An all time low for a new night shifter

MomRN0913 · Jun 6, 2012

I worked night shift for 4 and a half years. It was rough. I did eventually get to days..... Like another poster said, better to fall asleep in your pizza than on the road. I started falling asleep at red lights and would have to pull over and take 15 minute naps ont he way home, so that i wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel. Try to get as much sleep as possible in between shifts. Or ask your MD about Nuvigil. I have heard a few people who started taking it and were able to stay awake.

But my heart goes out to you, I remember many times getting home and barely getting my scrubs off or even passing out in my own driveway., I remember when my exhusband came outside to find me asleep with my head up against the window and the car running right in our driveway when the front door was 10 ft away!

Morainey, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2012

I was thinking about it and maybe the new day shift new grads are being oriented on days and will be moved to nights? Also it's possible your NM was thinking you weren't interested in days if you hadn't been asking about it, the sample email that someone posted was very diplomatic but assertive. Before I got hired on they hired a per diem employee who graduated at the same time I did, and I called HR after several job rejections ("we're not hiring new grads at this time time!") and explained that I must be confused as I knew the other new grad had just been hired. Got my own position a week or so later... I find it best to be a bit of a nudge :)

julie1612 · Jun 6, 2012

I know exactly how you feel. It sucks!! I was on days for 6 years until nursing school. I was offered an LPN position on nights in the med/surge unit when I graduated. Of course I jumped on it but it's killed me ever since. It takes awhile to adjust. I've been on nights since end of March. I do 3 12 hr shifts. Thank god that's all cause I would die. Melatonin has helped me, just 3 mg tabs once a day. Its hard to sleep during the day. I also think some people adjust & others don't. Hang in there, get rest, & eat right.

Luv2bnrn · Jun 6, 2012

I've been on night shift for over two years. I stay on a night schedule, as in will go to bed sometime between 1-4 am on my nights/days off, whatever you call them.

Keep your room dark, keep a fan or other white noise running. Books on tape are great, as they occupy your mind and even if you don't sleep, you can lay down resting while you listen. When you get off work, wear sunglasses; try to keep the sunlight away from your eyes as much as possible as it triggers your body that it is daytime. Try to work three shifts in a row so that you really stay on the night schedule well.

I sleep sometimes only 4-5 hours, sometimes I sleep until my alarm goes off at 5. On my days off I sleep a lot, usually. Recently I went to bed at midnight and woke up at 4:30pm the next day!

Working night shift does feel like you just work and sleep, partially because you work into your day off and you are so exausted you have to make up for all the lost sleep. If you manage to get four days off in a row, it really helps.

Nightshift is hard on your body and everybody doesn't always adjust, no matter what they do. There are good perks to working nights but if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. You don't want to get hurt driving home or make some terrible mistake at work because you are so tired.

Make sure your boss knows that you really want to move to days the next time there is an opening if that's what you decide you want to do.

Good luck.

Luv2bnrn · Jun 6, 2012

For staying alert, I also used Nuvigil for a little while but only as a free prescirption (with a coupon) because my insurance only covers it for narcolepsy and apnea. But, you might see if you can get it.

For sleep I use is Lunesta sometimes (Ambien doesn't work for me). Also, melatonin works well, as some others have mentioned, as does valarian root.

mmiriamasher · Jun 6, 2012

Looks like you're not made for night shift, some people aren't, including me. I just told them if they didn't put me off night shifts I should have to go. It helped,and I never worked nights again. Now I'm happily retired. We had a nurse who worked only night shifts for all her 40 years of work. I'm a morning person.

Try and find another place to work where you don't have to work nights and can be with your family, they are important.

Good luck to you

nurselindah, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2012

I know there are already a lot of comments here but I do have to say, I felt exactly the same as you do. It took me about six months to completely adjust to nights. I have to keep the same schedule on my days off. Occasionally I can get up a few hours early to see some sunshine, but if I change it up too much, I am too exhausted for anything. I to loved my job and even working nights (no admins, cool people, etc.). You can probably adjust but give yourself a lot more time.

macgirl · Jun 6, 2012

I all I can say is days are that way for me. You will never get use to it. Some people don't. I use to be an EMT, I never got use to getting up at 5am. When I got my job it was 3 weeks of day orientation. I gained 20lbs, eating to stay awake.

I agree with melatonin, 5mg. Take it then get into bed. It puts you to sleep but won't keep you asleep. (Don't take and think I'll just put this load in, brush my teeth ect. It wears off fast.) For clinicals (days) I took a melatonin and benadryl.

I work nights and love it. I hate the drive (2 1/2 commute RT). I live so far that I only get 6 hrs sleep, not because I can't sleep but just don't have enough time. I sleep as much as I can before my first shift, then on Monday (my Friday/first day off) I stay up late, I get a little morning shopping done and relax, then sleep. get up for a few hours then sleep all night. Don't push yourself if you are day person, then get a day job,work as long as you have too. I'm guessing you are an early morning person. I was always a night owl even as a child. I find early days killer.

* the above are just tips to keep you awake and going till you can go to days. And get some sleep so you can get home safe.

heartworker · Jun 6, 2012

Dear "beeker"-

I've been in nursing for over 40 years, and would like to share some tips for survival with you--as a welcome fledgling to our profession. Your post, and the comments from other nurses who have faced similar situations, is troubling on a number of levels.

While your description of awakening to find your face in your pizza sounds "funny", the fact that you are falling asleep while eating is a sign that sleep deprivation is compromising your health and safety. You didn't mention if you work 12 hour shifts. There is copious research that confirms the negative effects of 12 hour shifts, regardless of whether they are day or night. But 12-hour night shifts followed by mandated meetings and inservices are not only inconsistent with promotion of employee health and safety, they are an invitation for disaster.

Years ago, I worked night shift: I became so sleep deprived that I blanked out for the last 10 miles of my drive home. I awakened as I was driving up the off-ramp toward home. Thankfully, no accident occurred, but it was a literal "wake-up call" for me. I resigned that night position. After working 14 hours on the night shift, a nurse colleague of mine fell asleep on her way home, and totalled the family car. It's a miracle she wasn't killed.

You could have fallen asleep while driving home, and injured yourself, or someone else. It is imperative that you begin to arrange for at least an 6-8 hour block of sleep when you are working, including the morning after your last shift (before your days off). On your days off, sleep in a normal pattern, at night, with your family schedule. The quality of sleep that you get during the night is far superior to the sleep you get during the day, and will help your body rest and heal. This will also help you to be more available to your family. On your days off, take a nap, if needed, but listen to your body. Enlist the help of your spouse/partner and children, so that your sleep schedule is respected and supported.

Don't drink coffee or soda past 6am at work. Avoid sugary snacks at work, as much as possible. These items alter your blood sugar and impact sleep. Instead, bring nourishing, whole foods for meals at work--drink lots of water. Don't use sugar and caffeine to keep yourself going for those last few hours of the shift. They will keep you awake and pack on weight!!

Some nurses like to go to the gym and work out during their work week--this is more difficult for night shift nurses. Exercise right before trying to go to sleep is generally considered counter-productive for sleep. Generally, sleep should come first. A brisk walk or workout when you awaken is good to boost your metabolism and brighten your mood. Take a walk with your spouse/partner, or kids, or walk with a friend. Talk about something besides work!!

Self care is imperative if you are going to be able to continue in nursing, regardless of the shift you work. Enlist the support of your nurse colleagues. Suggest a health-promotion activity for the nurses on your unit. Explore current research about health promotion in nurses, and encourage your hospital administration to support your efforts.

I hope these suggestions inspire you to support yourself and your nurse colleagues.

Be well,

Heartworker

sallyhoward1964 · Jun 6, 2012

I put my ice cream in the cupboard.,the laundry in the incinerator,and the garbage min the washing machine when I worked the third shift.__it happens on that shift.After mpulling a 12 hr shift I could NOT drive my son to the hospital when he broke his arm a 1/2 hr after I got home and to bed.I did take him when I woke up 4hrs later.He was old enough to follow the directions I had given him re "r.i.c.e..He was fine and we left and were back home in an hr.!Shift work-got mto love it

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Punch · Jun 6, 2012

I am a new to the night shift and not adjusting well. I have been on night shift since February. The other day after a very long shift, followed by a staff meeting, followed by a traffic filled commute home it happened. I woke up with a slice of pizza stuck to my face. I literally fell asleep at the kitchen table. In my pizza. I am thankful I was too tired to warm it up or the outcome may have been bad.
I am really trying to make this shift work. I am trying to stick to the night schedule on my days off. But I feel like all I do is work and try to sleep. And if I ever get a few days off in a row, all I do is sleep. I was off this weekend, I slept 12 hours each day. On work days, I rarely get more than 4-5 hours of sleep between shifts. On days off, I can't do anything with my family. I am tired all the time.
I have never been a coffee drinker, or soda drinker. Now I am drinking coffee on my days off in an attempt to stay awake to interact with my family. Nothing helps.
Please tell me this will get better. I really like my job, but I am not sure how long I can keep this up. And to make matters worse, I was told when hired that whenever a day shift opens they offer it to us night shifters first, but they just hired 2 new grads that are going to be on days. Now a bunch of coworkers are giving their notice and I am feeling hopeless of ever getting off of nights.

I have been on night shift (6p-6:30a) since January and have NOT adjusted. Sure, the 12 hour shifts are okay, but working nights is horrible for me! I always feel tired, and never feel like I can get enough sleep! I don't feel like doing anything anymore. All I do is work, sleep, and eat. I am constantly perusing the want ads for a new job!

chaka_1709 · Jun 6, 2012

Night shift is hard. My fiance works nights and its hard for us to spend time together because it. He is always tired and "lazy" on his days off because of his back. His sleep schedule is all over the place. If we're planning on spending time together then he will change his sleep schedule but most of the time he sleeps all day, wakes up for dinner, back to sleep, then gets up in time for work. It would be better if we both worked nights so at least we're on the same schedule and we don't have kids yet so that's not a problem.

I would adjust well to nights because i am a night person and always end up staying late anyways. I'm not a morning person. Usually even if I am doing a day schedule, I don't get much sleep and don't go to sleep til 2-5 am. So I understand where you are coming from.

I would just go and talk to them about it. Good luck.