sunlight and nightshift

Nurses Stress 101

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I have been working nightshift for a few years now. I live in a dreary northeastern part of the country. Not many really sunny days. It gets dark early and light late in the autumn and winter. Sometimes, I would occasionaly see the sun or sunlight diving home from

work. It was mostly an inconvinence. It hurt/s my eyes , gave me a headache and infringed my falling asleep time. The other day, I fell asleep super early and woke up in the early morning. I usually go back to sleep but for some mystical reason I decided to get up and take an hr long trip to go shopping. It was super super sunny and warm out. I rarely go outside unless I am going to my car or from my car to a building. I was amazed at all the trees and plants. Even the other cars. Evvetything had so much color. It made me feel so good. I felt like ai was having some sort of awakening out of the very long fall and winter gloom and darkness. any other nightshifters experience this?

Specializes in ER.

Sell your car and bicycle to work.

I cycle about 10 miles to work, and the run home in the fresh air is just wonderful after 12 hours of stuffy hospital air.

A natural way to get your vit D (instead of popping pills), also clears your lungs, clears your mind, you will sleep better too : )

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Sell your car and bicycle to work.

I cycle about 10 miles to work, and the run home in the fresh air is just wonderful after 12 hours of stuffy hospital air.

A natural way to get your vit D (instead of popping pills), also clears your lungs, clears your mind, you will sleep better too : )

Walking, running and bicycling to work are simply not feasible modes of transportation for those of us who commute long distances to the workplace and/or live in areas where the winters are harsh.

I live in a large city where long-distance bicyclers take a huge risk by attempting to share the road with crazy drivers. Many of the cyclists end up comatose or dead after colliding with 4000-pound vehicles. I've had several as patients.

Specializes in ER.

I live in a large city where long-distance bicyclers take a huge risk by attempting to share the road with crazy drivers. Many of the cyclists end up comatose or dead after colliding with 4000-pound vehicles. I've had several as patients.

Agree about the winters. I'm in Chicago now and didn't manage to bike for about a month over the winter, felt stuffy and old the whole time.

How do the numbers of cyclists compare with the number of car drivers/passengers that you see in ER?

Even when I've worked in cities where the number of cyclists far outweigh the number of drivers, there were many many more drivers rock up in emergency than cyclists.

I've biked to work for over 30 years, no problem. Half of that time was in a city of 7 million : )

Personally I would not take a job that it was not possible to bike to, I value my health and quality of life too much to drive, sit around in traffic queues and spend time searching out somewhere to park. But each to their own. :nurse:

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Any links to your research results? I am starting nursing school soon and figure I might eventually work night shift when I can because it seems to be better overall for my kids and their schedules. I would love to know how and if I should even attempt this. I am a high energy person who sleeps very soundly when I am tired, but don't know how this might work if I have to sleep in the sunny daylight hours.

Sure - PM me!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

I sleep under a shady tree in a hammock in my back yard on nice days. It's unbelievably refreshing.

At times I do feel this way!

I don't know about you but I'm a vampire and will sparkle in the sun :)

I have been on night shift for a year now and loving it. HOWEVER I do fear for my vit D levels. I recently bought a bottle of vit D3 2000 IU. I haven't started taking it yet though and am still thinking about it. I'm not even sure what dosage I need.... any advice??

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun! even you vampires out there!

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I work nights and have been for the past two years. I personally love them.

I live in Texas so the weather is nice most of the time. I switch to a normal sleeping schedule on my days off which gives me the time to enjoy the sunshine and nice weather.

Specializes in ER.
I sleep under a shady tree in a hammock in my back yard on nice days. It's unbelievably refreshing.

Great idea!

I used to live on a houseboat, and would sleep on the roof sometimes, gentle rocking, lapping waves, can't beat it : )

At times I do feel this way!

I don't know about you but I'm a vampire and will sparkle in the sun :)

I have been on night shift for a year now and loving it. HOWEVER I do fear for my vit D levels. I recently bought a bottle of vit D3 2000 IU. I haven't started taking it yet though and am still thinking about it. I'm not even sure what dosage I need.... any advice??

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun! even you vampires out there!

Have your vitamin D level checked by your doctor.

It's better IMO to use sunscreen than to later end up with skin cancer.

Specializes in mental health.

I sleep in a completely quiet and totally dark room, thanks to my husband's ingenuity with thick black trash bags and duct tape!

What doesn't work though is weekends or holidays when my husband considers childcare is taken care of because I am home. On a day after night shift I should not be considered "at home" because I cannot sleep and take care of our kid at the same time. Something to consider when making your plans, Sweetpeamama. IMO night shift only works if your sleeping time and place is "sacred" - no interruptions, no expectations, your sleep being the #1 priority.

Specializes in geriatrics.

Working nights with a family or a partner on days would definitely be more challenging. The reason why permanent nights works for me is because I have no attachments at the moment.

Sleep is a priority when I'm working, as well as the first two days I'm off. I rarely get sick because I make sleep a priority. I don't know about the rest of you, but it takes me three days to fully recover from my shifts.

This weekend, we've had beautiful sunny days so I've made a point of getting up and going out. Otherwise, I can easily sleep 8-10 hours on days off.

Late comment to anotherone.

I had to giggle at your comment re the colors and the leaves on the trees. I've noticed the same things after working app 100 hours in 10 days, then sleeping it off, and switching to being a day-timer during my time off. I'm amazed at all of the traffic during the earlier parts of the day and the brightness of the sun (I live in Texas), and just the LIFE that is out there.

I walk my dogs twice a day, and wear dark sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim to decrease the glare. My neighbors must think I'm a kook. :) I'm just not used to being in bright sunlight! Hopefully, the dog walking gets me enough sun exposure, for at least 1/2 of the year anyway.

viva la nightshifters!

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