Encouragement...

Nurses Stress 101

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Just started a new job, around a month ago. Moved to a new area with my husband who got transferred for his job. Working night shift three nights a week and I am struggling. It has been a long time since I worked night shift and I have totally forgotten how miserable I feel on it- constantly tired, constantly grumpy, constantly hungry. With my husband's new schedule, we can go days without seeing each other; and days when we are together, I'm usually too miserable to get anything accomplished. I am also so introverted and it is hard for me to really make friends. I am not really meeting people outside of work since I tend to be awake at weird hours. I can barely survive going to church on my days off without sleeping in the middle of the service. In general, I'm feeling really unhappy.

I almost feel like it would have been better to stay back home at a job where I was comfortable, working with good friends and on a "normal" schedule.

How long should I struggle with this before I go to my manager? I am almost ready to quit this job and start again from scratch, but I'm sure that is my exhausted, over-emotional brain trying to make that decision. Have other people gone through similar experiences? Did you end up adjusting and making it work or switching shifts?

I would benefit just knowing other people have had, and overcome, similar feelings...

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

It doesn't seem like night shift is your thing but, for me, it always seems to feel like this and it's an adjustment. My partner alternates every 6 mos from nights to days and every time she starts nights again it is awful for both of us. We're right at the end of a current night shift block and I CANNOT WAIT TO START LIVING IN THE DAYLIGHT WITH HER AGAIN. So, I know how you feel. I also try to keep similar hours as her in order to not be up at 4AM ready to start the day while she is 8 or so hours away from being conscious once more.

What has helped her deal with it, though, is to just give in and sleep the way you need to sleep. Exercise is also a priority (especially since you mentioned being hungry a lot -- your GI is suffering a bit from the change but it will adjust and exercise balances things better). You can do it. It's just the 1st month (or 2, or 3....) can be terrible! I mean, try to work with it. Can you go to church at night? Try eating things that keep you full and stay hydrated. Your health and sanity should be your number one priority. Be kind to yourself during this adjustment phase. That's always been the key to keeping my partner sane -- I always seem to have to remind her in the first bit to not be so hard on herself and eventually she'll adjust and be able to do things normally. Plus, she can really hit the ground running when days come back around.

Also, you just moved to a new place and you don't get to see your husband too often. These things take a lot of time and patience to adjust to and work with. You have to be really, REALLY kind to yourself. You can make it -- just ride it out and take it day by day, letting yourself have whatever little wins you can get. Good luck. I'm rooting for ya! ;)

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I appreciate the advice. I've gotten worse not better, including some depression and a migraine that won't go away. Think I am going to talk to manager about switching up my schedule today. Otherwise I'm on the job search again, maybe in a different specialty... Trying to think positive :)

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I agree with you..talk w/your manager about the possibility of changing shifts..if you can't and are unable to return to your previous job because of distance start looking for another one that is more to the schedule you can tolerate physically and mentally. Life is too short to spend like you are currently spending it.

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