My body says "NO MORE NIGHTS"

Nurses Stress 101

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I've only been working for a little over a year as a nurse and with the same company and I think my body is saying "you can't work night shift anymore". I am miserable. At first it was great, it was a breeze, but now I can barely make it through 7 hours before I'm almost in tears.

I love the company I work for. I'm thinking of calling and saying I will finish out the schedule, but please, please, please help me get on day shift.

The only problem is, I can ONLY work between the hours of 8am-5pm and with PDN that's kinda hard to find. I'm prepared to tell my boss that if she can't help me then I'll have to put my 3 weeks notice in.

Please tell me I'm not insane for wanting off night shift... my body, my mind and my family can't take it anymore.

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Specializes in PICU.

I did nights for almost 4 years years and like you I started off with "this is great" but one day it was just painful and stressfull. I was thankfully allowed to switch to days and it made all the difference. For a while I had to rotate but then was eventually allowed to go to all days

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

If your body is telling you you can't do it, you need to listen to that. If it's that bad, I'd hate for you to fall asleep at the wheel or make a mistake while working. If you can't get days as a PDN, you might want to try looking at LTC/SNF. I'm not sure how it is in other areas, but when I needed an 8-hour day position that's where I looked and there were a fair amount of postings for straight days.

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I use to be the girl that could nap all day and stay up all night, but recently on my days off I wake up no matter what at 7am and I'm up for the rest of the day and then suffer on the nights I work. I have RLS and when I don't have that I'm just a wreck trying to stay awake, it's awful. It's not safe at all.....

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

If your hours are restricted to that time frame than your will have to deal with the consequences.

You can ask, but I suspect that you will not get a positive response.

You may need to consider clinics, schools or similar venues.

As for not wanting to be on night shifts, I think most people get that. It's a shift that doesn't match what is the norm.

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I've been a very consistent and reliable night shift worker. Our president told me I was good for the company. I just figured I would give them the chance to keep me if I'm that valued before I look elsewhere.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Oh you should absolutely ask--the worst they can tell you is no. And then if you have to part ways, well you have to do what is right for you.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.
I've been a very consistent and reliable night shift worker. Our president told me I was good for the company. I just figured I would give them the chance to keep me if I'm that valued before I look elsewhere.

I never made a comment on your work or work ethic.

I never said not to ask, just that the answer might be not what you hoped for.

When your parameters narrow so do your options.

Do what you need to do.

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Specializes in Oncology.

You're not insane! I couldn't do nights either, though I tried them three separate times. No matter what I did, I was miserable. And I had the best blackout shades you can get! It's a quality of life issue. What is your quality of life like now on nights? Is that the life you want to live? Choose wisely! I decided it was better to be unemployed than to live that way. Thankfully, for me it didn't come to that. I wish you the best.

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Doesn't matter how good or consistent you are at your job. Management wants those nights covered.

I did a day/night rotation for five years and just had to stop. Management was not happy. In that time I missed two night shifts. No thanks, no "you did great".

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

My employer is wanting to move management hours around drastically for their ideas of what is best or needed with little input or regard form the persons involved.

It's not personal, it's business to them.

They can like, love, adore you but that is still the bottom line.

Everyone is replaceable in a business model.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

My body's been screaming "no more nights" for years.

The problem is my purse screams "too bad" louder.

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