An all time low for a new night shifter

[beeker]

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.

[minnymi]

oh yeah....the old "you'll be the first in line when a position comes up" scam. i've seen it a million times. the first time it happened to ME i was working as a hostess at a restaurant and was in line to be a server. servers make good money in tips...hostesses at that time were making 4 dollars an hour an a percentage of the server's tips. i can't remember what the percentage was, but it was very, very low because i would leave work most times averaging LESS than minimum wage.

yet, they would hire new servers that walked in off the street! i quit when i realized they were going to keep anyone willing to stay in that position for as long as they could.

same thing happened at the hospital....well, almost. when i started working night shift which is what i wanted to work at the time...i told my boss that when i started school full time the upcoming summer (6 months notice i gave her BEFORE she hired me) that i would have to work day shift. AFTER she hired me, i reminded her andshe said, "if there are any positions available." i didn't say it out loud, but i thought to myself, "well, IF there aren't any positions available then i will be quitting because i am not giving up school for a crap-pay job!" so, the summer came and she told me i could switch to dayshift. i worked a couple day shifts and she called me and said she just really HAD to keep me on nights.....yet she had just hired a handful of people! she said they couldn't work nights because of school and other obligations. uhh......hell-ooooooo! i ended up staying on days because it was either that or quit. but she would have continued hiring day-shifters and kept me on nights for as long as i would've put up with it.

i understand the manager's position having a hard time keeping night shift staffed, but you can't make that your problem forever. i say do what a previous poster did and work out an "exit date" with your employer. ask her how long it will take her to find a replacement for you so you can move to days. if she's not willing to set a date then i would quit. it'll never end.

[Chiggysmom]

I totally hear you! I am not a nurse yet but I currently work nightshift as a concierge. Some people are cut for it, and some arent. Ive been doing it for 10 months now and I'm done. I LOVE my job...but I dread going into work because even after 10 months I fall asleep at my desk. I have to leave my family at home at night after dinner when we should be spending time together...and I'm tired ALL THE TIME. No matter how much I sleep. I realize after I'm done school and am a nurse I may have to work nights as a new grad....but Ill tell you now I'm not cut out for it. Hope you can find something else.

This is how it is for me as well. It just doesn't matter how much sleep I get after working a night shift, I will still be in zombie mode when I get up. I had to work night shift yesterday, I had worked the night before and I just couldn't seem to wake myself up. I made myself a latte, took some supplements for adrenal exhaustion, B12 sublinguals and some tyrosine and still felt like a limp rag. The kicker came when I was driving to work and I hit someone from behind. It doesn't help at all that this job is so totally freaking stressfull that all my energy is drained out of me during the 12 hr shift and then when you add night shift and the very unatural not sleeping the entire night to it, it's pretty much a recipe NOT for good. I find that I am tired almost ALL the time. I finished up this morning after 3 nights (with one off in between those but that was just to sleep because a day off in between night shifts doesn't even feel like a day off?) and I am exhausted and I won't even feel remotely like myself until the 3rd day off and by then it's time to go back to work. Ugh . . .

[Chiggysmom]

There are lots of threads on adapting to nights. I've posted on a few myself- do a search and I'm sure you will find a wealth of information. The short of it is- for most people this is very difficuly for a few mos, then hard for a few mos, then bad off-and-on for a few mos- then they go to days. In some areas of the hospital you may have to wait years to get a day turn position, but if you find after 3-6mos you are just not adapting despite following the tips you will find throughout AN, you may be better off taking a day position in an area you don't want to work, rather than continuing on nights in a specialty you want to pursue.

I have been doing nights for 8 years (because where I work to do three 12 hr shifts/full-time you must rotate nights and days) and I still have not learned to like them, in fact, if anything, as I age (I'm 52) I find that they are more and more difficult to do.

[Chiggysmom]

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

HeartWorker,

This is such good advice. Thank you. I do the 12 hr night shifts and rotate to 12 hr day shifts which is what is required of us to call 3-12 hr shifts full time. I have questioned many times going to either 2-12s and 2-8s or 5-8 hr shifts but every time I think about going into work MORE than I already have to be there, I cringe at the thought. It seems, it's six and one half dozen of the other, so to speak, because when you work 3-12s, you say to yourself, you're only there for 3 shifts a week but the trade off for me is that I'm usually so tired on my days off, I don't even get to enjoy them. There was a time a few years ago when we all had to work 2-12's and 2-8s to fill the schedule because there were not enough nurses and it was awful and my husband said "this is ridiculous, all you're doing is working and sleeping" because they still rotated days and nights during that time. If I did 2-12s and 2-8s, I could never do days and nights both because it would just be awful. I would request days and 3-11s as my off shift. There's and idea possibly?

[Chiggysmom]

Does your job offer a PM shift (3-11 pm) position? Most of the new grads that we hire start on nights because the day shifts go to people with more seniority. Our new grads that couldn't handle nights ended up going to PM shift then to days if a position opened up. I would definitely have a talk with your manager and ask that you be put on days and the new grads on nights. That's how it's always been since the beginning of time.

Ha Ha, I've been working where I work for almost 8 years and I am STILL being scheduled to work night shifts right along side the new hires! I'm just wondering when that seniority things clicks in???

[beeker]

Well just got back from another shift! Thank you everyone for the kind words and advice! Where I work it is ONLY 12 hour shifts, no 8 hours or 3-11's. My NM knows I want days, she just doesn't care. I made it very clear at the interview and we have discussed it several times at length. The new grads are going to train on days and stay on days. The day staff is not being very nice to them either, not sure why it is not their fault the manager screwed up. I kind of have a feeling they may not last, which is sad really because they were put into a hostile situation.

I asked my manager for a meeting, and we scheduled one. I stayed past my shift to meet with her and she never showed up. We were supposed to meet at 845am, I waited until 930 before I left. She send me an email telling me she forgot and asking me to stop by at 2. I never got the email I was asleep since I worked all night. I left her a voicemail and sent another email, and nothing back.

We are having a party next week for 2 of the girls that quit. They have both already found other jobs. There are now a total of 5 night shifters that have given notice over this and all it means for me is a crappy shift and short staffing. I do not have enough experience to find another job yet, I have not hit the one year mark yet.

[Deb Jenks]

This brings back memories-- I would say that it can get better. for me, the hardest part was managing my environment so that I could sleep uninterupted. For me that meant a white noise machine (which, almost 25 years later my entire family is now addicted to-- in a good way), unplugging the phone, turning down the answering machine volume, and eating 'breakfast a couple of hours before the end of the shift. You could also ask your primary care md/np about melatonin to help with falling asleep.

I also got really mixed advise on what to do on the off days-- I'm pretty sure the evidence says, try to keep to a similar routine. If you have never been a napper, developing that habit helps as well.

And, when someday you move to days or pms, dont' forget what it was like for the 3rd shift crew!

Remember to, the independence and autonomy you have on 3rd shift! you can and do, make a difference every night

[RNforLongTime]

I LOVE night shift! I've been doing it off and on for most of my career and have been on straight nights in my current position for over 5 yrs now. I had a nightmare last night. I've been off on FMLA leave for over 6 weeks now following a Right radical nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma. I'm due to go back to work on June 18th. I dreamt that I got my schedule and I was put on 7straight day shifts in a row! ICK! NOOO! I despise day shift!!!

Some people just cannot get adjusted to nights. I found it MUCH harder when I had to swing...two day shifts and then a night shift one week followed by two night shifts and then a day shift the following week. ICK!

I'd say a discussion with your NM is definitely in order. I have worked with RN's who got a written excuse from their PCP stating that working night shift was detrimental to their health. The NM then had to take them off night shift and put them on days.

[Janet C, RN]

I love working nights! I have been on nights for 3 years or so now. There are many perks! Less family member shenanigans, little to no upper management, the physicians are cooler, and even in the ER there is less stress overall. I work 12 hour shifts 3-4 days a week. I don't get a whole lot of sleep between my working days (long commute) and I lose my first day to sleep. But the rest of my days off, I sleep at night and stay up all day with my kids! We get tons of time together that way. The day I go back to work, I get up early morning, around 5 am, and stay up until around noon, then nap prior to work! I prefer nights, but like others are saying, its not for everyone. General stay on nightshift here in Missouri is about a year before most move to day shift. Hang in there!!

[SqueakRN]

Your body either adapts or it doesn't. I worked nights for several years when I was younger, and I adapted quickly and with no problem. Fast forward a few years later, after having worked days hours, I'm back on nights and this time around, my body is NOT adapting to nights. I've tried staying on the night schedule on days off and tried sleeping during the night. Nada. I had a co-worker tell me, "You never get used to it." She's been doing this shift for 5 years. I was thinking, Why in the world are you still doing this shift?? I hear frequently from other night-shifters about how they only get 4 hours of sleep, and to them this is normal. This is NOT normal. Neither is getting 12 hours of sleep.

I know a lot of people say they love night shift and that's great for THEM. But you have to take inventory of what is going on in your life. Is it great for YOU? Are you content or downright miserable? If you've got a little bit of experience, I'd say start looking around for another position or at the very least, talk with your manager about moving into a day position.

Some people are cut out for night shift, but the majority are not. I think your unit hiring new grads straight into days--- well, I think that is some serious BS. I'd be furious.

[SqueakRN]

Well just got back from another shift! Thank you everyone for the kind words and advice! Where I work it is ONLY 12 hour shifts, no 8 hours or 3-11's. My NM knows I want days, she just doesn't care. I made it very clear at the interview and we have discussed it several times at length. The new grads are going to train on days and stay on days. The day staff is not being very nice to them either, not sure why it is not their fault the manager screwed up. I kind of have a feeling they may not last, which is sad really because they were put into a hostile situation.

I asked my manager for a meeting, and we scheduled one. I stayed past my shift to meet with her and she never showed up. We were supposed to meet at 845am, I waited until 930 before I left. She send me an email telling me she forgot and asking me to stop by at 2. I never got the email I was asleep since I worked all night. I left her a voicemail and sent another email, and nothing back.

We are having a party next week for 2 of the girls that quit. They have both already found other jobs. There are now a total of 5 night shifters that have given notice over this and all it means for me is a crappy shift and short staffing. I do not have enough experience to find another job yet, I have not hit the one year mark yet.

Oh sorry, I posted my reply before I read this post. Wow your manager sounds like a FLAKE> I'm so sorry. How much longer do you have till you hit the one year mark?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i love working nights! i have been on nights for 3 years or so now. there are many perks! less family member shenanigans, little to no upper management, the physicians are cooler, and even in the er there is less stress overall. i work 12 hour shifts 3-4 days a week. i don't get a whole lot of sleep between my working days (long commute) and i lose my first day to sleep. but the rest of my days off, i sleep at night and stay up all day with my kids! we get tons of time together that way. the day i go back to work, i get up early morning, around 5 am, and stay up until around noon, then nap prior to work! i prefer nights, but like others are saying, its not for everyone. general stay on nightshift here in missouri is about a year before most move to day shift. hang in there!!

there's nothing like a good attitude to make adapting to any change go more smoothly, and you have that! good on you for finding the positives.