Working the night shift

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Never worked a night shift in my life, what am I getting myself into? I am staring as a LPN in a hospital med-surg.

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Are you working 12 hour shifts? I personally do not like night shift. Just not cut out for it. Some people love night shift. Let us know how it goes.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Alzheimer's.

I have been on the night shift since July 2003. So, I am new at this. I work at a LTC, and I love my job. Due to the fact I love my work, I really wanted to adjust to the night shift. I work from 10:30 pm until 7:00 am. 4 nights on 2 nights off. I work with some very nice people and I enjoy working with the elderly. I have a great job! Yet, I really hated night shift!!!

At first it was awful, I occasionally I found myself crying before I went to work, because I was sooooooo tired. I couldn't sleep during the day, no matter what I did. I darkened the room, with black poster board and a dark velvet blanket (it works well), I had my fan or air conditioner on during the warm months, now we have the air cleaner on for white noise.

This still didn't help much at first, I kept wanting to get up after only four hours of sleep. I wanted to be with my family. I thought I needed to be with them or they needed me. (My kids are grown, my youngest is almost 18, my husband knew I needed my sleep, so what was my problem...) Plus, I wasn't fun to be around. They wanted me to sleep, so I could function. I fought with myself until October. That was an awful period for me. The problem, my attitude.

Then, I found Melatonin and a better attitude. I told my family that I was tired of being tired. I was afraid I would get seriously ill. I asked them to help me by encouraging me to sleep all day and to understand that I will be up on my nights off. My son thought that would be interesting and also stays up some nights on his days off from school. My husband is retired so some nights he stays up too.

:kiss

My attitude helped alot! I now enjoy night shift, I sleep from 8:00 a.m. until 4 or 5:00 pm, every day, I use my crockpot alot to have meals ready, I found the nocturnal life is kinda fun. For me melatonin has really helped and I ordered a SAD light so I can have some "sun". I'm happy, my family is happy and I have not missed work in awhile. In fact I go to work tonight, after two nights off and I had a great two days off.

Sorry this is so long.:roll

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Specializes in NICU.

Where do you get one of those SAD lights? I know I need more "sunlight" and I'm also wondering if it would help to get my boyfriend one. He works days but he has that seasonal affective disorder and gets rather depressed during the winter months.

I know I've heard about natural melatonin in the past - isn't that what people like us who work nights miss out on? My question is whether or not I should take it - I never have trouble sleeping during the day and usually keep more of a night-owl schedule on my days off. I understand the increased health risks if you can't or won't sleep well (I have coworkers who are working nights because it's the only time they CAN work, and are up all day with their kids, etc.) but what if it's not a problem?

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First of all, let me tell you I have ALWAYS been a noc person!

I just finished 3 day shifts in a row! I feel like I have been hit by a Mac truck!

I can do 7 or more night shifts in a row, and not be as tired as I am now! I am not saying that nights are easier. Far from it!!!! But I function so much better at night. I do not sleep well at night; in fact, I usually get my best "sleep" between the hours of 0600-1400!

Even before I became a nurse (over 10 years ago), I worked nights in non-nursing jobs. In school, I NEVER went to 0800 classes!

So, I will work ANYONE'S noc shifts, if they will work my days!

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Thanks for the replys, I hope I can do it. All I think about is starting this new job on 12-15, I have dreams that I am being taught something and I can't open my eyes. I am working an 8hr shift 4 nights a week.

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Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.

When I first got out of school, I swore I'd never work nights. I pretty much avoided it until I realized that I could still be a "stay at home mom" and work to bring in the extra income if I worked nights. I only work part time (3 shifts per week) because I think that's all I could handle. I pretty much grab sleep when I can, like when the kids are napping, and then again after dinner. I did this when I was pregnant with my youngest, and it was so hard! I would cry when my husband woke me up at 10 pm. It's not my ideal way of working, but it allows me to send my oldest off to school and be home when she gets home. It's a sacrifice on sleep and any chance of a "normal" sleep schedule, but it allows me to do what I need to do for my family.

Good luck with your new position! Working nights isn't so bad, it does have it's benefits. Like anything else in life, you just have to get used to it.:zzzzz

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A major factor in going back to nursing school is the opportunity to work something other than days. Swings are my least favorite with a family although I didn't mind it when it was just my SO and me. Night shifts are probably my favorite. I work a flexible job while in school and I often show up at 2am and surprise the night crew. I even did night clinicals in LPN school.

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I agree with lmd on the swing shift thing. When I was in the software industry, I worked many shifts and swing was the WORST! You pretty much cease to exist on swing. When everyone is coming home, you are leaving for work. When you get off work, everyone else is asleep.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to work graveyard shift (10pm - 7am)! I'm single and my son is on his own now. I don't think my cats will mind if I'm not here at night -- they can party! :chuckle

But, I prefer graveyard right now! On that shift, you can chose when you sleep (well, I can because I have no children at home anymore). I can schedule classes and appointments during the day.

I'm hoping my desire and preferance to work nights will give me a leg up on employment right now.

cna2lvn2rn

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:uhoh3: :uhoh3:
Never worked a night shift in my life, what am I getting myself into? I am staring as a LPN in a hospital med-surg.
:uhoh3: :uhoh3: Are you still working the night shift? I am 55 and I have worked the night shift on and off for several years. You dont have the administration and all their problems while you are working. Not so many families visiting and doctors running in and out. You can actually sit and talk with the patients for a period of time and time goes fast. I like it. I hope you are doing well.
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Specializes in ICU.

Try this link for nught duty survival tips

http://www.enw.org/NightShift.htm

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Hi!

When I was young (in my twenties), I could go 3-double shift, sleep when I had to, and work for earning money...

So---after some years as a nurseeducator and regular time, I acctually missed shift work!! The opportunity to work and be off duty when other was working. Doing shopping and so on. Sleeping at daytime.

Now; The last 3 years I have worked 3 shift, 10 hours night, and 8 hours day and evening. The last half year I worked only night 100 % job; Then: THE BIG WALL CAME AGAINST ME. i have some severe migraine, and everyting was wrong; so I had been out of work more or less for a year! And now started working in daytime, regularly, 70 %, loosing a lot of money, but health is more important!!! Its for a year, as a publich health nurse on the canser hospital.

Its a fantastic and great/thankfull job! I have to get vaccines, follow of longterm sickness, consultations, co-working with our quality, health and security team. I feel that I have come up from the "dark" grave!!

I love nursing; and today I will attend a Latex-operation- class-or workshop; just for improving our standard for using gloves both in operating room and in the units. Yes, I feel its a gift, health is cooming before money, and this is for a year. Next year I dont know. But night shift is doing something bad with your body: Women: increased risk of breast canser. Disturbing the circadian-rythm in the body (on long term), and the hormone Melatonin will get out of controll....Well, some nurses are created for nightshift..I am thankfull for that, but the years at night shift-worker are doing something with your body balance..

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