Anyone else on nights feel completely out of it?

daisydoll · Sep 25, 2008

Nights just arent for some ppl, I had some of the same problems when I was working nights. After a while it got a little easier to switch to a day schedule when I was off, but I think its because I was so tired from not getting adequate sleep on the days I was working that I would just be able to fall asleep relatively early. It really took a toll on my body, and I felt out of touch with the rest of the world. For me, taking a paycut is worth it to be able to work days and have a more "normal" life. I dont have kids however, so that is something you will need to consider. Ever thought about working evenings?

GQRN · Sep 25, 2008

How many days a week do you work? If you can, put those days together. On the last day when you go home, take a little nap, and stay up the entire day until you are dead tired at the end of the day. It is your work day anyways so why not use the rest of the day as an off day? Then you should be able to enjoy your days off. When you go back to work, try to take a little nap before work so you can be okay for your 1st night back. Its usually easy to do a first night without much sleep since you know you will be sleeping after work.

I've been working nigths for 3 years now, Its pretty easy to convert for nights to days on my days off. I work 5 straight a week then 3 straight the next week. I usually go sleep early, right after work. But on my last day, I go to sleep late and wake up right before coming to work so that way I am more fresher when I get off and enjoy the rest of the day with a little nap in between.

A lot of nurses think we don't do nothing at night and get paid extra. Only if they knew how much we sacrafice by working nights with family, friends, and how hard of a time we have on our off days to convert from night to day and then go back to night come work time.

SixFive · Sep 25, 2008

How many days a week do you work? If you can, put those days together. On the last day when you go home, take a little nap, and stay up the entire day until you are dead tired at the end of the day. It is your work day anyways so why not use the rest of the day as an off day? Then you should be able to enjoy your days off. When you go back to work, try to take a little nap before work so you can be okay for your 1st night back. Its usually easy to do a first night without much sleep since you know you will be sleeping after work.
I've been working nigths for 3 years now, Its pretty easy to convert for nights to days on my days off. I work 5 straight a week then 3 straight the next week. I usually go sleep early, right after work. But on my last day, I go to sleep late and wake up right before coming to work so that way I am more fresher when I get off and enjoy the rest of the day with a little nap in between.
A lot of nurses think we don't do nothing at night and get paid extra. Only if they knew how much we sacrafice by working nights with family, friends, and how hard of a time we have on our off days to convert from night to day and then go back to night come work time.

excellent post! :yeah: The biggest mistake people make is sleeping during the day when they don't have to work that night. After I've worked my 3 nights, I like to set my alarm, take a 2-3 hour nap then force myself to get up. I then do my best to stay awake until at least 2100 and go to bed. Voila, back on a normal schedule until time to go into work again several days later. Chopped up schedules when you're working nights (on one, off one, on one, off one, etc.) make it terrible. Working them all in a row works much better if you can get that schedule.

daisydoll · Sep 25, 2008

I guess some ppl can take a little nap after their last night at work and then be up for the rest of the day, but whenever I did that, I woke up with a huge headache, no energy and basically it was a waste of a day cuz I had no motivation to do anything. And on my first night back to work after a stretch of days off, I tried to take a nap before my shift but I was never able to fall asleep, and after a while I just stopped trying. So I would be up for at least 24 hours on that first day. I was always tired, stressed, and gained some weight because my diet was so inconsistent and I wasnt sleeping enough. I guess some ppl can adjust to it, but it just wasnt for me.

Butterflybee · Sep 25, 2008

Wow and youre tired of it. Unfortunately I cant say it will get better because it never does. Ive worked other careers where I worked this shift one on a rotating basis. You can imagine what a zombie I was. The other was a permanent night shift...I was still a zombie. I did get used to being a zombie though. People remarked how much better I looked, how my attitude was better when I quit working nights.

The positive thing though is you wont have to do it forever. I did it a number of years and will probably have to do it again because Im a new nurse but I always look ahead to when I wont need to do it anymore. If you can try to look ahead to a time when you wont need to do this anymore that can help you. I know that feeling of being tired of it. Maybe look at other options that you thought not possible before. Like I said it wont get better but you can try to find a way to get out of that situation, there is always a way. Good luck!

Oh just want to add that when I was off, I tried to live a 'normal' life. I didnt stay awake nights or anything like that. When I worked I slept in the morning and then did stuff like normal people. I never changed my circadian rhythm to be up at night and sleep during the day. I needed to be there for my kids. It is tiring but it can be only for a season and seasons change.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2008

The biggest mistake people make is sleeping during the day when they don't have to work that night.

That is not a mistake for everyone. I worked straight nights for 10 years and kept the same schedule, work or not. I slept days, was up nights. I got so that I could do everything but mow the lawn. For me and a lot of 3rd shifters, that can work.

nurseinlimbo · Sep 25, 2008

I am also a night shifter and I find that at times it can really be hard. I feel isolated, because when I am on several shifts in a row, I just work and sleep. The only positive thing is, it does allow me to be home at supper time, for homework help and such, and I can attend sports nites with my son. I am also there in the am to see him off to school. But as far as having a life myself, NOT!

I feel like a zombie too, sometimes I can sleep, sometimes I can't. On my days off I switch back to normal, otherwise I couldn't do it at all. Mercifully I do have some evening shifts on my rotation, and the acute care side is looking for OR nurses, so I may be able to switch to them eventually. Just started this job in a new place so we'll see how it goes.

ChocoholicRN · Sep 25, 2008

As crazy as this sounds, after reading everyone's posts it is so comforting to see that my new life since being on nights is similar to other peoples. I purposely haven't scheduled myself to do 3 nights in a row because I'm new to nights and wasn't sure how it would be. Also, if you get a bad group of patients the first night you're stuck with them for another 2 nights. On my days off I try to revert back to a normal schedule but it hasn't worked. I'll sleep the night of my first day off, be up during the day, but then by 11pm I'm ready to pass out. I'll sleep for a few hours then be wide awake (and hungry since I would eat around that time at work) by 5 or 6am. And of course, when I'm up that early I end up being exhausted and ready for a nap by the middle of the day. Maybe I'll try doing 3 nights in a row, I did it the other week and it wasn't bad at all. Any other suggestions on adjusting to night are more than welcome!!

SixFive · Sep 25, 2008

That is not a mistake for everyone. I worked straight nights for 10 years and kept the same schedule, work or not. I slept days, was up nights. I got so that I could do everything but mow the lawn. For me and a lot of 3rd shifters, that can work.

it can work, yes, but you sure miss out on a lot of things!

meadow85 · Sep 25, 2008

Wow, I don't know how some people do it! Not only do you miss out on a lot, its so unhealthy and unsafe (for me anyway)! Although shift work in itself and working odd hours is the same.

I don't eat or sleep well during nights and then I have to drive over an hour home during rush hour morning traffic half asleep. It was scary, I was in a trance. Thank goodness I work closer to home now.

I think you should try working some day shifts once in awhile. I know its a financial thing, but working days allows for more time to spend with loved ones and it will be refreshing.

Butterflybee · Sep 27, 2008

It sure is hard. Im not looking forward doing it again but Im going to have to. Im glad someone else can relate to being in zombie mode.

I am also a night shifter and I find that at times it can really be hard. I feel isolated, because when I am on several shifts in a row, I just work and sleep. The only positive thing is, it does allow me to be home at supper time, for homework help and such, and I can attend sports nites with my son. I am also there in the am to see him off to school. But as far as having a life myself, NOT!
I feel like a zombie too, sometimes I can sleep, sometimes I can't. On my days off I switch back to normal, otherwise I couldn't do it at all. Mercifully I do have some evening shifts on my rotation, and the acute care side is looking for OR nurses, so I may be able to switch to them eventually. Just started this job in a new place so we'll see how it goes.