I am to the point where I can't handle the nightshift anymore. I like my staff, I like the work, I love the facility, but it is hard on me physically and mentally. During my last days off, I slept the first whole day away. I went to bed at 8 am and woke up at 6 pm, stayed up for two hours then slept the night away. I was sick all of the next day with upset stomach and diarhhea. Plus I called in sick yesterday, because I still didn't feel well. UGH! I either can't sleep enough or sleep too much.
Tonight, I plan to go to work, but have had the dumb crying jags. Will get over this before long, but that's no fun for my husband. I plan to start looking for a day job, preferably with a doctors office. I enjoyed this area when I was in nursing school, it was fun for me. If I work night shift too much longer I know I'll get real sick or very depressed. I really did try though.
The day I vented, it had been a real bad couple of days. My DNS, Assistant DNS and Staff Scheduler are trying a different schedule for me. We have two part-timers, who wish to work a few more days each week, so we are going to "job share". I will work a doable schedule, which may sound wacky for others. I have three days off 9/27, 9/28/ and 9/29. Yippee! Then we start into my "new schedule for nightshift." I'll work something like 3 days on, two days off, one on, one off, two on and one off, then two on and two off. It probably sounds awful to some, but to me it sounds wonderful. It's hard for me to work four days in a row. I really like my CNA's they are great, I like my nightly nursing duties, I even like having days off, while others work. I have to admit that somedays I even enjoy watching a silly soap opera while my friends have to be inside all day, missing the last of the summer sun. So there are advantages to the night shift. I just have to find my sleeping style and figure out my new lifestyle. I read once that the 3rd shift becomes your lifestyle. You have to have a 3rd shift lifestyle or else you won't make it through this shift for long. I hope I can style this shift into my life. I plan to give it a try for awhile and see how this schedule works out. Plus I plan to try to stay on a 3rd shift sleep pattern. If it still doesn't work then I'll look for a day shift job. 30 days seems like a good test period for me.
I love this facility, it's a great place to work, plus they plan to assist me so I can take an IV Therapy course, to increase my skills. So wish me well and I hope the next time I post, I'm adjusting to this strange night world. You guys are great!
I think I might be going off on a bit of a tangent here, but someone said somehting about a full moon--for those who have worked the night shift, do you find that full moons actually do have an effect on people? Just curious
It is always wise to recognize and honor your limitations. I haven't taken any jobs that entail night shifts for many years--no regrets.
There are many other possibilities, nursing is hard enough as it is without this kind of hurdle, life is too short to make things more difficult for yourself by working hours that are not good for you, etc.
"do you find that full moons actually do have an effect on people? Just curious"
I once did a research paper on this topic for a masters degree. I could find no reliable correlation "in the literature" and my own research (correlating phases of the mood with admissions to a state mental hospital over a 2-year period) showed no significant relation either--urban and rural myths notwithstanding.
HannasMom
303 Posts
The day I vented, it had been a real bad couple of days. My DNS, Assistant DNS and Staff Scheduler are trying a different schedule for me. We have two part-timers, who wish to work a few more days each week, so we are going to "job share". I will work a doable schedule, which may sound wacky for others. I have three days off 9/27, 9/28/ and 9/29. Yippee! Then we start into my "new schedule for nightshift." I'll work something like 3 days on, two days off, one on, one off, two on and one off, then two on and two off. It probably sounds awful to some, but to me it sounds wonderful. It's hard for me to work four days in a row. I really like my CNA's they are great, I like my nightly nursing duties, I even like having days off, while others work. I have to admit that somedays I even enjoy watching a silly soap opera while my friends have to be inside all day, missing the last of the summer sun. So there are advantages to the night shift. I just have to find my sleeping style and figure out my new lifestyle. I read once that the 3rd shift becomes your lifestyle. You have to have a 3rd shift lifestyle or else you won't make it through this shift for long. I hope I can style this shift into my life. I plan to give it a try for awhile and see how this schedule works out. Plus I plan to try to stay on a 3rd shift sleep pattern. If it still doesn't work then I'll look for a day shift job. 30 days seems like a good test period for me.
I love this facility, it's a great place to work, plus they plan to assist me so I can take an IV Therapy course, to increase my skills. So wish me well and I hope the next time I post, I'm adjusting to this strange night world. You guys are great!