long term night shift work versus health

wif411 · Sep 21, 2003

As I said earlier I really love nights, but cannot seem to get enough sleep. Some days I sleep from 10am to 9pm. But with lots of interruptions. I am beginning to think i do not get the deep sleep that I need. My husband gives me a hard time days I sleep all the time. I also have a difficult time changing my schedule on weekends.

I am starting a sleep log tonight including marking down number of times someone turns my light on, wants to tattle on brother, or (my husbands favorite) "how much longer do you think you will sleep today---this question happens usually around 1pm. Duh---by the way I am putting hid Butt through school. He needs to leave my sleep alone.

Yet everybody I am going to try the journal and see if there is a trend. If not I am gonna ask the doctor. Thyroid tests were run a year ago and okay---have gained 30 lbs over last 3 years---but also on Paxil.

I will let you all know about the journal. Anyone have anyother suggestions???

PS>>>>>I get home about 7:25am--in time to kiss everyone by and see them all out of the house.(I have a 15 yr old son, 8yr old girl and 35 yr old husband in college.) Then, I must pick daughter up at school at 3pm, which is less than half mile from home. I try to help her with homework. I want to fit the gym in somewhere befor 8pm. so any help I can use and I can use alot of encouragement to get on a schedule. PLEASE HELP ME LADIES

sbic56, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2003

Tina

I so understand what you are going through! Been there! You are correct when you say that you are not sleeping deeply enough to get satisfying sleep. Everytime you are woken up, you have to fall back into REM sleep and start all over again. That is exhausting! Your husband and kids have got to be made to understand that you, like them, need 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep to be at your best. I am willing to bet your thyroid is just fine, though you are wise to have a full check up. The paxil, while helpful in treating depression could be making you sleepy, as well. It's that pattern of being woken every few hours that is going to make you sick.

I used to work nights. I was in bed by 0900. I shut off the ringer on the phone. If your kids need to be able to get in touch with you during the day in case of true emergency, you can give them a beeper or cell phone number. Telemarketers can be the worst sleep wreckers, as can those "oh, were you sleeping?" well meaning friends, so nix the phone! Make your room as close to dark as you can. Dark shades, dark curtains. Buy a "white noise" type machine or run a fan while you sleep to keep out those sharp, irritating noises, (like the phone, screaming kids, etc.) Remember, you need at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep. That has been qualified by most medical professionals. So, hubby needs to know that 1 pm is not the time to be bugging you. You can get yourself up with an alarm at 4 or 5 all by yourself! Can your 15 year old son help by walking his sister home from school at 3 pm? Seems reasonable to me if he is out of school. Bottom line is, sleep has to be your priority. You will be a better wife and mom and your family should see this once you are not so darned sleep deprived! I think it is even harder for women to be working night with a family, oftentimes, because they are expected to be "on' at all times. This obviously leads to resentment because your needs are not being met. If you really love the night shift, you have to put your foot down and take care of yourself! Even with everyones cooperation, sometimes the day is just not condusive to sleeping. On your days off, it may be that you need to play catch up a bit. Fact of life. So do get those extra zzzz's then! Also, please get those workouts in! Weight gain is the scourage of the night shift, as you are finding out. With enough daytime sleep that 8 pm workout will surely energize you. I know all this advice may sound oh so obvious and simplistic, but there is no two ways about it. You need to be getting the sleep during the day that everyone else is getting at night or nights is just not going to work out for you! Good luck!

healingtouchRN · Sep 21, 2003

It's strange, I've been on nites for 18+ years, have worked days mixed with that too....which is what I do now, I love the nite people, a different breed. But when I am off, I am up early, walking, doing chores, I just need to be doing something. I do feel nites wearing on my bones. We do so much with so little help. We are expected to do ALL the baths, with no PCT (CNA) to help, & you know how fun that is to bath an obese trached, vented, swaned pt by yourself!!!! I feel drained each morning, & find myself getting off later & later to get the paper work done, (did I say I was a charge nurse too???) No sympathy from the powers that be, the attitude is shape up or ship out! Boy do I look for that ship in the want ads!!! But I do love nites!!!!! Is the sun up yet? :chuckle

GLDLPN · Sep 27, 2003

Hello Everyone!

I am a night shift worker (7p-7a). I have worked nights most all of my nursing career. 11-7 for the first 18 years, then 7p-7a for 3 years, then 3-11 for a couple years, now I'm back on 7p-7a shift.

I have heard about how working nights cuts years off your life. I am wondering if the stress you experience from working the day shift, and having to deal with the difficult families, nasty doctors and other frustrating situations might not have some kind of effect also.

I am having trouble sleeping at night on my nights off. I am hoping that that will work out in time. Except for the sleep thing, I am basically happy and I feel much less stressed working nights. The sleep thing is kind of frustrating, because there are things I need/want to do that just can't be done at night. And some things I just can see better to do in the daylight. Also, for some of the stuff I need to do, I feel like my mind isn't as sharp in the middle of the night.

Some people have suggested keeping the same schedule even on my nights off ~ something to consider. Like someone else here mentioned, I feel like I need the sunshine.

Gayle

proud2basn · Sep 27, 2003

hello!

i tried working nights twice. Once in a factory, where I only made it one night, and once at a LTC facility, where I made it two nights. I could not handle it. I cried & cried in the evenings before i had to be at work at the LTC. My husband & I are used to sleeping at the same time, if we are not in bed together then neither of us can sleep. The whole second day in the evening I worked LTC we slept. Not healthy for either of us. So, yes night shift work can have an effect on your health, especially your emotional health. It absolutely depresses me.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2003

research medical journals. I read a study years ago (sorry, can't cite reference) in which healthy college males were sleep deprived to see what effect it had. BP went up and so did glucose. They stopped study, reviewed subjects several months later and they STILL had hi BP/BS, even after getting on regular day schedule. Hypothesis was that immune system was shot. I loved working nights but quit when dx with diabetes. Much better control now.

wif411 · Oct 4, 2003

Thanks for all the input. I am trying to get it all together. I think I am getting through to the hubbie and the kids. I will post again and let you all know :rolleyes:

SaintsFan1 · Oct 7, 2003

Hi ya'll ! I've worked 7p-7a for so long, it is just second-nature for me, but I am a night owl. I did try the day shift thing, gave it a good try--2 years. Hated every minute of it. Had to force myself to get out of bed in the mornings and now I just say no if asked to pull one. You have to know you're own body and you have to learn to listen to what it tells you. It's even better to work 12's because you have much more time to live your LIFE!!!

sbic56, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2003

Originally posted by wif411
Thanks for all the input. I am trying to get it all together. I think I am getting through to the hubbie and the kids. I will post again and let you all know

Hope things are smoothing out for you. I was just about where you are at one point and it sure ain't easy!:kiss

tattooednursie, LVN · Oct 9, 2003

I love nights, but all I do is work then sleep all day.

PokyNursing · Oct 20, 2003

I've been bouncing NOC to Swing and back again the past few weeks and considering NOC full time. ON average I'll get six hours a day sleep and on day off (today) slept ten hours straight.

For schooling what shift would you recomend?

Paige Turner RN · Oct 20, 2003

Eves.......................