I hate nightshift

perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2003

I'm sorry you have such trouble... I, too, have hated night shifts at the assisted living jobs I used to have; I will not work nights when I get out of school, I don't think! Good luck finding a job that works better for you.

nowplayingEDRN · Sep 19, 2003

HannasMom,

I can empathize with your trouble with night shift. Many years a go when I was still wet behind the ears and fresh out of school, there was nothing like the night shift but then I developed headaches.....ran the gamut of tests, visited the ENT, had surgery....still had the headaches....after 1 yr they declared them migraines....then they thought maybe my sinuses....then definitely migraines but let's send you to the neurologist to make sure.......and it was confirmed......stress management, beaucou drug therapies, multiple doc visits......finding triggers.....well, the long and the short about 3 years after I was dx'd with them we discovered that one of my triggers was altered sleep pattern and that if I di dnot get adequet rest...POOF! migraine. Doc urged me to get off nights but I was young and foolish and said there was no way that I would let those headaches control me.....no siree bob! Well, fast forward to 2001-02 and guess what I was on nights and loving it, except that those headaches came back with a vengance because I ws not getting more than 4 hours sleep at best.....and those headaches that I vowed would not control me, well.....I found out that I wasn't as in control as I thought. They were ferocious headaches, much worse than they ever had been and it started causeing flack at work, got me on days but it was a temporary fix because my contact stated rotating shifts.......

and now I have decided that the doc was right and he put it in writing but now I am having a helluva time at work because they don't want to give me a permanent day position..........if I knew what to do now, it would make things simple but it doesn't work quite that way.........hang in there HannasMom, something will come up to help you out. I n the mean time get your self a good physical.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2003

Don't feel bad. Night shift isn't for everyone. Hope you find a good job soon. Hang in there in the meantime.

roxannekkb · Sep 19, 2003

I definitely sympathize. I liked nights because it was quieter, the pay better, and the night shift staffing always seemed to work better together. And because I worked per diem and agency, I generally took 12 hour night shifts.

But after a while, when I was only doing nights, I started to feel really sick. I had colds all the time, was always tired, no matter how much I slept. Working nights really goes against most people's normal biorhythms, and it certainly screwed mine up.

I stopped nights, and felt better almost instantly. I'd do an occasional night, but that was it. I can't believe the instant revival in my health.

Many people do badly on nights. Your health and wellbeing are more important. I think it is a wise move to find a daytime job.

kimmicoobug · Sep 19, 2003

I am new to nights and I can relate to almost all being said. I have been off for 4 days/nights and my sleep sucks. I am so used to being up at night, that even when I stay up all day so I can sleep at night, I am still waking up at 1,2, or 3 in the morning. Then I fall asleep for a "nap" at 3 in the afternoon and wake up at 4 in the morning. I have little energy on my days off. Hopefully, I will adapt.

I think working in a doctor's office would be neat. I did peds as a student and had a lot of fun doing it. Good luck to you!

ERteleRN · Sep 19, 2003

I've worked the graveyard shift for 3 yrs. Usually work 4 consecutive 12 hour shifts. When I complete my work, I come home and sleep the day away and then wake up the next day to my day shift of getting kids to school and caring for my 2 yr old. It gets very tiring switching back and forth from days to nights and nights to days......but whatcha going to do when you need the money??

I enjoy my work most of the time, love the cohesiveness of the staff around me. We all know that it's hard being awake and perky at 3AM, so we try to hold each other up and care for our patients to the best of our sleep-deprived ability.

One can always hope that every patient in the hospital has a PRN sleeper ordered, and that it's not a full moon outside!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

angelbear · Sep 19, 2003

Dont be discouraged it is not your fault your body just is not made for it. Most if not all peoples bodies are not made for night shift. It has played heck with my health but I have no choice. If you have the choice go for the day shift job if you are having trouble now it will only get worse. Best wishes to ya.

RubyRN · Sep 19, 2003

Anyone know anything about that new drug Provigil? It supposedly fools your body clock into thinking it's daytime when it's actually night. It was originally invented for the armed forces who work on very little sleep. I hear they want to try it on shiftworkers. It is supposedly like caffeine but without the jittery side effects. I can't wait to find out more about it, as I will be starting nights in a couple of weeks. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 19, 2003

It's not for everyone.

Do yourself a huge favor. Try to find a dayshift position ASAP.

You are NOT made for this-----some people literally cannot tolerate working nightshift.

You sound like one of them.

Before it becomes a severe detriment to your health, do what you can to change your situation.

I wish you well.

Squeeta2 · Sep 19, 2003

I love the night shift! However everyone is right it is NOT for everyone. This is another reason why mandating stinks. Not to mention by the time you get mandated you have already been up way to long.

ERteleRN · Sep 19, 2003

There are many disadvantages of the nightshift positions. Most, if not all, 'required' meetings or seminars are scheduled for day shift workers. Night shift feels isolated from the rest of the group by not being able to attend most of these (very difficulty after 4 12's to stay awake long enough to attend a noon meeting). Sometimes the supervisors accomodate by not scheduling you the night before, but expect you to change shifts and attend an all day affair beginning at 0800.