Night shift madness!

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 17, 2003

Originally posted by redwinggirlie
Any advice will be welcome, especially from night owls.

Hey, it takes more than 3 weeks, I've been doing it twenty-odd years and STILL not used to it! Seriously, it's the shift that I prefer. It may not be yours.

Don't do what I do -- don't get on the computer and lose track of time and never get enough sleep :)

I try to get 3-4 hrs nap before work if I had the day off, and when I am going INTO a day off I sleep for 3-4 hrs. Meanwhile I try to squeeze in 7-8 hrs; your sleep needs are the same whether you're nites or days.

Do you unplug or silence your phone? People know not to bug you when you sleep?

Are you busy enough at work? Idle times always made me zzzzzzz'y. I found little stupid stuff to do thru the nite.

Make sure you take your break if you can, do something different like step outside or go visit a coworker.

I would say the most important thing tho' is teaching your loved ones that your sleep is SACRED, or you will start calling/visiting THEM at 2 am!

sjoe · Sep 17, 2003

When I was younger than about age 30, it was no problem for me to work rotating shifts and/or nights. However, as time has passed, this has been less and less doable. I have taken only day and evening positions for some time now. "Night people" seem to be able to, and even prefer, working night shift, regardless of their age, but I am not one of them. You may or may not be.

(There are several other threads where this has been discussed at some length, if you want to rummage around in the archives.)

angelbear · Sep 19, 2003

As a 3rd shifter my best advise for you is to stop trying to make your life work around your 3rd shift job and start making 3rd shift your life. I am not sure I said that how I meant to but what I mean is make your lifestyle a 3rd shift one. I stay 3rd shift even when I am off. I also protect my sleep with a vengence. We need the same 8 or more hrs of sleep that everyone else does. Your family and friends will just have to learn to live with it. I guess in a sense I have become some what selfish with my time. I dont think that makes me a bad person just one who is trying to survive a shift that is not natural for my body. I hope that helps somewhat. My bedroom is blacked out, I run a fan all the time, my phone is in a room where I can not hear it. I have a cell phone that I take to bed with me and all the key people like my sons school and only the most important family members have the # and know I will kill anyone using it for anything less than an extreme emergency. It's called survival. Best of luck.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Sep 19, 2003

I used to love night shift, until I hit 40....that's when my body just started refusing to be a good sport anymore. I got sick, developed aches & pains, was depressed, and was generally a brass-plated B****. I did much better once I switched to a 9-to-5 job, and better still when I went to my current 3-11 shift. (I'm definitely NOT a morning person either.) And on the rare occasion when I do work graveyard, it takes me a full 48 hours to feel normal again.......unless it's an extra shift (for which I make over 40 bucks an hour), it's not worth two days of feeling like something the dog dug up under the house.

rollingstone · Sep 19, 2003

I agree that blacking out the room is a good idea. I also don't drink coffee after 2:00 or 3:00am.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2003

Hi Yall

Ive always worked nights and that has been for a long tme, decades. And there is a great secret to life. That is. You can work all night and go out an golf in the morning, You cant work all day and go golfing at night. At least without lighted balls and good night vision.

D52happy · Sep 19, 2003

I also work 11-7,have been for years. I find it less hectic no MDs, visitors etc. but it also means less help.

Momma_Penguin · Sep 20, 2003

I have worked night turn for years. I also prefer it to days or eves b/c there's only 1 boss & not a lot of commotion. When I just started full time nights , from working full time daylight..OMG I was a zombie!!! I craved sleep. I also had 2 little guys who still had to have some one take them to school or watch T ball ( I napped during some of the games)or be the room mother. But I'll say it took a looong time to get used to it. The when I'd be off, I tried to stay uip all day and crash at night b/c I'd stay up all nite. I think I have nite owl blood ( Grandma was a nite turn nurse too).

It just takes time ...turn the phone off...make the room dark...go home and relax and have warm hot cocoa before beddy. Of course this all flies out the window if you have kids and bus schedules and such. I also nap before I go out to work ...I try to get at least 2 hrs of sleep time in. And I coffee all nite...heck I coffee all the time. Good Luck.. if you like the shift..it will eventually get easier.

redwinggirlie · Sep 20, 2003

Thanks guys. My room is dark and I wear an eyemask and ear plugs. The zombie thing? I've got it down pat. I just want to make sure I don't let things slip and make a mistake that will hurt someone. Keep the tips coming. I need all the help I can get. And yes, I sleep as often as I can. Sometimes I feel like I just live to sleep!

Paige Turner RN · Sep 20, 2003

I hear you loud and clear redwinggirlie.......I too started nocs this month and am in zombie land. Seems like all I do is sleep and work........I like the shift and the people I work with, and am hoping that all the pieces will fit together soon. It certainly is a learning experience. The sad part is I am missing all the fall previews on tv, now isn't that just pathetic, me missing tv.

Geeg · Sep 20, 2003

If you are not compatible with nights, get off them if you can. Nothing takes years off of your life more readily that working nites. People say they get used to it, buy the body knows it ain't right!!!!