I hate night shift

[carrie_c]

I have been working night shift for about 9 months now. I thought it would get easier, but it just gets harder. I feel so bad all the time. My days off are spent sleeping. And if I do have to get up early for something, I feel just horrible. I don't get to spend any time with my family. The only reason I stay at my job is because I really like it. But I am willing to do just about anything else as long as it is day shift. I don't know how people work nights for years and years. I thought I would like not having to get up early, but I would do just about anything to get off nights. Unfortunately it's not easy to go to days at my current job. There is a waiting list, and it's very long. It would be 2-3 years before I even got a chance to go to days. Just wondering how everyone deals with this awful shift for long?

[Reese0608]

I am a new grad starting on nights here soon! I have gained lots of tips from all the comments! I like the idea of sleeping 2am-10am or 3-11am on your days off!

[neft]

I've worked nights and even two full time shifts and it is not the best health wise. Check out this article on ways to reduce risk of shift disorder

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

I think we all know working an off shift isn't good for you, but we can't pack the patients up at 5pm and all go home. You have to be wise about sleep, etc to lessen the stress.

[1hotnurse08]

I remember when I used to work nights:

7p - 7a (when hospitals were still hiring LPN's). I used to get sooo sleepy around 2am. I was very grouchy and mean to my family members. I would get mad because it seemed like they always wanted me to do things for them on my days on and off work. I did 2 days on/ 2 days off/ every other weekend. I did my year then I left. I've dont like night shifts jobs. I prefer dayshift and I like being in my bed at night. I hated working in the summer because it seemed liked I missed so much b/c I was stuck at work and since I had no kids when my supervisor changed my shift to 7 days on/ 7 days off I was stuck working most of the holidays cause she made me feel guilty!! I do commend the night shift workers b/c pts need good care 24/7!!! Some people adjust well with nightshift jobs and some don't! I never could adjust no matter how much sleep I got!!