[mye614]

hello,
I've been orienting on my unit for 2 days now on days but my regular shift will be nights which will start this weekend (ugh! ). I was oriented in the days so that I can meet some of the Doctors (which I have not really...they come and go and I was busy with my patients to meet these doctors) and also to know what goes on during the day. To make the story short.......I'm so not ready for nights (7p-7a) as I've never done nights before and also I've been out of work for 4 years. How do you survive nights and what do the staff in the med-surg/tele unit do from 7p-7a???? What is expected of you and what can keep you awake and alert during these times??? Next, I have lower extremity problems (poor circulation)...after 12 hours of long standing and walking I go home hurting a lot! I wear good support shoes and support hose that my doctor prescibed for me but they don't help. Am I at risk for developing more problems if I continue to work long hours? I'm so frustrated because I know most facilities/hospitals only hire 12 hours shifts...but with my feet problem...where can I work so as not to increase the chances of me developing trauma or injury to my lower circulation....It hurts so bad.........

[Jessy_RN]

Sorry to read this. How about a good foot bath in warm water and epsom salt. You can massage them afterwards with a pepermint foot cream. I used to work standing for long hours sometimes double shifts as a pharmacy tech, so I can tell you this worked for me. Best wishes to you

[mye614]

Originally Posted by JessicaGmz

Sorry to read this. How about a good foot bath in warm water and epsom salt. You can massage them afterwards with a pepermint foot cream. I used to work standing for long hours sometimes double shifts as a pharmacy tech, so I can tell you this worked for me. Best wishes to you

Thanks, Jessica!
I actually tried that before when i was still pregnant with my second child but for some reason it didn't work fo me. I get some relief but only temporary then when I start walking or even standing for 5 minutes I start having pain that's why I do the "dancing toes" a lot to just keep the circulation. I wear Rockport shoes that has the insole cushion. Maybe I should start wearing those slip-on/clogs ones for work. Any recommendation??

[CVL RN]

I have fibromyalgia and occasional flares of plantar fascitis. In my quest for the perfect shoe I discovered Sanitas (not Dansko). I found that shoes which are soft inside are less comfortable during long shifts tho they feel great when you first put them on. I wear lead and work long hours in the cath lab. You might consider giving them a try. They're pretty spendy but you can get them at the Sierra Trading Post web site quite often at a great discount. I've been wearing them for about a year and they're fantastic. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Bluespruce]

Originally Posted by mye614

hello,
I've been orienting on my unit for 2 days now on days but my regular shift will be nights which will start this weekend (ugh! ). I was oriented in the days so that I can meet some of the Doctors (which I have not really...they come and go and I was busy with my patients to meet these doctors) and also to know what goes on during the day. To make the story short.......I'm so not ready for nights (7p-7a) as I've never done nights before and also I've been out of work for 4 years. How do you survive nights and what do the staff in the med-surg/tele unit do from 7p-7a???? What is expected of you and what can keep you awake and alert during these times??? Next, I have lower extremity problems (poor circulation)...after 12 hours of long standing and walking I go home hurting a lot! I wear good support shoes and support hose that my doctor prescibed for me but they don't help. Am I at risk for developing more problems if I continue to work long hours? I'm so frustrated because I know most facilities/hospitals only hire 12 hours shifts...but with my feet problem...where can I work so as not to increase the chances of me developing trauma or injury to my lower circulation....It hurts so bad.........

Hi,
I'm going to be in your same situation now in about a month. I'm dreading & am fearful of working nights, but I know I need the experience & do like cardiac stuff. On a positive side I know nights aren't as busy & there is likely more time (as a new RN like myself) to look up meds etc. on the night shift. Also with 3 12s at least it's only 3 days/week. A close friend of mine who has been a nurse for about 4 years now started on nights & just recently moved to days. She likes days just because it's busier & there are more doctors around & she learns a lot from the doctors, but she also says it's more hectic, the nursing team doesn't get to know each other as well & of course there is less pay during days. I'm trying to look at nights in a positive light now cuz I'm going to be working nights for at least a year. Another positive of nights where I'll be working is that I won't have to pay for parking. If you're not in a metro area I guess that's sort of a moot point. Good luck & feel free to give me pointers once you have em. :-)

[mercyteapot]

I don't know what your budget is like, but if you can afford it at some point, those foot massagers that Brookstone sells are worth their weight in gold. I use mine both before and after I expect to standing on my feet for a long time. Before I had one, my other favorite trick was to dangle them over the tub and run hot and cold water (as extreme as you can stand) over them.

[MacNurse]

Pressure stockings: 30mmHg...I just have them on to the knee and my feet are 1000x less tired then before I wore them...that and one of those foot bath thingies....best invention ever!

[Zoomer]

I've been working nights for 14 years now. I swore once the kids were older I'd go back to normal hours but like nights so much better than days. There are many advantages to nights---better pay---less administration around---less people around in general--- you don't have to serve any meals---you learn to become much more independent---seems like there is better teamwork.
Disadvantages---not enough sleep---having to wake up cranky docs---never having any hospital functions or inservices on your shift (don't you wish the administation had to come in at 0100 for a mandatory inservice?),

How do you get through it as a new grad? Lots of coffee

[showbizrn]

Originally Posted by mye614

hello,
I've been orienting on my unit for 2 days now on days but my regular shift will be nights which will start this weekend (ugh! ). I was oriented in the days so that I can meet some of the Doctors (which I have not really...they come and go and I was busy with my patients to meet these doctors) and also to know what goes on during the day. To make the story short.......I'm so not ready for nights (7p-7a) as I've never done nights before and also I've been out of work for 4 years. How do you survive nights and what do the staff in the med-surg/tele unit do from 7p-7a???? What is expected of you and what can keep you awake and alert during these times??? Next, I have lower extremity problems (poor circulation)...after 12 hours of long standing and walking I go home hurting a lot! I wear good support shoes and support hose that my doctor prescibed for me but they don't help. Am I at risk for developing more problems if I continue to work long hours? I'm so frustrated because I know most facilities/hospitals only hire 12 hours shifts...but with my feet problem...where can I work so as not to increase the chances of me developing trauma or injury to my lower circulation....It hurts so bad.........

Here it comes:

1. Wear comfortable shoes at work. I will often wear ugly "Grandma Moses"-styled shoes at work only because I only have two feet and once they're gone....

2. TAKE YOUR SCHEDULED BREAK TIMES AND ELEVATE YOUR LOWER EXTREMITIES. Kick off your shoes if you can and massage your feet.

3. Caffeine works for me!!!---healthwise, I hate to recommend it. Please, no more than 2 cups of coffee a day which means if you drink 2 cups at work... If I'm really exhausted, I splash cold water on my face several times a shift.

4. SLEEP DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS. That means restricting phone calls, having DO NOT DISTRUB periods for sleep, and keeping your bedroom darkened with shades and curtains (for photosensitivity).

I hope this will help you.

WELCOME TO THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT!