Oh man, I'm thinking I made a big mistake by going into nursing....let me explain. I've been working nights on a cardiac/tele unit now for 6 months. The staff that I work with is absolutely wonderful...we only get up to 5 patients...and I enjoy the patient population that we receive. So, I should really like my job right? Well, I don't. I feel really comfortable in my role as a nurse....it's not that I don't feel confident in my abilities or anything like that. I think it has more to do with the schedule. Nights has been really crappy to get used to. My husband works a Monday-Friday, 8-4 job. By the time he gets home, I am just getting up and it's all I can do to get dinner, get ready, and get to work on time. So basically we hardly ever get to see each other because I'm home sleeping all day when he's gone and he's home all night while I'm at work. Plus, we miss out on a lot of weekends together because I'm working every other weekend.
I guess I knew this was coming when I started working nights, but I never imagined it would be this hard. Some nights I just start crying on the way to work....I really don't know why, maybe it's just that I don't want to go and I want to spend time with my husband. I find myself wishing that I didn't have to go to work, and that is totally unlike me. I'm usually a very positive person but I just feel like my job is bringing me down. Aside from quitting, there is really nothing that I can do...my manager has already told me not to even include the word "days" in my vocabulary for a "long time." There are people on my unit that have been trying to get to dayshift for 3 years, and I KNOW that I won't be one of those people....3 years of this would send me to the psych ward!
Well thanks for letting me vent....if anyone has any ideas of areas outside the hospital setting that I could work (with normal hours) feel free to suggest! At this point I will do ANYTHING...lol....well within reason. I even considered becoming a pharmaceutical rep, but I don't know if that would be any better. OK...I'm done now. Sorry about the long post! :)
Also, to Gompers, I have to mention that I find your comments to be very insensitive to those of us who are looking for help and support. Yes, we all knew going into nursing that the hours would not be "regular." Actually, I was attracted to night shift -- I am not a "morning person" and looked forward to the change. I'm surprised and very frustrated that it is proving so difficult. I am really happy that your schedule works for you and your family, but we are all different. A few extra dollars per month mean nothing to me compared to getting my physical and mental health back.
I'm sorry if you found my posts insensitive. But honestly, I'm getting really tired of reading posts from new grads complaining about night shift. Do you know how many nurses I've worked with over the past 10 years I've been a hospital employee? Hundreds! And do you know how many of them had to start on nights? About 90% of them! I know that's not easy, but it is a fact of life in hospital nursing and we all knew it from the get-go. I was trying to offer some help and mention the benefits of working nights (and there are plenty BESIDES money) because there is a silver lining to it if you try to see it. And about the money - to many people, making an extra $500 a month more means a whole heck of a lot, so I don't think it's insensitive to mention it as a benefit.
I myself felt a bit offended by the post that praised the OP for wanting to switch to days, and how much her marriage obviously meant to her. Does that imply that by working three nights a week means that my marriage ISN'T important to me??? It is possible to have a wonderful marriage and not spend every waking moment together. I think that is what really got me going here, and I'm sure I took it the wrong way, but that comment really hurt.
One thing that wasn't mentioned in the previous replies, is the fact that inadequate sleep can mess with your emotional health. The way you described how you feel sounds to me like you might be started down the road to clinical depression. I was a master at minamizing my depressive symptoms. I had mild depressive symptoms for over 2 years before I finally sought help. I had always said it was the situation. I'd change the situation and the symptoms would still be there. A counselor might be a good place to start. If it truely is the situation, maybe he/or she can help you cope, or find a new job, if there is actual depression, he or she can help you get medication. I can not tell you how much easier it is to cope with my life stresses now that I am properly medicated. good luck.
Lauren, and newgrad, I just want to add another "you are not alone." I too am finding nights to be hell on my mind and body. As for whether 3 12-hour shifts would help -- that is certainly worth checking out. But that is what I do, and those can be looong shifts. My body *needs* 7-8/24 hrs of sleep and that's almost impossible when you're on 12's and also have family obligations. Often I sleep 24+ hours straight after a 3-night run, which kind of defeats the purpose of working 3 shifts a week.
Also, to Gompers, I have to mention that I find your comments to be very insensitive to those of us who are looking for help and support. Yes, we all knew going into nursing that the hours would not be "regular." Actually, I was attracted to night shift -- I am not a "morning person" and looked forward to the change. I'm surprised and very frustrated that it is proving so difficult. I am really happy that your schedule works for you and your family, but we are all different. A few extra dollars per month mean nothing to me compared to getting my physical and mental health back.
Right now, I am struggling with the choice of whether to give up the thing I always wanted to do (critical care) and change to an area that is easier on my body. It is a painful decision to have to make. I wish everyone who's dealing with this the best; let's all keep updated and continue to support each other!
Hello, everyone, I was in your shoes, working 3-12 hour shifts and hated it. I am a night person, but those are some looooong shifts. I also would sleep almost 24-36 hours before I could function, I found I was not going to the bathroom, and was sorry ( constipated) quite often, which was unusal for me.
I just quit one night, did not go in. The best thing I EVER DID. I now work for the city as a Detox nurse, during community nursing. LOVE IT, my salary over 50,000 a year, I donot pay for health insurance for my family; and I have 2 pensions if I work 20 years, which I donot put money into. I also have my own office. I say follow your instincts, something better is out there, and hospital nursing don't pay enough for the hell.
Hi- I went through the same thing. I work in LTC, and was put on 3-11 shift. I'm a new grad and a newlywed. I got so unhappy, and was just feeling stuck. I opted to go on my husband's insurance and work per diem at my old facility and two others. I'm going to have to drop one, cause there is plenty of work . Get your resume out there girl! It's a miracle if we find our ideal fit right away. I was nervous about "job-hopping", but it has rewarded me. Best of luck to you!
Oh man, I'm thinking I made a big mistake by going into nursing....let me explain. I've been working nights on a cardiac/tele unit now for 6 months. The staff that I work with is absolutely wonderful...we only get up to 5 patients...and I enjoy the patient population that we receive. So, I should really like my job right? Well, I don't. I feel really comfortable in my role as a nurse....it's not that I don't feel confident in my abilities or anything like that. I think it has more to do with the schedule. Nights has been really crappy to get used to. My husband works a Monday-Friday, 8-4 job. By the time he gets home, I am just getting up and it's all I can do to get dinner, get ready, and get to work on time. So basically we hardly ever get to see each other because I'm home sleeping all day when he's gone and he's home all night while I'm at work. Plus, we miss out on a lot of weekends together because I'm working every other weekend.
I guess I knew this was coming when I started working nights, but I never imagined it would be this hard. Some nights I just start crying on the way to work....I really don't know why, maybe it's just that I don't want to go and I want to spend time with my husband. I find myself wishing that I didn't have to go to work, and that is totally unlike me. I'm usually a very positive person but I just feel like my job is bringing me down. Aside from quitting, there is really nothing that I can do...my manager has already told me not to even include the word "days" in my vocabulary for a "long time." There are people on my unit that have been trying to get to dayshift for 3 years, and I KNOW that I won't be one of those people....3 years of this would send me to the psych ward!
Well thanks for letting me vent....if anyone has any ideas of areas outside the hospital setting that I could work (with normal hours) feel free to suggest! At this point I will do ANYTHING...lol....well within reason. I even considered becoming a pharmaceutical rep, but I don't know if that would be any better. OK...I'm done now. Sorry about the long post! :)
Gompers, BSN, RN
2,691 Posts
I'm sorry if you found my posts insensitive. But honestly, I'm getting really tired of reading posts from new grads complaining about night shift. Do you know how many nurses I've worked with over the past 10 years I've been a hospital employee? Hundreds! And do you know how many of them had to start on nights? About 90% of them! I know that's not easy, but it is a fact of life in hospital nursing and we all knew it from the get-go. I was trying to offer some help and mention the benefits of working nights (and there are plenty BESIDES money) because there is a silver lining to it if you try to see it. And about the money - to many people, making an extra $500 a month more means a whole heck of a lot, so I don't think it's insensitive to mention it as a benefit.
I myself felt a bit offended by the post that praised the OP for wanting to switch to days, and how much her marriage obviously meant to her. Does that imply that by working three nights a week means that my marriage ISN'T important to me??? It is possible to have a wonderful marriage and not spend every waking moment together. I think that is what really got me going here, and I'm sure I took it the wrong way, but that comment really hurt.