[manna]

I work nights, and I feel like it's killing me!
Problem is I LOVE the area I work, LOVE my coworkers, but HATE the nightshift. There's currently no openings on days.

I'm a relatively new nurse... and also 30 years young!

I'm always exhausted and I've gained 20 pounds. On my last day off, I slept for nearly 22 hours straight. I just couldn't drag myself out of bed.

Gym membership to the one affiliated with the hospital is super-cheap (only like $7/month for employees), but I live 45 miles away from the gym and I work 12 hour shifts. Plus, I'm a little embarrassed to take my overweight tail up in amongst all those uber-fit people jogging and such in there.

[CseMgr1]

I worked night shift as a nurses' aide for 18 months, and it almost killed me, too. After it became obvious that my repeated requests for day shift were being ignored (or thrown into the trash) by The Powers That May Be, I quit and enrolled in the Practical Nursing program at a local technical school. I slept day (and night) right up to the first day of school, for I was so worn out.

[Chicklet2]

Hey... i know how u feel.. though i've only been working 10 - 12hour nights for the past 2 months and i was fine until last week i've gotten a chest cold that I cannot seem to fight no matter what I do... I love the job, but I think i may have to reconsider the night shift

[DutchgirlRN]

Originally Posted by NICU_3_RN

Any night shifters here? I'm only 30 (soon to be 31) and I feel like my body is falling apart. I've been working night shift since college (about 10 years give or take). I've gained weight, can't sleep, my joints ache - i feel like a 90 year old!!! Advice?

I went through the same thing after 12 years of nights. I had to switch to days. I went to private duty for a couple of years, worked on my RN (Regents now Excelsior) while at work, I took care of peds on home vents. Graduated and found a day position at the hospital. At 50 it hit me again on days, I stepped down to HH but now going back to the hosp in Radiology. Starting IV's and pushing various meds. Good Luck!

[janetjanetbobanet]

I've worked nights for about 20 years now and love it, but then I was the kid who read comic books under the covers with a flashlight at night when I was growing up and was a real pain to drag out of bed in the morning. You have to learn how to manage your sleep time and keep a handle on the amount of sleep you are getting. If I have some days off and need to "switch" I might sleep part of the first day and part of the first night. When I switch back I take what I call a "reset" nap in the afternoon before going to work even if I slept the whole night before. If I am only going to be off a day or two and have no appointments or daytime stuff to do, then I stay on schedule. You can do most everything but vacuum at night, depending on where you live you might be able to do that, too. And Wal-Mart is open 24 hours most places.

[Predaking]

Originally Posted by NICU_3_RN

Any night shifters here? I'm only 30 (soon to be 31) and I feel like my body is falling apart. I've been working night shift since college (about 10 years give or take). I've gained weight, can't sleep, my joints ache - i feel like a 90 year old!!! Advice?

Get out of the night shift.

Did that for years. Maybe this explains why I'm nutty at times.

[Predaking]

Originally Posted by teeituptom

Worked 12 nights for over 2 decades. Loved it. And when I was your age nothing bothered me atall. Get off at 7 am and head across the street to the golf course, get in a fast 18, take a nap and do it all over. Or get off at 7 go to the health club. Or get off at 7 take my wife to breakfast. I just made it work. Trick is getting and keeping your activity level up. Come to think of it, I still do all those things and Im 2.5 decades farther along than you.

I wish I was as motivated as you working nights. I felt like crap getting off at 7am. Especially in my microbiology class this past semester. Now that I'm working pm's(occasional 12 hour shifts), I feel awesome. Sleep is never a problem with me working the swing shift. I go to bed at 2 or 3 in the am (after watching my on demand movies or surfing the net) and I'm still getting 8+ hrs sleep (I love my warm comfy bed and my twin cool pillows).

Working 12 hour shifts gives me more time for school as a well. My grades shot up after I quit the NOC shift and that stupid hospital I was employed with.

[deeDawntee]

I've worked nights since nursing school. But I just recently switched to 12 hour shift and I'll tell you it has been a hard adjustment. I figure it takes at least 6 months for my body to get used to a new sleeping/activity schedule. I find that I do OK if I listen to my body and let it get the rest it needs and try not make myself feel guilty for not doing enough on my days off. I eventually recover and am able to function in the daytime as well as night. It is the daytime functioning that is the challenge for me! I would really like to hear how others manage their lives and make it work, working the night shift.

[swedishRN]

I work nights and love it!
If I had to work the day-shift 5 days a week, I probably wouldn't be a nurse for long. It's too much stress during the day, with the phone ringing, doctors, other nurses and the aides calling for my attention the whole day. Although, I am wondering how long my body will last working nights.

[leslymill]

Originally Posted by rn/writer

I can't imagine working days. Seriously, I'd want a HUGE shift differential to start coming in at 0700.

I wish you well.

SHHHHHH
They may here you.

Isn't it a wonderful kickback for the nightowl to get the benefits of more pay from someone who seems to pity you for getting to sleep all day long.

hehehe