Help! Nightshift Nightmare

[nursetutor]

I really need some advice from more experienced nurses.

I started a job on a stepdown unit 2.5months ago. Everything was going great and I was learning tons and receiving excellent feedback from my preceptors. I truly liked working on the unit.

Then I got off orientation and was put on night shift (which I was hired for). Its been a few weeks now and my life has completely turned upside down. The max I sleep during the day is 2-3 hours, and I've tried many things (but refuse drugs). I am tired all day, at work and even when I have a long weekend. I just do nothing but lounge around feeling down and EXAUHSTED all the time. At work, I am miserable. I just feel like I got along much better with day staff. I really dislike tiptoeing around sleeping patients, and prefer getting them up an outta bed.... I feel like I just dont provide the same quality care to my pt's at nite.

My mngr, who is wonderful, said she'll try putting me on days as soon as a position came along. Definitely though not for another 2mos.

I truly feel like I cant take one more night of this, or I'll get fired or lose my license. by 4am everything is just spinning around me.

Please- should I turn in my resignation notice????

Or just continue being miserable like this. Ive worked way too hard for this license to lose it for one job.

Please give your two cents.

Thanks in advance.

[mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP]

If you like the floor, like the people and there is a possibilty of a day shift opening up - then I would stay where you are and try to concentrate on finding alternatives to help you sleep during the day.

*I have to work my 3 days in a row, that isn't an option for me because of my work schedule, but even if I had a choice, I would prefer my 3 days in a row so I can go back to "normal" life on my days off. I work every Mon, Tues, Wed night.

*My phone must be off and no cell phone either.

*I sleep from 8:30-3:30 on the days I work, this includes my 1st day back. I can not just lay down and nap before work on my 1st day - I actually must sleep, all day long. This usually means Sunday night I have to either stay up all night or lay down for a small nap and get up again by 2 a.m. so I can lay down and sleep all day Monday.

*I try to get my room as dark as possible but I don't have black out curtains - I just have dark velvet curtains that block out most of the light.

*I have to sleep with the TV on - it drowns out life outside. I also turn on my ceiling fan to make it colder in my room.

*I take 1 Tylenol and 1 Benadryl about an hour before I want to go to bed, if I'm totally wired from work then I sometimes take 2 of each.

*I take a long hot bath when I get home from work.

*I eat a small breakfast of cereal and yogurt about 6:30 am (I leave work at 7 a.m.)

I've been working nights like this since Nov. For me it was finding the balance I needed. I've worked nights off/on my entire adult working life and I struggled until I finally figured out my balance I needed to make it work.

I know drugs aren't always the answer but you may have to consider *something* to at least help you get started on sleeping during the day if you plan on staying on nights even just for now.

Good luck!!!

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

I have worked nights now for about 13 years or so. I find that staggering my days helps me to 1. lead a more normal life and 2. get the sleep I need while not leaving me feeling like a zombie all the time.

I work 3 12s a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. This allows me to be home for the kids during the week...and when I go home I don't have to sleep all day long because I know I'll be going to bed at a normal time at night. I can't do 3 in a row...it's just too hard on my aging body.

And as the others have said:

Cover the windows with dark shades, get a fan (to keep you cool and to give you some white noise)

Turn off the phone(s)

Eat a light breakfast prior to bed. I also shower before getting into bed. Nothing beats the feeling of clean when you're tired, too.

If you work back to back, try to set a time to wake up and stick to it. Try to wake up at the same time each day you work back to back so your body can acclimate to it.

When you wake up, run some cold water on your face. It'll wake you up quickly.

On days when you work (assuming you have NOT worked the night before) - lay down for a nap. 1.5-3 hours works best for me, but you may find more or less will help you out.

Best of luck on surviving the night shift. Me? I could work days - provided I actually wanted to.

vamedic4

[dld, ASN, RN]

Well if you don't drink coffee or tea, drink a caffinated beverage. Pepsi max is great. Drink lots of water. Take a nap on your break time.

It took me years to get used to nights. I thought I was going crazy at first. I just didn't feel human any more. After a while it got better. I would try melatonin, but I have only been able to find one brand that works, and that is the Natrol brand and I buy it at Longs. I will take two or three tablets. Unisom works also. You must make your bedroom completely dark. The cheapset way is to buy black felt from the fabric store and cover the windows with it.

I love nights now. I can't get used to my nights off!