Help! Struggling to maintain happiness on the night shift

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I'm a relatively new grad (less than a year) working the night shift at a large hospital in New York City. My unit is okay, the nurse manager and leadership have been great but there's no support among the nurses on the floor. There's also no one my age which is making it harder.

I'm really struggling and I don't know if it's the night shift or nursing in general. I'm depressed, sick, and unhappy way too much of the time. I'm sleeping okay, but not great (5-6 hours). I feel isolated from my friends and family and I'm sick of missing things with my friends to go to work, only to sit around much of the day alone. Sometimes I feel like I would be much happier in a 9-5 job. No idea when I will be able to get off nights (probably at least a year).

Looking for a little inspiration. Anyone been through the same thing? Is it nursing in general I am frustrated with? Or would things be better off the night shift? I think I might do better in a 730-330 job, no weekends or holidays setup. What jobs should I look for that might have this schedule?

I really would really appreciate any help or advice. I don't know how much longer I can feel like this.

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Specializes in ICU (med/surgical/transplant/neuro/ent).

Has anybody been through the same thing? Oh, you better believe it!

I graduated in August 08 (second degree nurse), starting working in the ICU (was hired for nights) in Sept 08 (started orientation on days and began nightshift the night before Christmas Eve of all nights!) I was on nightshift from the end of December to mid-April. I put in my request for day shift as soon as I knew I could (January). I did not do well on nightshift. There were some aspects in theory that I liked, but the whole flipping day/night cirrcadian rhythm thing did not work for my personally. There were some day shift nurses that basically ate me alive during end-of-shift report. I was sick/called in sick those months on nightshift more times than I did at my previous job/career than I worked at for 3 years! Things have gotten better since I moved to days, but I know now that bedside nursing is not for me. There's a great deal of fascinating things in the ICU I love, but (its hard to describe) the day to day functioning is not working for me. I like having a little more control over the course of my day. My previous job was in research, so I am hoping to combine nursing/research and try to get into clinical trials as a research coordinator. There are some odd hours in research but from what I gather most of it is regular like 9-5 week days. Needless to say, I understand your desire for regular hours, no weekends, no holidays. And of course getting a job like that with less than a year experience.

I am not going to tell you to hang in there, it'll get better. I have heard that so much, I think I'll smack the next person that says that! :wink2: But what I can tell you is that I am still standing as of today and that you are not alone! I wish I had that magic fortune cookie advice that would help you (and me)! Just remember that in the end you need to do what is best for you whatever it may be.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Hang in there, it'll get better! *ducks and runs* ;)

Seriously, to the OP -- why not see if you can work days? It might allow you to not feel so cut off from everyone. Being happier away from work might also make you happier at work. It's worth a try! Good luck.

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There's no day position open on my unit right now and I made a year committment to this unit (I'm about 7 months in). There was an evening position available but my nurse manager said no because as a new grad she wanted me to have a more structured schedule (the evening position does more admissions, etc.) I've made my feelings about a day position known to her but there is not a lot of turnover here.

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Specializes in Mostly geri :).

I'm not a nurse, but i know how isolated nighht shift can feel if your friends work other shifts. Would you be able to work 12's so you have more nights off? This worked wonders for me.

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Specializes in ICU (med/surgical/transplant/neuro/ent).

Lunah - Hurling a book in your direction! :wink2:

As for amalbon: You might already be doing this, but when I was stuck on nightshift with no escape in sght, I would look online (after nearly every shift) and apply for the ones that I was minimally qualified for. One time, believe or not, after only 7mths of ICU experience I got a job interview at a radiation oncology clinic. I didn't get the job obviously, but it was a good experience for me. I am still looking online, but I am looking specifically to get into clinical research. I am not telling you to leave where you are, but sometimes its just feels good to search for other jobs after you have had a rough night. And speaking as a new nurse only a few months ahead of you: the path can be rough, but just be sure to do what is best for YOU!

Take care!

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Specializes in ICU (med/surgical/transplant/neuro/ent).

amalbon - I was wondering how you are doing.

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To be honest- night shift was NOT for me. I too had a hard time adjusting to my days off and sleeping during the day instead of night. It was hard to rev up before work when everyone around me was relaxing. I felt "alone" when I was at work even if I surrounded my my co-workers. I do better being at work when I know all my family/friends are at work at the same time. I sleep much better now after those few years.

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Food. Our gang occasionally would have a big potluck for "lunch" time and on any given night we all shared our goodies. Lumpia was very, very popular.

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Specializes in MS, OB, PEDI, VNA, TELEM.

I was a night shift failure straight out of school--couldn't sleep during the day, was very depressed, cried alot, tried to participate in social activities without much success; always trying to sleep. That was 11p-7a. So it was work another shift or quit-luckily i was able to slide over to 3p-11p which worked out fine at the time-no kids, etc. i think if I had to work nights, 12 hour shifts might be better--but I know alot of people that do that and still feel crappy. 5-6 hours of sleep during the day is not the same as at night, and still isn't enough. As far as holidays and weekends go, i have always worked those; you will have to sacrifice alot of $$ and benefits without working those. it's up to you.

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Specializes in student nurse.

What is a typical night like for you. (e.g workload)

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Slow in general. Probably part of the problem. The shift seems to drag on a lot of the time.

I get to work at 730p. Get report, meet my patients, look at labs, research conditions, whatever. From 830 to about 1030p I'm handing out night meds, doing dressings, settling patients into bed. Usually have some time to kill over the next couple hours. Get report from the evening nurse that is leaving, stock the carts, etc. Occasionally have 12am iv's to hang or other meds. Take a quick break and eat dinner after that. All that's left until morning is charting. I chart for a couple hours, or post on here, as I am doing now. Break around 330-430. By 5 I start morning stuff. Give report at 730a and out of here by 8a.

The beginning and end of the shift are really busy. But patients on my floor are usually pretty stable, which means hopefully they are sleeping, so the in between hours can be pretty slow.

I'm still hanging in there. I have my miserable moments and then the ones where I think I can last a few months longer. I feel like I am crying less but still sleeping pretty bad unless I take something which I really don't want to get in the habit of doing.

Also, realizing that if I ever want to change units I am going to have to go back to nights. I also don't want to get pigeon-holed into this unit forever....

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