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.
I worked nights for 2 years in school....then had to orient on days for 14 weeks! UGH! It was nasty...
You have to give it time to adjust. Here's my tips...get charting done ASAP. you will NOT be motivated to chart later. Work with patients through the night. If you have the time later, some patients will love to talk at like 3AM. cut out caffiene at least 4 hours before the end.
At home, I second a fan, room darkening shades. I lived in a basement apartment, and used window vinyl cling to darken the room...now I live with my fiance, and we can't put anything up yet, because her parents are trying to sell the house. Not fun at 8 eck emma.
Once in a while, if I don't have to be up at all for the day, I will take a benedryl. Not often, though, as I don't want to need or depend on it.
give it time, if tired, get up and walk around at work. If you are laying in bed for at least 30 minutes wide awake, get up and do something, and then go back to bed . works like a charm for me.
I've been working nights for three years now and, while I never feel 100% great, I think I've finally adapted. The big issue for me is not so much staying awake at night as being able to sleep long enough during the day. Like many others, I highly recommend blackout curtains for the bedroom windows. I don't always use earplugs, but when I do, I usually sleep like the dead. Melatonin is the only thing I take to sleep, and it works great for me.
Sorry to jump in here. Not a nurse yet, but I was a 911 dispatcher for three and a half years. I worked nights almost the whole time I was there. I was on five 8 hour shifts from 11pm-7am for a while, and I was also on 4 10 hour shifts from 5pm-3am for a while as well. Believe me, it was tough, but you will get used to it after a while. Just remember that you HAVE to make sure you sleep. Turn off the phones in your house, and make sure to make it clear to everyone that you are not available. Unfortunately, when you work nights, family/friends have a hard time understanding that you are not available. My husband still works at 911, and I am the only one who gets that he still has to sleep approx 8 hours, too.
That being said, make sure you get the darkening shades. It took me a good month to get used to it. I was like a zombie for the first month. Also, stay healthy. I was so addicted to caffeine, and it really just made things worse. Try to eat healthy and it will give you more energy. Believe me, I know that at 2am you don't feel like having anything healthy, but it will make a difference. Also, get into the habit of sleeping and eating at the same times. It wreaks havoc on your body to go back and forth. You will be fine. Our bodies adjust.
But all of the recommendations don't speak to the fact that the OP misses her children when she's working nights and I don't think that there is any rememdy for that. The best anyone can do while working nights is spend as much time with your children when you're not working. The children will adjust as you adjust.
I've been working nights for three years now and, while I never feel 100% great, I think I've finally adapted. The big issue for me is not so much staying awake at night as being able to sleep long enough during the day. Like many others, I highly recommend blackout curtains for the bedroom windows. I don't always use earplugs, but when I do, I usually sleep like the dead. Melatonin is the only thing I take to sleep, and it works great for me.
Good luck.
what time do you take Melatonin? If you have a 40 minute drive, do you take it as you're leaving your shift in the AM?
Day/night rotation is the absolute worst rotation...screwed up my cortisol levels.
oh no!!! High cortisol is no good! I think of having newborns at home and their days/nights are mixed up, which in turn makes a mom/dad mixed up and all out of whack with eating. I will remember that - thank you!
But all of the recommendations don't speak to the fact that the OP misses her children when she's working nights and I don't think that there is any rememdy for that. The best anyone can do while working nights is spend as much time with your children when you're not working. The children will adjust as you adjust.
I think working, period, at any shift, you will miss your children. You can see your children before work (dinner time) and kiss them before they go to bed, or if you worked days, you come home at night and kiss them before you all go to bed. I don't see any difference. It's mother's guilt. The kids are fine, as long as they see mommy at some point during the day, that's all they care about.
I'm not trying to be a downer but I did nights for years and I never got used to them. They never got better, in fact as I got older they got worse. But I think I'm the exception. Give it some time but if you're not doing better in six months don't feel bad for throwing in the towel. Good luck.
I'm not trying to be a downer but I did nights for years and I never got used to them. They never got better, in fact as I got older they got worse. But I think I'm the exception. Give it some time but if you're not doing better in six months don't feel bad for throwing in the towel. Good luck.
Even though I love nights, I have to agree with you. Some people just don't do well on nights, no matter what. They either can't adjust or just can't get the sleep they need.
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
I worked nights for many years I totally agree with this comment, except Melatonin worked best for me. I guess everybody's body reacts different to meds. I also tried to work all my nights in a row to keep a certain schedule for as many days in a row as possible. GOOD LUCK. Also know those who have been around a long time and work day shift now, LOOOOOVE you for working nights so we don't have to.
locolorenzo22, BSN, RN
2,396 Posts
I worked nights for 2 years in school....then had to orient on days for 14 weeks! UGH! It was nasty...
You have to give it time to adjust. Here's my tips...get charting done ASAP. you will NOT be motivated to chart later. Work with patients through the night. If you have the time later, some patients will love to talk at like 3AM. cut out caffiene at least 4 hours before the end.
At home, I second a fan, room darkening shades. I lived in a basement apartment, and used window vinyl cling to darken the room...now I live with my fiance, and we can't put anything up yet, because her parents are trying to sell the house. Not fun at 8 eck emma.
Once in a while, if I don't have to be up at all for the day, I will take a benedryl. Not often, though, as I don't want to need or depend on it.
give it time, if tired, get up and walk around at work. If you are laying in bed for at least 30 minutes wide awake, get up and do something, and then go back to bed . works like a charm for me.