Help! Nightshift Nightmare

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I really need some advice from more experienced nurses.

I started a job on a stepdown unit 2.5months ago. Everything was going great and I was learning tons and receiving excellent feedback from my preceptors. I truly liked working on the unit.

Then I got off orientation and was put on night shift (which I was hired for). Its been a few weeks now and my life has completely turned upside down. The max I sleep during the day is 2-3 hours, and I've tried many things (but refuse drugs). I am tired all day, at work and even when I have a long weekend. I just do nothing but lounge around feeling down and EXAUHSTED all the time. At work, I am miserable. I just feel like I got along much better with day staff. I really dislike tiptoeing around sleeping patients, and prefer getting them up an outta bed.... I feel like I just dont provide the same quality care to my pt's at nite.

My mngr, who is wonderful, said she'll try putting me on days as soon as a position came along. Definitely though not for another 2mos.

I truly feel like I cant take one more night of this, or I'll get fired or lose my license. by 4am everything is just spinning around me.

Please- should I turn in my resignation notice????

Or just continue being miserable like this. Ive worked way too hard for this license to lose it for one job.

Please give your two cents.

Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in labor & delivery.

I felt the same way on night shift... I felt like such crap all the time... luckily I got a day position within a month. If it will only be two months maybe until you get a day position, I would try to stick it out - especially since you love the floor. If you truly think you cannot work there another day, you might try looking for another job...

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

There are some people that honestly cannot work nights. Don't blame yourself--its not your fault. Have a discussion with your manager again and ask about the possibility of a day shift position elsewhere in the hospital until a day shift position opens up on her unit. I know that I could not work nights. I am unsafe, to the point where I think I would mis-medicate patients. For that reason I would never accept a night shift position. Some people just cannot work nights.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Someone I worked with could never sleep. She never worked 2 nights in a row. Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. For those that can sleep, it sounds crazy... but at least consider it.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

Unfortunately nights is most often where the entry level positions are available. It takes 6mos to a year to get settled in on nights. My best advise is 1) no coffee after 4am, 2) get you bedroom as dark as possible- blackout curtains, sleep mask -whatever, 3) stay up for an hour or two when you get home-read,knit, take a bath- anything to disengage from the "work mode". 4)a white sound machine or fan can sometimes help. 5) I hear "no drugs" but have you looked into the non-pharmacuetical options for sleep aids-chamomile, melatonin, tryptophan, even warm milk. I will get better, it just takes a while to adjust. No one does great for the first few mos.

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I've been working nights for almost 2 years now... however, it took a long time (about 4-6 months) to finally get used to it. I have black velvet curtains to block the sunlight and I also make sure that my room is slightly cooler so I have the fan on and ofcourse during summertime, AC better be running! I eat a small snack with a glass of warm milk, shower and read emails before I head to bed... Am usually asleep by 9:00am. 9:15 the latest. Sometimes, I wake up between 1-2pm but I just stay in bed then I am able to go back to sleep... wake up at 5:30.

I try to schedule myself two nights on then two nights off.

So, you may want to try:

1. Darken your room.

2. Room temp. is comfortable.

3. Light breakfast with warm milk

4. NO COFFEE after 4am.

5. Warm shower.

6. Maybe think positive thoughts! :up:

Night shift isn't for everyone...

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

I've been working night shift for several years. I try to drink my coffee before 2AM, which is needed to keep me awake during the night but needs to be consumed early enough that it doesn't keep me awake when I get home. I wear sunglasses on the way home so the daylight doesn't make my body think it's time to wake up. I take a warm shower after I get home and usually eat a quick light, warm breakfast (cheese quesadilla or 1 minute oatmeal). I have the curtains closed and the room on the cool side. In the summer, the AC is on just enough that I don't get too hot but it isn't on enough for the noise to keep me awake. If there's too much outside noise by my bedroom, I move to the couch in the living room. If I have trouble sleeping, sometimes I drink Sleepytime Extra tea or take Benadryl 50 mg or Tylenol PM (1 tab only). I also put lotion on my hands and feet which helps me relax. If I'm tired, I go to bed as soon as possible. If I'm wired from the night, I read the paper while winding down. Getting on the computer doesn't work for me as I get wired from it. Try to work 2-3 nights in a row. If you break up your night shifts, your body will become so confused that you will also have trouble sleeping on your off days.

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I understand how you feel and I really feel for you. Maybe you should try working every other night until you get a day time position. I work night shift too and I don't sleep well in the day at all, so I am always exausted on my days off. But I am able to function well at night on the job.There is always opening for day time position at my job, but I just can't be around those evil bosses and all the boss wanna bes. Plus I love my co-workers at night, they are great and we work together as a team. so I just can't think of switching to a day position.

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Been there, done that! Melatonin worked pretty well for me. I only lasted 4 months on nights because I felt so bad (nauseated all the time, feeling tired all the time, etc.). It is not for everyone. I did have to change jobs, but I'm so glad I did because my new job is so much better in so many ways. Keep a look out for day jobs. If you are set on staying where you are, then you will have to hang on until a day position opens up. I know someone has to do it, but there has got to be a better way to do night shifts.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

I'm one of the lucky ones!Have worked night shift for 17 years and prefer it to days.When you go home have breakfast,go on the computer and unwind to Allnurses! I can manage to sleep with normal curtains,in fact, I prefer to sleep facing the window,don't know why.I'm a tea drinker and it doesn't bother me to drink tea even just before I go to bed. On my days off I sleep for about 4hours,get up and then go to bed at my 'normal'time at night.On my first night back I go to bed in the afternoon for 3 hours,even if you don't sleep,it gives your body a rest before work.

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Specializes in US Army.

In addition to darkening your bedroom etc, etc. TURN OFF ALL PHONES! There is always someone who fully knows that you work nights, but still can't understand that you need to sleep past noon- "Oh, are you still sleeping...?".

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I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you're having adjusting to the night shift. I posted to our blog today a piece on precisly that topic that might be helpful for you. Go to

Adapting to Night Shifts

http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/02/adapting-to-night-shifts-helping.html

You also might find another recent post particularly helpful:

Tips for Getting Better Sleep

http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/01/tips-for-getting-better-sleep.html

Ed Coburn

Executive Director, National Shiftwork Information Center

www.ShiftworkInformation.blogspot.com

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