Hey there. I am 7 months in to my first hospital job and it's policy that you work 12 hour shifts 50/50 day night rotation (once you hit three years you have the option to go full time days). I'm really struggling with nights. I've always been a morning person and they are very hard on me and my body. I tried different schedules: a month of nights and a month of days/ two weeks nights two weeks days/ randomly doing a night shift in the same week that I work days... nothing really makes me feel any better. I don't sleep well during the day, so I'm a walking zombie on nights, and very nauseous. I tried Prilosec and Tums for my stomach but no effect. I purchased black out curtains, a sound machine, I stop eating/drinking 3 hours before I attempt to go to sleep.... I eventually went to a doctor to get a prescription for trazadone, xanax, and zofran to get to relax enough to get more sleep (slight improvement there, but still struggling) zofran kinda helps when i feel sick but then i get sleepy so.... pros and cons.
Now, I love my unit. My manager is great, my co-workers are great, the experience I am getting is awesome. We all work hard and work as a team. I'm on the ICU and I don't ever want to go to another specialty, or even try another unit because I can't imagine it could ever be better than the one I am on. From the beginning I've felt welcomed and supported. Some days are tough, but that's okay. I can deal with being tripled and without a tech or sec, no complaints. I am good at staying calm when I'm in the middle of a code or talking to a crying or angry family member or patient.
But the nights.... I feel so awful while I work them and I feel like I've tried everything. I know everyone has to do their time.... But I am at the point where once I hit my year to just go PRN and work mainly days at a clinic. I want to tell my manager that I'm struggling with the night shifts (he is a good manager and usually very understanding), but I am nervous about it....
I have read so many evidence based studies that rotating shift schedules, days, evening, nights, has a worse effect on humans health, heart, sleep, mentation, etc., than strictly nights!
It would be better in the long run to present these studies to your manager, and maybe to their workers disability insurance, than try a bunch of drugs!
Put on Deepak Chopra YouTube find or Google sleep or relaxation, this is the only thing that helped me, I was going crazy sleepless. If you can start going to yoga class, that helps. Also bath with Telo's salt bubble bath relaxes me a lot. Try natural things cause pills have many side effects and some can be addicting.
Try this podcast... It's called the Sleep With Me Podcast. I work 3 9h nights and 2 12 hour days, and I when i lay down on the morning I put my earbuds in, set the sleep timer, and can't stay awake through the intro. I've listened to this podcast for over a year and I recommend it very highly. Don't need sleeping meds, don't need alcohol. Just need a way to help my brain shut down after a night shift. Hope this helps!
Nights are not for everyone and that is okay. I've tried every remedy listed on this site to help me sleep the during the day and nothing works for me. My body will never adjust to it. Trust me I've tried for ten years. Are there any coworkers that are willing to trade your nights for days ??? As much as I love my job , if I had to do straight nights I'd probably quit....
Rotating is the worst and may be the reason you are having problems, not nights in itself. Have you thought about going straight nights?
By working straight nights, you can adjust your entire sleeping schedule and keep it consistent. Flipping back and forth like that is terrible for one's health.
Rotating is the worst and may be the reason you are having problems, not nights in itself. Have you thought about going straight nights?
By working straight nights, you can adjust your entire sleeping schedule and keep it consistent. Flipping back and forth like that is terrible for one's health.
I was thinking this. I did straight nights for a long time. Have you tried that? Your unit would love you for it, you will settle into a better routine.
Or are straight PMs an option? Your unit might really need a solid PM person. That can be a harder shift to fill than nights.
I used to work a day shift weekend program. I'd do a 12 hour shift on Saturday and Sunday, then work a 12 hour night shift at my prn job on Monday night.
Usually I was so tired from my weekend shifts that it wasn't a problem to sleep in on Monday. I'd get through that shift then have Tuesday through Friday to recover.
You're manager might let you work a schedule like that if you're willing to sacrifice your weekends.
It sucks to give up your weekends, but on the plus side, you get 4 days off in a row to recover. Plus, it's easier to run errands during the weekdays when everybody else is working. And if you want to get away for a few days, the hotel rates will be cheaper on weekdays.
Try this podcast... It's called the Sleep With Me Podcast. I work 3 9h nights and 2 12 hour days, and I when i lay down on the morning I put my earbuds in, set the sleep timer, and can't stay awake through the intro. I've listened to this podcast for over a year and I recommend it very highly. Don't need sleeping meds, don't need alcohol. Just need a way to help my brain shut down after a night shift. Hope this helps!
Yes - this podcast is amazing ! I have used it as well.
Would it be possible to do 2 or 3 months of nights, then 2 to 3 months of days? Your body would have more time to adjust to a consistent sleep schedule.
Ive found that taking some tylenol before bed helps improve the quality of sleep. Benadryl makes me feel drugged the next morning. I think its best to do 3 shifts in a row vs spreading them out. Can you arrange your schedule to do two days in a row follow by a night shift at the beginning of the week and then work one day followed by 2 night shifts at the end of the next week? If you are a morning person it will be easier to get your day shift(s) over with and then do the night shift and then crash when the shift is over.
For example Sat, Sun (days), Monday (nite). Tuesday try to sleep during day if you cant you will definitely be able to sleep that night bc so exhausted. Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues OFF Wed (day), Thurs Friday (nite). Get stuff done Thursday during day bc will be exhausted after. Dont try to sleep mucb before shift. Also, caffeine can stay in your system for 8hrs -I dont drink it past 11pm when working. Taking a warm bath for 1/2 helps. Not just for relaxation. Lowers core body temp which helps with falling asleep.
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brownbook
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I have read so many evidence based studies that rotating shift schedules, days, evening, nights, has a worse effect on humans health, heart, sleep, mentation, etc., than strictly nights!
It would be better in the long run to present these studies to your manager, and maybe to their workers disability insurance, than try a bunch of drugs!