advice for a soon to be burnt out night shifter?

Aymese · Nov 13, 2010

Don't get discouraged! It would be ideal if you could find a way to make it through to your one year mark. Especially since you are brand new to nursing. This may help you when you are looking for the new job...for experience, reference purposes and not raising red flags in a hiring manager's mind. Night shift can be really tough to adjust to and sometimes people never adjust. I know people that have done it for 20 years and LOVE it, but as for me, I was done with it after only about 2 years! Reasons being: felt depressed, hated trying to adjust to being awake for my days off, trying to spend time with friends and family but feeling grouchy, and feeling sleep deprived most of the time. Are things you could do to make you better suited for nights, for the time being? A better sleeping environment, helping family to understand, turning your phone off, exercising, eating healthy, etc"

When you say you work full time, do you work 3 12s, 4 10s, or what? If you work something other than 12s, could you possibly switch to 3 12s? That way you can do 3 in a row and then have several days off? Is your manager open to you staying on your unit but transitioning to full time days? I know this may be hard to arrange or a long wait if you are really new.

Finally, if you choose to transfer to another dept, I would not suggest discussing this with your current manager. I would put in an application to where you want to go, interview, and then initiate the transfer if you get offered the job. This way there is no chance of this person interfering or sabotaging your transfer.

Don't let it make you concerned about your decision to become a nurse. There are so many other areas you could go that have primarily day/evening hours. You could work in an office, a procedural area (cath lab, EP, GI, etc). ED has many odd shifts that you may actually like.

Good luck!!

Juwon · Nov 14, 2010

Hello all! I'm a new RN and have worked at this hospital for about 6 months now on a crazy busy med/surg floor and have been doing full time nights for about 4 months. At first, the nights thing was going okay (it's my first job working nights) and although it was difficult it was doable, so i had hope that it would continue to work out. but as time goes on, i'm beginning to feel more and more burnt out and seeing as this is my first nursing job ever, that really scares me. I don't believe it has been affecting my performance at work but i worry that it eventually will.
I have been applying to other hospitals but have heard nothing so far. I even spoke with my manager about the possibility of decreasing my hours since i thought maybe that would help, but she didn't really sound like she was going to take much action on that and is known to be a little flaky anyway.
so i've been thinking of transferring to another position, maybe one with slightly less hours or a different shift but i'm a little confused as i'm so new to all of this. do i talk with my manager again and let her know i'm going to put in for a transfer or do i just do it? should I let her know that between full-time, nights, and my personal/family life it's too much right now? i'm not sure what do to...i love nursing and i know it's going to be stressful pretty much no matter what but i really don't think i can go on like this much longer =(

I understand your fustration with working nights because i know many nurses who have worked nights and couldn't endure it after a few months! unless you want to work in the hospital, you can also go the LTC route, working in a Nursing home. Then again, this is probably something that you wouldnt like to do. Here in chicago, new grads MAKES MORE MONEY IN LTC vs the HOSPITAL. Here you are able to find the morning shift (7-3) or in some places (6-2). In addition you are able to get lots of overtime as well. I know a few new grads such as my mother and aunt who graduated as RN's, making more in long term care facilities than their classmates that went off to work at hospitals. LTC facilities start new grads $26-$28, with some being paid $30 an hour plus over time with time and a half vs hospitals pay of $24-$25. It pretty much depends on if you want to work in the nursing home or the hospital.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2010

Most new nurses will have to work the night shift if they want to remain in a hospital setting. Try to stick it out at least a little more for the experience. If you want to transfer what makes you think it won't be nights? If there are other positions available at your place apply if you wish; you don't have to tell your supervisor but it's best to be upfront IMO.

If you're thinking about evenings remember that on evenings you will hardly see your spouse and kids (if they're school age). The 8hr shift starts about 1500 and goes up to 2100. You end up leaving the house before your kids get home and you get home after they went to sleep. Now if you worked on the weekends it would improve it but when I worked evening vs nights, I chose nights simply because I wanted to see my kids more often.

The 12hr shifts have their own horror stories and research is showing the dire effects that the shifts have on nurses.

Home health, hospice are great places to work and afford much more autonomy and you usually work days. It's something to think about.

coolpeach · Nov 14, 2010

I am a new nurse and I am having trouble with the the three 12 hour night shift.

Here's my problem... 12 hr shift + must arrive 15 minutes early for report = 12 hr 15 minutes + stay after 30 minutes for voice report, and give to nurses = 12 hrs 45 min + (Big campus so walk time from parking to shuttle, drive to hospital, walk through hospital, put stuff away) + 20 minutes each way = 40 minutes =13 hrs 25 minutes + an hour drive both ways = 15 hrs 25 minutes. We will round up to 15 hrs and 30 minutes for simplicity, but this leaves me with 8 and 1/2 hours.

When I get home I shower, eat, put clothes in wash(about an hour), and then half an hour to fall asleep, and when I get up I get dressed, fix hair, eat and make sure i have everything I need (another hour). that's 17 hours. This leaves me with a whopping total of 6 hours to sleep.

During those 3 days I don't get home until my son is gone to school, and I wake up and get dressed and go. I already only get 6 hours of sleep. I can't cut it down anymore without risking patient safety. I am already exhausted. I get that I am off for four days, but during those 3 days (almost half a week) I don't get to see my son at all. I don't have a moment to myself, time to take care of business, relax, see friends, or do anything other than work and sleep.

I spend my first day off sleeping, and my last day before being depressed because I am in effect leaving my life, and son for the next few days pretty much completely.

I am not sure if its the night shift as much as the 12 hour shift. In my area all the hospitals have gone to nothing but 12 hours shifts so there are no options. I really hate it.

Davey Do · Nov 14, 2010

SrnD:

As Bill Clinton once said, "I feel your pain."

And, as Neil Diamond sang, "Except for the names and a few other changes, you could talk about me. The story's the same one."

The best I could do for you is retell that which my predacessors to this thread have already said.

It's one of the many reasons I enjoy this site: Been there, done that, and will discuss it. It's good to know that there are multiple healthy others out there who struggle and deal with the same sort of circumstances that you and I do.

The best to you in your endeavor, SrnD.

Dave.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2010

I hear you I plan on sticking to nights for 1 1/2 years then im moving either to days or to different facility. i have been upfront that im not a lifer for night shifts.... I don't mind putting my time in but after that i would like to adopt a healthier schedule.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2010

Did you talk to your manager about, you know, switching to days, or a rotating schedule? I agree with the previous poster who asked why you would assume a different unit would mean you didn't have to work nights anymore...

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 14, 2010

Find out if it will be best (faster) for you to stay on that unit until a day postion arises (is there a waiting list?) or transferring to another unit that will hire you for days (Same day surgery, outpatient services, etc).

It has been my experience that the floors usually have a waiting list to go to days. It might take a while for your number to come up and be able to.

Nights is not for everyone. It has got to me after only three years and with a baby at home, it is very hard.

Good luck hon, and wishing you nothing but the best.

chanelagonzalez · Nov 14, 2010

I work 3 or 4 twelve hour day shifts each week. You will be leaving early, your kid will more than likely still be asleep (mine doesn't go to pre-K until 730 am, so she is sound asleep at 6 am when i'm leaving) You will get home late. I am usually home by 8:30 pm, enough time for a quick dinner together and a bath (unless your child has an earlier bed time??) So after a short period of family time, you can count on about 6 hours of sleep before waking up and starting the cycle over. It is difficult to spend only an hour with your child on the days that you work. But, i think that goes for days and nights. On my days off, I am still missing my child because she is in school until 3:30. Maybe a Mon-Fri 8-5 would help you? The 12 hours do seem exhausting... Just a thought. Hope it helps!

Nomadnurse, L.P.N. · Nov 14, 2010

I have, for the most part, always worked nights. 7p to 7a,/ 11-7, or as now, 4pm to 2 am. I have coverings over my bedroom windows to darken the room when I try to go to sleep when it is light outside. Also on my days off, I keep my same sleeping/ awake schedule as when I am working. Although when I am off and awake, "the world is closed", it works for me. I agree nights are not for everyone.......best of luck.

SrnD · Nov 14, 2010

thanks everyone for the replies!

right now my hospital is just offering 8's so that's what i work. to those who asked, when i said i wanted to transfer to a different unit, i meant one specifically with an evenings opening. there are actually only two of us nurses on my floor that are full-time nights. the others are part-time, per diem, or almost full-time (anywhere from 50-70) hours a pay period.

i still don't know if i will go for a transfer, try to meet with someone to talk, wait to try a different facility, or what, but i do appreciate all of the input and empathy!