to another unit for different experiences. That's the goal anyway.

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That seems to be the general consenus...give it time. I have talked to many nurses on my unit that have been there just over a year, and they had the same experience. One even told me last night that she would not repeat that first year for all the money in the world. I am going to see how I am when orientation is done. (December) I just feel dumb a lot!! I guess i really need to buckle down and put more time into "studying" unit specific stuff. :yawn:

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Gracie, I personally love working nights, but I'm a night person. I like that I can really take care of the patient without PT, OT, Xray, etc coming to get my patient and interrupting. Doctors aren't in every 5 minutes changing orders on you and there isn't as many family issues to deal with. You have more time to get to know the patients. I've worked both days and nights and like the flow of the night shift. Yes it does take some getting used to, but once you do, it's great. Give yourself some time to adjust and see if it's right for you. Also to help sleep during the day, make your bedroom as cold as you can and as dark as you can, bundle up, and turn off the phone. Try to go to bed and wake up at about the same time. This has helped me. If all else fails, there is always Benadryl and Tylenol!! Good luck to you and God bless! :p

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Specializes in Surgical/Telemetry.

I was a wreck my first week on nights, and have now realized that at this point in my life, when tired..I can sleep anytime, anywhere. I know that this is not so for everyone, but I would never have known this before so I'm glad that I gave it a shot. Like someone else posted, I am really appreciating the one-on-one patient care time that I have at night. I really enjoy helping patients get cleaned up and comfortable. I was on day shift orientation for 6 months and never had time for this kind of care. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

I got the melatonin 5mg......:monkeydance: It worked like a charm! Thank goodness I can now sleep. No hang over just rested & ready to go! Thanks for the tip!

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Question about the melatonin. I will only be working overnight Fri & Sat nights...if I take the melatonin to help me sleep for those shifts, is my body still going to hate me the rest of the week when I try to have a normal life?

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Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.

I love working nights! I am a night person and usually more energized then. And who says nights aren't crazy? There are a lot of patients waking up for their pain meds in the middle of the night. Pharmacy dumps their biggest load during the night hours. I can't even count the number of sleeping pills that wear off in the middle of the night! Lots of patients howling and waking up the others. Then there is the early morning mad dash med pass! Not to mention all the overflow the day nurses leave behind (somehow a LOT of admissions manage to fall over onto night shift!) :)

But, I would go to bed when I got home at 7:30 am, after dropping my son off at school. I sleep until 3pm until its time to pick him up again. Do homework. Make dinner. Spend time with the family. Catch a nap around 9p if I feel I need it. Shower by 10p and back at the grind by 11p.

I love the flexibility it gave me to be with my family while they're awake too! When I was on 3-11's, I never saw any of them. :(

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Question about the melatonin. I will only be working overnight Fri & Sat nights...if I take the melatonin to help me sleep for those shifts, is my body still going to hate me the rest of the week when I try to have a normal life?

It doesn't do that to me; it's the only thing that lets me get enough sleep to feel safe on nights. I also take it before my day shifts... I live pretty far north and the sun doesn't go down until after I'm in bed! I took it on Sunday night for a day shift yesterday and today I'm totally my normal self (some would say that's not so normal, but whatever!:yeah:). I'm going out to plant trees now.

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