You know you work nights when.......

rnsrgr8t · Aug 8, 2006

I used to work nights for years and I have not done it in 6 years and I STILL abruptly become awake at 10pm! I could be falling asleep at 6pm and come 10pm I am wide awake! My friends laugh at me all the time. I guess once a night shift person always a night shift person. I am still somewhat of a night owl. I still have to force myself to go to bed by 11pm most nights. I think I would stay awake most of the night if let myself do it.

You also know you work night shift when your family complains that they here you creeping around the house at 2am on your nights off b/c you cannot sleep! I worked nights as a nurse extern when I was in nursing school and I drove my parents nuts b/c I would be going into the kitchen, watching tv at 2 am on my nights off b/c I could not sleep!

scribblerpnp · Aug 8, 2006

You know you work nights when....

1. You get excited if the weather forcaster predicts rain for that morning because it means the BEST SLEEP EVER!

2. You don't think it is odd to drink beer at 730 in the morning to "wind down" after work and get ready to go to bed.

3. When you do any errands after work and before you go to bed, people look at you as if you are of the walking dead. "It's only 8 in the morning, how can she look that haggard already?!"

4. The thought of eating anything at 3pm makes you nauseous- give me some time to wake up already.

I once got a flat tire on my way home from work in the morning. The Triple A guy found me asleep in my car- Hey he took nearly 20 minutes to get there, and there is NO WAY I'm going to change a tire on the side of the road on an interstate highway during AM rush hour!

tddowney · Aug 9, 2006

"2. You don't think it is odd to drink beer at 730 in the morning to "wind down" after work and get ready to go to bed."

LOL. You brought to mind an old friend who used to show up at my house on Saturday mornings with beer, after her night shift, to watch Bugs Bunny. Beer with Bugs, the breakfast, or is that dinner, of champions.

wilsonmd71 · Aug 9, 2006

"You don't think it is odd to drink beer at 730 in the morning to "wind down" after work and get ready to go to bed."

I love this!!!

fergus51 · Aug 9, 2006

We often used to go out for drinks and breakfast/dinner after our shifts. I think everyone in the restaurant thought we were alcoholics....

My additions to the list are:

You know you sounded so much smarter at 1900 than you do at 0700, but you can't help it

Or

You have ever flown into a psychotic rage when your SO calls you at noon because he thinks you get to sleep at work all night...

prmenrs, RN · Aug 9, 2006

I used to have a boyfriend who would occassionally call in the middle of the day. And sometimes I didn't completely wake up, I would just incorporate him into my dream. After a few of my answers didn't make any sense, he would say "are you asleep?" "yes" "OK, call me later", "um-hum, ok." :sleep: :sleep:

casi, ASN, RN · Aug 9, 2006

When you get into your car to go to work, take one look at the moon and swear loudly as you try to think of a good reason to call in sick last minute.

onarie · Aug 9, 2006

You ask your non-night shift friends to meet for breakfast instead of lunch so that you can sleep.

When you leave work at 0730 you're telling everyone "Good Night"

You're first questions when making appointments are "How early do you open" and "What's your latest appointment time for the day?"

You fall asleep at your hair appointment.

You don't worry about how hot is is suppose to get during the afternoon - because you'll be sleeping anyhow.

nuangel1, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2006

when you have a complete conversation with someone but you don't remember till the next time you speak with tham.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Aug 9, 2006

You know you're a night-shifter if:

You've developed superhuman-like night vision that allows you to navigate a dark pt's room and check his IV in pitch darkness

Your weekly shopping spree takes place at WalMart at 3am. Yet there are still people shopping there with their small kids. ????!!

You pray there's enough gas in your tank to get you home, so you don't have to stop for any reason.

You've ever cleaned a toilet and your house from top to bottom at 4am because you couldn't sleep.

Took up coffee drinking even if you hate the taste just to stay alive.

perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2006

You don't know what any of the doctors look like... but you could quite easily distinguish their voices on the phone as needed.

You hear wayyy more about your coworkers love lives than you need to know at 3 in the morning (or need to know anytime for that matter)

I also, do the falling asleep at stop lights!! and the checking IV sites in the dark or just with a flashlight and the room's nightlight... parents are always saying "you can turn on the light if you need to" but a lot of the time don't have to!

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2006

You do 85 on the expressway so you can beat the sun home...so it's still dark when you finally make it into bed.

You curse the summer because dawn is at 5AM

You delight in summertime, because when dawn does come at 5AM you know that you're almost done!!!!

You know all the 24 hour eateries within a 10 mile radius of your place of employment-along with their prices, phone numbers, and which ones deliver!

Your employee mailbox is chock full of herbal tea, hot chocolate packets, and menus to restuarants mentioned above.

When you finally wake up for the day you end up cooking pancakes for yourself and peanut butter and fluff sandwiches for the kids...

You're never quite sure what day it is...