How many of you transferred from one area of nursing to another b/c you couldn't deal with night shift? I transferred from the OR to CCU, and did well in the unit, but as soon as I went to night shift, I've been physically sick.
I don't think it's something that's going to get better with time, and I decided to go to my manager and recruitment and see what can be done now. The only problem is at my hospital nurses are supposed to stay in an area for 6 months before transferring, and I've only been in CCU for barely 3 months. They may allow me to transfer before that time, since it is not a preference issue but a health issue, and I'll find out next week.
I hate feeling like such a wimp. But I've always been an early morning person. I was uneasy about doing night shift, but never tried it before, so I didn't know how bad it would be physically on me. I've worked 11a-11p and that was fine, but it's still totally different from 7p's.
I worked 12 hr night shifts for about 8 months and fought sleep around 3-4 in the morning consistently. I did not get used to it completely and caught a respiratory infection that lasted over a month. On the other hand, when I switched to days, I ran for 12-13 hours straight and had all the other stuff to put up with. I had such high stress I developed chest pain and migraine headaches on a regular basis. I guess for me, nights in the hospital was the better of the two evils. I now work 8 hr days in home care and have done well so far. We also take call at times and may see a patient or two in the evening, but usually none at nights. Lots of wounds, labs, IV's, teaching issues. Good luck everyone finding what is right for you.
I've worked night shift for 3 years. I've only been on day shift as a staff RN for 2 months. Working nights didn't kill me, I just felt like I was losing days, missing out on my son's life, and feeling physically and emotionally like crap. Working day shift/3, 12's in a row, I feel great! I'd like to start traveling again, but I know as a traveler mostly night shift is available.
I've met nurses who absolutely love nights, more power to them!!
I agree night shift does not suit everyone and have also experienced feelings of frustration because of how the rostering works I have been placed on night shift.
How safe is it anyway to have a nurse caring for patients and making drug calculations and administrating IV meds when they are exhausted and stressed because no matter how hard they try they cannot sleep during the day.
It got to the stage for me(even though I loved the work I was doing and enjoyed all the challenges that an acute surgical ward offered) that I found a position that required no rotating shifts at all and at present have ladies hours of 8-4.30 mon - fri.
Unfortunately due to my husband now transferred to another city I am in the position where I once again have to look for another nursing position - not difficult to find work as even here in NZ there is a real shortage but to find one that has hours that keep me sane. Anyway have an interview at a nursing bureau where you can choose own hours so heres hoping
i agree with you! most of us feel physically sick when we work night shift -- nausea, fatigue, headaches . . . we suck it up and deal.
sucking it up is one thing - that is until you are actually sucking back vomit and trying to see through daily migraines which can now no longer be controlled with any form of medication which allows you to be functional...
yeah...i worked nights for 7 years and loved it, but tried it again 4 years ago for about 6 months and realized that i was not going to just "readjust". it was just different this time. my body just wouldnt physically let me do it. so please don't assume a person could just "suck it up".
Personally, I have worked night shift for many years sometimes per my request, other times because it was the only shift available. However, I'll be honest here, I did a six month stretch of rotating days, evenings and nights and thought I was going to die! It was horrid. I never knew when to sleep. I think the rotating nonsense is just torture.
To each his own though. SOme folks liked that schedule. I do think the OP has given it a fair chance and if she is able to change units for a different shift - go for it.
I have worked nights for a year and it did take about 3 months to get in the groove. Guarding your sleep is absolutely essential!
i know that nights arent for everyone but its part of the job, in university they told us what would be expected and that if you couldnt do it find a different job.
i work with people who have medical notes saying that they cant do nights and i find it unfair on the rest of the staff who have to do nights. in our ward we are expected to do 3weeks of nights every 2-3months. so we as a team came up with a plan to all do 1 night shift every fortnight or two a month, we all rotate through and even the people who said they could do the nights changed there minds when this plan was proposed.
That's funny that I stumbled upon this thread while bored as hell at work right now! I'm only caring for 3 patients on our unit and I miss having 5 or 6. My amount of caffiene intake is inversely proportional to my patient load. I know of people who no matter what they do can never adjust to the night shift. I for one can barely cope with the AM shift as I cannot seem to sleep any earlier than 3AM. I used to be flex doing any of the 3 shifts (7-3, 3-11, 11-7) and I always found myself struggling to stay alert on the 7-3 shift as I would bottom out from 1-3pm. I am currently doing 12 hour shifts from 7p-7a but I occasionally do 7a-7p when the need arises.
For me, I have noticed the following has worked relatively well for me:
1. As long as I get at least 4-5 hours sleep before work I would have no problem at work.
2. If I am not busy at work, I get sleepy. If it's busy, no amount of sleep medication can touch me.
3. I have to constantly hydrate myself with fluids. Caffiene helps too.
4. I have 2 meals during the shift and everytime I'm done I perk up.
5. The $3.50/hour night diff. keeps me wanting to do more nights than days.
6. I excercise and workout during my days off.
7. Oh, and to add, I guess I'll be browsing these forums more often if our census drops or if the floor is not too busy to keep me alert.
It is true the night shift is not for everybody. People will tell you that after 6 months or a year, your body will adjust if you do this and do that. Not true, some people's bodies just cant adjust to working all night. I am one of those people. I worked for a year and a half on a night shift 7p-7a. I was a perfectly healthy 23 yr old prior to beginning nights. After working nights for about 6 months or so, I started having a lot of GI issues and hypertension. My BPs were 150/100. My GI doc later diagnosed me with IBS and prescribed Zelnorm. My PMD just recommended some diet changes and more exercise to control my HTN. (Even though I was very active at the gym 3x/wk and ate a pretty healthy diet). I really wasnt feeling well and was always exhausted, and felt quite miserable for being a woman in her early 20's. I was beginning to really hate the night shift, due to sleeping in the day and missing out on things I wannted to do because I was working at night. A day position opened up at my hospital and I took it. Do you know that within 1 month, my HTN and GI issues resolved. I felt so much better. I didnt even realize that it was the nightshift that was causing my health problems until after I switched my shift. Today you wont catch me working a night shift EVER. Some peoples bodies just cant make that adjustment and if you feel your not able to, dont let anyone tell you differently. Your health is of the utmost importance, I say get out of that night shift ASAP.
This thread is really interesting to read since I have always had concerns about working a night shift. Being a pre-Nursing student, it has been one of my greatest concerns about entering the field.
Not trying to hijack the thread, but this question relates to working the night shift. For graduate students, are there a fair number of non-night shift positions available? What options do graduate students have if they don't prefer night shifts?
I did nights for 10 years with difficulty, even wore dark sunglasses on my way home. Didn't help... now I'm Dracula- can't sleep at night half the time, awake 5+6 times some nights... it waasn't worth it!
Night shift is a fact of nursing. Hospitals are open 24/7,and somebody has to work those nights and weekends.
As a new grad, you are lowest in seniority, and you will have to do the least desirable shifts. Period.
Unless you are one of the rare few who love and thrive on nights, you are going to experience some discomfort until you get used to it.
AND you CAN get used to it, as a youngster. It IS harder on older grads, true.
I went to nights at 32, as a new ICU nurse. Very tough, but I did not have kids. BIG difference.
The usual rules apply. Make your sleep time sacred, unplug the phone, darken the bedroom by whatever means necessary.
I found that when you are tired, you WILL sleep, as long as Mom, the kids and hubby are AWARE of the fact that your sleep time is as precious as thier's.
Specializes in ER, PEDS, PICU, PUB HLTH AIR GRND TRNSP,.
Hi pitbull, I have been a nurse for 18 plus years and have spent most of them on nocs. If you are sick what symptoms do you have, maybe they will pass. also, are you working at the only hospital in your area? If not look around, with your experience you might be able to ge a "easier" shift.
NRSINGED KAREN, BSN, RN
24 Posts
I worked 12 hr night shifts for about 8 months and fought sleep around 3-4 in the morning consistently. I did not get used to it completely and caught a respiratory infection that lasted over a month. On the other hand, when I switched to days, I ran for 12-13 hours straight and had all the other stuff to put up with. I had such high stress I developed chest pain and migraine headaches on a regular basis. I guess for me, nights in the hospital was the better of the two evils. I now work 8 hr days in home care and have done well so far. We also take call at times and may see a patient or two in the evening, but usually none at nights. Lots of wounds, labs, IV's, teaching issues. Good luck everyone finding what is right for you.