Feeling sad and anxious before night shift

[Calinurse4]

I have a position that I really like and I enjoy all my co-workers. There's really nothing I don't like about my job other than the shift. I had oriented on PM shift and never had these feelings. Now that I'm on NOC shift, I feel sad and anxious every single night before I go in. I really hate feeling like this! It's hard to explain but knowing my husband and children are getting ready for bed as I'm getting ready to leave makes me feel so incredibly sad. I am hoping at some point I can maybe switch back to PMs but they really need me on nights now and I want to help out. Will this feeling ever go away? It's been about 3 months and it hasn't decreased at all. I'm always fine once I get to work, it's the hours leading up to work that are really hard for me.

[veggie530]

I feel the exact same way. I thought I'd be a night person but so far I haven't adjusted well. I think some people just aren't night people... but keep it up until you can make a transition!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"but they really need me on nights now and I want to help out."

Do THEY need you more that your family? Is it worth your mental health?

Trust me on this one... THEY don't give a rat's patooty about you.

If it's possible to get back on afternoons.. do it STAT.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Maybe it is not nights. Maybe it is the anxiety you feel now that you are off orientation having only been there a short time. Are you a new nurse?

I worked 3-11 for a long time, and I always felt the time off in the mornings weren't really free because I spent my day looking at my watch anticipating having to go to work. Some days I still feel a little twinge of anxiety before going to work. In a workplace that is very unpredictable, where things can go wrong quickly, nursing deals in uncertainty and that does cause anxiety.

[workingmama77, BSN]

I agree RNperdiem. I'm a new-ish nurse (5 1/2 months) and I only get anxious once in a while, usually when I know census is low enough that I may be floated to a different unit. I had previously worked 3-11 in a different job and the days felt wasted. I was never home for dinner or afterschool stuff . 11-7 may not work for everyone, but I like tucking my kids in at night before my shift and being home to get them off to school. Also when they have school vacation or are home sick I'm there.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

If you're just leaving for work when your husband and children are getting ready for bed, it means you've been able to spend the evening with your family. So perhaps 11-7 works better for your family life than 3-11? Or is the problem that you're trying to avoid your family by working 3-11 when everyone else is home.

Night shift doesn't seem to be the problem; it sounds more as if you need to change your outlook a bit. Be grateful for the opportunity to spend evenings with your family and then go to a job that you like!

[anon456, BSN, RN]

It sounds like just being a new nurse to me. Did you work full time before you got this job? If not, maybe it's just an adjustment to working in general and being away from your family in general-- not specifically related to the NOC shift.

I know that was very true for me, going from stay at home mom/nursing student to full time working mom. I still feel that way 2+ years later. I thought about switching to days, but on night shift you get to spend after school and dinner with the kids before going to work. Day shift means leaving before kids wake up and returning just as they are getting ready for bed. Personally I think night shift has a lot of advantages for family life.

[scifispam]

A lot of people with families and children feel like they get to see their children more working nights because you can see them and spend afternoons and dinner time with them.

[RunBabyRN]

Loving this thread, as I have a NOC shift offer for when I receive my license.

I worry about my circadian clock and my running/training schedule more than anything else. I love that I'll be able to be home more with my son while he's awake, rather than the way things are now, precepting on PMs, where I am able to pick him up from school then run off to the hospital, where I am until well after he's gone to bed, so he's comatose when I come and kiss him goodnight, and I am only occasionally up for when he's off to school, since I'm up so late and need to sleep in a bit. Plus the whole day feels wasted on PMs, like I can't get anything done with the looming knowledge that I have to be at the hospital at 3. I don't get nearly as much done as I would on days or NOC.

We're all built differently, but I think that focusing on what's GOOD, family-wise, will help, and maybe some tweaks to maximize your situation. From there, just give yourself time to adjust to being on your own on the floor and the flow of NOC shift on your unit. 3 months is not very long, and you're still adjusting. Be patient with yourself. :)

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Night shift is not for everyone and that is OKAY. Tough it out until you can switch back to pm shift. I also feel sad when I have to do the occasional night shift. I am happily married and rather be home in bed with my husband.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Nights is way better than evenings in terms of seeing your family.

[Whoatemyburger]

I used to feel the same way for the first few months . I felt like an intense feeling of sadness and anxiety. I got better as time went on . Now , even when my husband and daughter drop me off at work I no longer have those feelings and thoughts . It takes some time to get used to it .