I am an RN who has not worked in nursing for the past five years. I recently got a job working the night shift in a small, inpatient hospice unit (11P-7A) that I really like. However, I am totally a morning/day person and no matter how hard I try, I can't sleep during the day and I start shutting down by 2 AM when I'm at work, meaning that I can't keep my eyes open, my mind goes kind of foggy, and I get really cold, like my body is trying really hard to go to sleep in spite of the fact that I am trying to stay awake. Does anyone have any suggestions that might help? I am normally a good nurse, but when I feel like this I can't even concentrate. Right now I am still on orientation and working about 3-4 nights/week but after that I will only work about 2-3 nights/week. The place that hired me has a position open on 3P-11P which is a much better shift for me, but one of the ladies in HR told me that the normal policy is for someone to work in a position for six months before switching to another one. I really want to go to my supervisor and explain all of this to her, but she is a little intimidating and I am afraid that she will take it like I am complaining and that I am not flexible.
I will be starting NOCs myself tomorrow, but I have younger children, so not being a day person on my days off is really not an option. Does anyone have any advice on the best way to adjust to rotating? We do have self scheduling as well and I'm wondering if it's better to knock out three shifts in a row or space them out.
I am a night shifter and have been for 2 years now! I love it! I have a 3 year old so I do transition back to days when I'm off. The night before my first shift I stay up until 2 am, wake up @ 7am, then do something relaxed like laundry and go back to bed @ noon and wake up @ 5 to go to work. On my first days off I sleep until noon and then wake up and start my day. I usually schedule some type of appt to make sure I'm up @ noon! Then I sleep like a baby that night! Hope this helps!
I would stay away from all caffeine sources (and those Vitamin B drinks including 5-hour energy) and drink plenty of water. At home you really need to get some blackout curtains for the bedroom and buy one of those stand-up fans to give you some background noise while sleeping. If you are married and have kids make sure everyone knows that you need your sleep and you are to not be interrupted unless the house is literally burning down. Turn off your cell phone and make sure that everyone knows that you will not be answering the door for any reason. Make sure you are eating healthy (bring some snacks to work but also one *hot* meal) and try to get some exercise during the week. Good Luck!
Everything you said. And be sure you go to bed as soon as you get home. Do you have a sleep routine? You might try taking Melatonin to help you sleep. It's a supplement with few side effects. My autistic son uses it, or he'd never go to sleep at all.
Get the fan going, darken the room as dark as possible. Make sure the school knows not to call you unless it's a red, white or blue emergency. You might even want to turn your phones off. I put a sign on the door that said "baby sleeping. If you ring this door bell and wake the baby up, there will be hell to pay.":lol2:
And be sure you tell your manager about the changes at your house. You really do need to be on 3-11 so that someone is home with the teens. I remember when my mother used to work nights and left me at home with 4 younger sibs at the age of 16. I would walk the floors for hours in a heightened state of anxiety. And of course, I could n't wake up in the morning. That was the beginning of sleep disorders for me.
Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
And be sure you tell your manager about the changes at your house. You really do need to be on 3-11 so that someone is home with the teens.
This brings back some memories. When I worked swing shift the woman in the apartment across the hall from me worked nights. Occasionally I would see her living room door standing open, with her teenage children sitting on the couch with their friends smoking pot.
RNmom7
36 Posts
I will be starting NOCs myself tomorrow, but I have younger children, so not being a day person on my days off is really not an option. Does anyone have any advice on the best way to adjust to rotating? We do have self scheduling as well and I'm wondering if it's better to knock out three shifts in a row or space them out.