Night Shift And Cancer

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2003

Originally posted by EmeraldNYL
So does anyone else work nights and love it? The hospital I am considering working at pays 20% more for nights; plus I am totally not a morning person. I just hope the living 7 years less thing isn't true!

I love nights! Too many options for me as an 11-year employee in this hospital to work nights. I like the lack of management, that usually you're more organized. The differential helped me move from a 30 year mortgage to a 15 year mortage on my house. Been doing it for 12 years now and it's my preference.

Physically it's hard, especially since I have a dog that doesn't let me sleep straight through, but it's only 3 12-hour shifts. I stay up late on my nights off as I'm not a morning person. To me the perfect shift would be something like 5p to 5 a. Physically speaking 3-11 was my best shift. But it was too isolating as I would work five 3-11 shifts and never see anyone I knew. Plus I don't like working five days anymore, even though about 150 million people do it.

angelbear · Jun 5, 2003

I have worked nights for 5 yrs now. Love my coworkers and my job but Hate what nights has done to me. True there are some pro;s such as more autonomy, less noise usually, dont have to deal with families and management. But tons of cons: Way less staffing , way more emergencies, no respect from day shift, most places you are the nurse and housekeeping. Very little sunshine ever. Since I have started working nights I have been diagnosed with probable lupus, fibromyalgia, severe RLS and PLMD. I never have any energy I have become anti social, put on weight(like I needed that) I smoke and have had cervicle CA recurr twice. So if working nights means you live 7 yrs less I best say my good byes now at 35. I dought that overweight smokers with lupus, fibro, RLS, PLMD and recurring cervicle ca who work nights survive very long. Dang I think I may already be dead.

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2003

Yikes!!! So sorry to hear that angelbear. So what do you all who work nights do to stay healthy? On your days off, do you usually keep the same schedule or do you switch back to sleeping at night? Like I said, I am TOTALLY not a morning person and would like the extra money, but all this talk of health problems is scaring me off of working nights.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2003

I like night shift, I was told if I went to days I would have to wear a tie, and that would surely choke me to death even faster.

The great secret to life is you can work all night and golf in the AM. you cant work all day and golf at night. Though I have golfed at night also

Talino · Jun 5, 2003

In the article ...

Melatonin is produced at night and regular exposure to sunlight affects the production cycle, which peaks in the middle of the night. Artificial light suppresses melatonin production.

Just my assumption...

So, less melatonin production is linked to cancer. There is an OTC dietary supplement out there that stimulates the production of melatonin. One I know is a controlled-release melatonin. By taking it you should be maintaining a normal melatonin level. Just as one would take calcium supplements to reduce the chance of getting Osteoporosis.

Right??? But then again, I would have to explore it further.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2003

who wants to live forever

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2003

Originally posted by Talino
In the article ...

Just my assumption...

So, less melatonin production is linked to cancer. There is an OTC dietary supplement out there that stimulates the production of melatonin. One I know is a controlled-release melatonin. By taking it you should be maintaining a normal melatonin level. Just as one would take calcium supplements to reduce the chance of getting Osteoporosis.

Right??? But then again, I would have to explore it further.

I was kinda thinking the same thing Talino. But I don't think you'd want to take Melatonin at night while you were working because wouldn't it make you very sleepy? That might hinder your ability to do your job. You could take melatonin when you get home in the morning before you go to bed, but then that might mess with your internal clock even more. I looked up melatonin supplements, and the info. I found said that it is not approved by the FDA and there haven't been many studies done on the long-term effects of taking the supplements, so doctors do not recommend taking it every night. Some people advocate taking it for jet lag, however.

Liddle Noodnik · Jun 6, 2003

Originally posted by teeituptom
who wants to live forever

Ha ha! When I told my BF tonite about the 7 year thing, he was appalled! I did want to say to him exactly what you just said, ha ha!

Flynurse · Jun 6, 2003

I saw this on CNN last night....surprised, but not.

Didn't read the article you posted, but shouldn't Melatonin supplements help?

debmac · Jun 6, 2003

WELL I'M RIGHT IN THERE WITH MOST OF YOU!! I HAVE WORKED NIGHT SHIFT FOR NINE YEARS THIS TIME AROUND OUT OF FINANCIAL NECESSITY.. I DO LOVE THE HOSPITAL AT NIGHT HOWEVER AND THE LACK OF DISTRACTIONS. BUT IT HAS TAKEN A HEALTH TOLL ON ME..I AM NOT A NATURAL NIGHTOWL AND HAVE A TERIBLE PROBLEM SLEEPING. FIRST NIGHT BACK EVEN THOUGH I TRY TO NAP..I USUALLY DON'T SLEEP AND SO I END UP BEING UP FOR TWENTY FOUR HOURS MORE OR LESS BY THE TIME I GET OFF....I DO REVERT TO BEING A DAY PERSON ON MY DAYS OFF...AND I DO TAKE MELATONIN...MORE AS A SLEEP AID..THOUGH I'M NOT AT ALL CONVINCED OF ITS EFFICACY. I ALSO TAKE VALERAIN ROOT..HAS ANYBODY HEARD ANY NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TAKING THIS HERB ON A LONG TIME BASIS?? ALSO HOW MANY OF YOU NIGHT SHIFTERS RELY ON SOME KINDA OF SLEEP AID??

powmol · Jun 6, 2003

I think that working days would surely kill me! Hmmm maybe should rephrase that, If I worked days where I currently work, I would wish for death, of myself, or several of the current staff members!!! hahahaha

oraibi · Jun 6, 2003

posted by Talino

So, less melatonin production is linked to cancer. There is an OTC dietary supplement out there that stimulates the production of melatonin. One I know is a controlled-release melatonin. By taking it you should be maintaining a normal melatonin level. Just as one would take calcium supplements to reduce the chance of getting Osteoporosis.

hi

im a new grad and low man on the totem pole

so against my wishes and better judgement i am

working some nights . . . just unil i can get a

straight pm gig

go to the library and order the book "Lights Out"

i loaned it to a friend so i don't remember the author

but this book was very thought provoking

the essense was that the authors studied the research

and came to the conclusion that the rise of

heart disease, cancer and other diseases coincided

with the rise of electric lights tv and now computers

these things are messing with our natural light/dark

cycles . . . remember circadian rythyms and stress

hormone secretion and related stuff from A&P

there are suggestions in the book which can help

noc workers . . . including making your bedroom

completely dark . . . wearing rose colored glasses

(can increase melatonin production 70%) . . .

and dietary changes . . .

i think sleep is critical to good health and applys

to patients too . . . another reason i hate night

shift is waking people up to see if they are sleeping ok

~)

serously, patients need sleep more than they need to have

their vitals checked again . . . aye aye aye

ciao for now

~oraibi