First nightshift down

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I did it. I survived my first nightshift. I drank 3 cups of coffee,stopped at 0300.I started to really feel tired at 0500,but I managed to stay awake. I got home about 0830 and slept until 1230, and then bam, I am awake. I have to go back tonight and I feel tired already.

I missed not being able to get my little ones to bed and coming home to an empty house this morning was depressing. Hubs took kiddo to daycare. It was so depressing.

I know it was only mt first night,but I am feeling so tired and discouraged already. The staff was not helpful and I can tell I am going to get the most awful schedule. Please tell me it will get better.

Thanks for letting me rant.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

It varies on everything. I live 10 mins from my job. I work nights. I can get home go to bed no later than 10 am and lay in bed til it is time for me to be at work by 1845. Some may have a lot to do in the morning or before going to work. How far a person live from work? How many nights you working in a row? I did 3 12 hour shift straight for 2 years + and I loved it. Everyone is different. Your body is not use to the change.

Why you say you are going to get the most awful schedule? How was the staff not helpful? Not helping with the patients or not helping you stay awake? Im not going to tell you it is going to get better but I can say your first night is your hardest. I be off for four nights my first night back is my hardest. I try not to change my routine at home. I take naps during the day and up at night. I get up early in the morning to run errands and come back home to relax. Some days are going to be tougher than others. I have been there. Overall, Im glad you made it through.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Acute Rehab.

It WILL get better. You just have to get into a "sleeping groove"! Only you will be able to know what is the best way to do this. Some work all 3 shifts in a row. I personally like to work 2 in a row with 2 off. I found that having only 1 day off in between is the hardest. By the way, can you self schedule where you work?

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Specializes in Plastics. General Surgery. ITU. Oncology.

Although I'm English and work the usual system of internal rotation (a mixture of Earlies, Lates and Nights) my particular hospital, bless it's old-fashioned heart, does a rotation where you get seven nights in a row once every six weeks.

The good news is that you then get seven days off having worked 70-odd hours in seven days. Good money too. Seven nights can be worth up to £400 extra in your pay packet.

I still hate them though!

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Thanks to all, I am going back tonight. I already know some of my pts,so hopefully it will go a tad bit easier. I am sucking down the caffeine now. Wish me luck and I will update tomorrow.

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Specializes in LTC, MED SURG, PSYCH.

If you can't sleep during the day, you could ask your Dr. for a script for Trazodone. It helps me sleep. Good luck to you, and give your body time to adjust from days to nights

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Give it a good 6 weeks to adjust and a good 6 months to feel good. I get home at 8:30 and sleep until someone calls to be picked up at school (3:00 pm). I think the biggest problem will come if you can't sleep for at least 6 hours everyday. Some people just can't sleep during the day. Me, I sleep like a rock.

I agree that consistency is the key. Don't try to switch from days to night and back again. It will be tough and your body will not adjust. I still stay up until about 2 or 3 on my nights off. I'm still up early enough to get stuff done.

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Try the melatonin. It's more natural and might help, can't hurt. Also how long did you stay in bed when you woke up at 12:30? Sometimes I wake up but I stay in bed until I fall back asleep and usually I am able to. Might take an hour but I just look at it as "resting". I am sorry to hear you're struggling though, I know it's tough.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

At least your house was quiet! :)

Room darkening shades are your friend, they have them at Target.

Tylenol PM was my best choice when I first started working nights.

Try to keep moving at work. When I get sleepy (which lately with acuity isn't very often) I start cleaning and stocking supplies to keep moving until am meds.

Best of luck!

Tait

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I am sucking down the caffeine now.

I know I personally get a huge sugar rush from caffeine to only crash soon after.

Just a thought though.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I started out working nights, but I was determined it would be temporary. Well, everything in life is temporary to some degree. Anyway, I ended up wanting to be on that shift and stayed for years till I decided to return to school. Yes, it gets better.

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Specializes in ER.
I started out working nights, but I was determined it would be temporary. Well, everything in life is temporary to some degree. Anyway, I ended up wanting to be on that shift and stayed for years till I decided to return to school. Yes, it gets better.

amen to that! Glad to hear that, as I am starting my first night shift job this coming week. I will be doing the first 4-6 weeks on a day/night rotation! Why in the world would they do that to anyone? Who would take that kind of shift????? So my summer will certainly be a pain having to adjust to that... any thoughts on THAT adjustment?

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