Night owl on day shift

Sour Lemon · Oct 13, 2016

Get a back up alarm. Get two back up alarms. Get as many back up alarms as it takes.

I am also a night person. Although I can make myself wake up in the morning, I feel physically ill and nauseous until about noon at the earliest. I'm currently working nights (per diem), but I have to wake up at 6AM to take care of my baby. I should be asleep right now, but my mind is in overdrive so I'm not ....even though I know I'll be miserable in the morning.

Good luck to you and hopefully you can switch to nights, eventually. Most people seem to want days and get stuck on nights.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Oct 13, 2016

I would imagine if you're on a traditional hospital unit (which 7-7 usual is), it should be fairly easy to ask your manager if there's a night shifter who would want to work day shift and you could have their night shift job. I worked days for awhile and decided nights worked better for me. I told my manager and three people volunteered to switch with me.

kiszi, RN · Oct 13, 2016

I understand you not wanting to take anything, but it can be hard to go against your body's natural tendency. Melatonin has been a lifesaver for me on both days and nights.

Another idea is to Google some tips about getting good sleep. Some to try if you haven't already: avoid caffeine several hours before bed, don't eat right before bed, turn off electronics (the hardest one for everyone!) an hour or more before bed, develop a relaxing bedtime routine, etc. etc.

It may be but a small consolation, but many people who work 12s will tell you they are so tired after a shift that sleep comes pretty easily!

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Oct 13, 2016

I'm the same way. I literally get nauseous in the morning when I have to get up at 5am. I'm actually pretty happy I'm going to nights soon again. For some reason my body naturally likes to go to sleep at 5am, so I spend many nights tossing and turning and then right when my alarm is about to go off, I fall asleep.

You may need to talk to your doc. Your body may have its days and nights mixed up. Sometimes I have to break down and take something. There's nothing wrong with that.

kataraang, BSN · Oct 13, 2016

It may be but a small consolation, but many people who work 12s will tell you they are so tired after a shift that sleep comes pretty easily!

I had not considered that at all! That is so true. I bet the shift will tire me out so I can't stay up late without extreme difficulty.

oceanblue52 · Oct 16, 2016

What about one of those alarm clocks that has a light attached to simulate day light? They gradually wake you up by getting brighter which helps your body wake up. Avoid light from computers and TV after 8 pm too as it can affect your circadian rhythms.

Kitiger, RN · Oct 16, 2016

Darken your bedroom to help you fall asleep. It can be done cheaply with cardboard and aluminum foil over the windows.

I agree that there are probably night shift workers who would love to trade with you.

NightOwlGirl · Oct 19, 2016

As my username indicates, I empathize with you. Day shifts are my nemesis. Shudder. Clinicals are bad enough.

You mentioned you've been a night-owl since childhood & I have been too. I was eventually diagnosed with Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, a circadian rhythm issue, making me basically a biologically obligate nocturnal animal. I can do "one-off" early mornings, like school clinicals, but no amount of melatonin or sleep-hygiene will make a full-time day-shift position possible. I have a letter of explanation from my sleep doctor/neurologist, requesting all reasonable accommodations be made, but I never really use it, since I don't apply to day shift positions. I've also avoided swing-shift positions for that reason, although I could probably request a permanent swap with a day-shifter.

I haven't got any practical advice, but I do wish you the best of luck going forward! I'm always rooting for my fellow night-owls.

wishiwereanurse, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2016

Your post is very timely, after 6 years of night shift I finally took a dayshift position (doing it for mt daughter because I love her to pieces!) At 2pm, my whole being just wants to shut down. And it is a struggle because at 2pm i find myself debating on whether or not I should drink some caffeine. When i worked nights, I would drink coffee at 7am and go to sleep at 9am. No problem. I am considering returning to nights, but I will give it a try for 90 days.

Kitiger, RN · Oct 22, 2016

When switching from days to nights, the nurse has the support of co-workers. We give that new, sleepy nurse some coffee, and then walk her quickly up and down the hall. We understand.

When switching from nights to days, the co-workers often don't understand. By 2pm I was walking into doors and stumbling over shadows. The day nurses thought that if I would just go to bed on time, I'd be wide awake. It doesn't work that way.

I asked her just how well she would function at 4 in the morning after being up all night!

marwidog · Oct 26, 2016

I'm the exact same! People think it's super weird that I get physically ill in the morning time if I wake up and have to work a day shift, but I've been a night owl since I can remember. How do you get past the illness if you have to do a day shift? I still struggle with that.