I am getting burned out of my job and I am only 4 months in. I work 11pm - 7:30am night shift 5 nights a week and I don't think I can take it anymore. I actually like my job and I like my coworkers, but staying up all night so often is hurting my well-being. I get 6-8 hours of sleep per day but I am still tired all the time. I never have time to cook or clean and I constantly feel nauseous and fed up. I want to quit now.
I know that quitting with 4 months of experience looks really really bad. But I can't take working nights anymore. Every day before I go to work, I want to quit because I never have time, never have energy, and am tired. I don't think I can manage a year. I know no one wants to hire someone who quit after 4 months, so I may just leave nursing entirely.
EDIT: I can't exactly job hunt now, as my schedule is too messy to allow for me to go to a job interview
I understand you get enough sleep, but WHEN do you typically go to sleep every day? When you sleep at that time, do you sleep at that time every day?? After 4 months your body should be used to it. If you're watching people sleep all night, and you're not running around like a mad women (like in ICU, lmao), then as long as your getting enough sleep, and sleeping at around the same time consistently, then you should be used to your schedule by now (4 months...).
I guess it's a transition for someone who hasn't had to work 8 hour shifts, 5 days/week.
Try sleeping at the same time consistently and then you'll have a routine you can get used to, because you'll have to get used to it if you want to reach that 1 year mark.
Have you spoken to night shift workers before? All my coworkers who have been doing nights for decades even tell me the exact same thing: You never fully get adjusted to working nights. Even the people who work nights and like nights at my job sleep 10-14 hours on their nights off. It's not natural to work all night.
In my ideal world, and I know this is an imaginary ideal world, I would work about 1-2 nights per week but then work 3-4 evenings or days.
Also, I am sorry if I come off as whiny. I just need to ventilate. All this frustration has been building up inside me. I was so grateful just to have a job in this job market, but I got like 5 other interviews for jobs with better hours after I accepted this job and I turned them down because I thought "I have a good job now". I deeply regret not pursuing them.
90% of the population sleeps at night and I am jealous of them.
I felt that way when I worked nights. I get it. It stinks!! Not for everyone though, some people love the night shift, or just accept the fact that they have to do it for family reasons. And I hate to disappoint you, but 12 hours nights were worse. Sure, I had 3-4 days off, but what do you think THAT did to me sleep/wake cycle? The first night off was a mess (because I wanted to sleep that morning when I got home, then stayed up until about 2-3AM. By the time I was back to work, I couldn't sleep in the afternoon before because I slept all night prior. It is no better, IMO.
Based on what I see in your posts, it sounds like you are in a rut- you don't like your job, and working nights is not making it any better. The fact that you can't (or choose not to) make time to do normal ADL in your life suggest you may be depressed. I have experience with depressed people, and one of the things that they need is a routine and motivation. You are getting (what most would consider) sufficient sleep. There are 24 hours in a day; assuming an hour on each end to get ready, commute, settle in to your house, etc, that gives you 14 hours of free time. Subtract Eight hours (at best) of sleep, that gives you 6 hours a day to live your life. Think about people with jobs in business, education, retail, etc. if your average person gets home at 6pm, and goes to bed at 11pm, that gives them 5 hours to do whatever it is they need to do (and these people do not have the luxury of scheduling appointments or going shopping during the day where it is less crowded. They have two days off a week, and SO DO YOU. Yes, you may be leaving work on Monday morning, and have to go back Tuesday night, but you still have a full 24+ hours off. That is a full day off (not a calendar day).
You need a schedule. You are most likely not taking care of yourself. Maybe a workout regimen? Find a hobby, schedule your chores (set your phone alarms), meet friends for lunch; find something to do to keep yourself functional. I know nurses who have gone to school and raised children (myself included) while working nights.
While I do agree it seems like a dismal existence, you have no less time than anyone else who works a 5 day/8 hour day.
My final thought: you are a new nurse. The likelihood of you getting a day shift is slim (in general). While I don't agree with new nurses working nights, it is what it is, and is unlikely to change. If you were to quit, what would you do? How would you explain your reason for leaving? Will you hold out for a day job or an evening job? This is a bad time to be out of work, but that is a decision you have to make on your own.
I worked two 12 hour weekend shifts every weekend for about 4 months but it was at a nursing home .... If youre working in a hospital I'm sure it's a little different. I know at first I hated it but then grew used to it and kind of liked night shift better than dayshift! Anyways, my point is, after 4 months I was used to it ... and I can't say I know what 5 night shifts a week feels like. Nightshift is for some people, and it's not for others, and that's perfectly okay!! If at 4 months in, you're feeling terrible about it, there's nothing wrong with switching out of that. I would def talk to your nurse manager to see if there's any way you can get on days first. I worked w/ a coworker who realized she could NOT do nights and she was able to switch to days... so don't feel bad about asking, they want you to thrive in an area / shift that you are going to excel best in. If you absolutely can't switch to days on this job I would just start looking for others and switch jobs asap .... there's nothing wrong with that if you're miserable. Just make sure this time it's a day shift that you are guaranteed when you start working!! OR perhaps you would do fine if it were just three 12 hour night shifts a week instead of five 8 hour night shifts a week.
PS everyone should stop criticizing her!! She was just coming to this forum for support .... she is NOT the only new nurse (or experienced nurse switching to nightshift) out there who is not adjusting well. Girl, I am on your side. If you're not happy with what you got, it's okay. And I'm SURE sooner or later something will pop up that you are happy with and you can switch over. We all hope we can get the exact dream nursing job straight out of school, and sometimes we can! But it doesn't always work like that ... in nursing, and in most careers, we may start out with something horrible first and then gain experience to get in somewhere we like. I'm sure you can find another job .... it seems to me that alot of people switch around after just 6 months or a year, sometimes that's all it takes to get your foot in the door and transfer to another floor or hospital.
I'm right there with ya girl. I have wanted to quit basically since a month into working.
I'm trying to stick it out. Hang in there.
I agree, with 4 months, doesn't look so good, but at 6 months if you're absolutely miserable, losing or gaining excessive weight, or something along those lines, and are just completely unhappy at all times, quitting may be for the best. I mean, it's not career suicide to quit early. It just may be harder to find a job and may take longer than it would a new grad. I can't imagine someone NEVER getting a job because they left their first job early, honestly. It's just a risk i wouldn't be willing to take bc i need money now and I'm the type where if i don't use it, i lose it, lol, that's all.
Mrs.ICURN, I am also precepting into ICU! I'm 5 days in! My orientation is 3 months. After that i'm on my own, but I have a designated resource person, which i'm sure i'll be going to a lot. I'm very curious, what do they have you doing? Are you on your own taking care of patients? I really want to know what kind of assistance you are getting from your preceptor at 1 month. how many patients do you have (i know it's up to 2, 3 tops but when you have experience..do u have 1 or 2).
Questions! lol
So far, the first 4 days, I kind of followed my preceptor and did a few skills here and there, passed meds. On the 5th day, I took care of a patient. He wasn't high maintenance and was much better than he was on day 1, so it wasn't much. I consulted with the RN as necessary. She helped me a bit, and probably popped in the room to do her own assessment or whatever..
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I just want to throw out there that NOBODY has a perfect life. It doesn't matter what they do - or don't do - for a living, what hours they work or when they sleep. I've been a nurse for 20 years and have had NO choice ever about my hours because of the specialty I'm in. I work rotating 12 hour days and nights with short turnarounds. On my days off I don't have the opportunity to sleep in, I have to be up at 6:45 am to care for my handicapped adult son when my spouse leaves for work. I'm sure this constant flipping from nights to days and back to nights has taken years off my life. There's no point in me complaining about it because it just is what it is. If I want to work as a nurse, I have to work the schedule I'm given. I still find time to participate in my hobbies, meet friends for coffee, spend time with my family and get my laundry done. I do find that I get a little testy though when I hear new nurses complaining about working nights. I don't love night shifts, but somebody has to do it. At least if a person is working the same shift all the time they can have a regular routine and arrange their lives around their work.
Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.
To those criticizing the OP about her saying she'd rather work 7p-7a versus 11p-7a I must say I AGREE with her.
Heck I work normal daytime hours but I'd rather work 3 12's than 5 8's any day. When I get home from an 8 hour shift I still feel like I'm tired and don't want to do anything. I'm most productive when I have the day OFF.
So I (personally) understand where she is coming from with that statement.
Anyway I do think planning out a better schedule may be helpful. And "sleeping pills" don't have to be anything drastic. Try melatonin, a little benadryl even. Also (in addition to my previous recommendations) try listening to "soothing sounds" or look up a sleep relaxation video on YouTube. They try to help you with progressive relaxation which can help.
PS everyone should stop criticizing her!! She was just coming to this forum for support .... she is NOT the only new nurse (or experienced nurse switching to nightshift) out there who is not adjusting well. Girl, I am on your side. If you're not happy with what you got, it's okay. And I'm SURE sooner or later something will pop up that you are happy with and you can switch over. We all hope we can get the exact dream nursing job straight out of school, and sometimes we can! But it doesn't always work like that ... in nursing, and in most careers, we may start out with something horrible first and then gain experience to get in somewhere we like. I'm sure you can find another job .... it seems to me that alot of people switch around after just 6 months or a year, sometimes that's all it takes to get your foot in the door and transfer to another floor or hospital.
thank you!!!!
i am definitely looking for another job right now. I am also going to take the prerequisites for various graduate school programs.
i think most of the people criticizing me have only worked 3 12's per week on nights, not 5 8's, and they don't understand what havoc staying up all night most of the time wreaks on your body and mood.
Nonetheless
344 Posts
Have you spoken to night shift workers before? All my coworkers who have been doing nights for decades even tell me the exact same thing: You never fully get adjusted to working nights. Even the people who work nights and like nights at my job sleep 10-14 hours on their nights off. It's not natural to work all night.
In my ideal world, and I know this is an imaginary ideal world, I would work about 1-2 nights per week but then work 3-4 evenings or days.