Night Shift Blues

deleern · Sep 19, 2009

Yes you need a sleep schedule, Phones off, Windows covered, some white noise(fan). I worked Nights for 3 years because of going to college(older student). My husband guarded my sleep. If I didn't get 6 hours of sleep in I would take a little nap in before work... one of the things that I found was it is still best to take a nap even if I have the day off. 4 hours will make everything better. I was okay on nights, but my hubby hated it. so I changed to days after I graduated from RN.... I am not a L&D, I am Long term care and I love it. I work 8 to 5 most of the time... I do get called and work where ever needed. I don't mind. have you ever looked into that.

cherick22 · Sep 19, 2009

I know exactly how you feel. I took the only Med-surg job I could find as a new grad 13 months ago. I would have taken anything just to get that experience. Most of my classmates have yet to find a med-surg position so I was very lucky. I love my co-workers and love my hospital. I HATE working nights! It's never going to be ok with me...never. I get enough sleep, children are all grown but its just brutal. I started working 40 hours...5 eight hour shifts then decreased to 32 hrs but that hasn't helped.

The worst thing is my commute is 45 minutes of highway driving and I have literally fallen asleep at the wheel. So that was the last straw. I am thrilled to say I just accepted a job offer much closer to home working 2nd shift. I hate the thought of leaving all my friends and a place I love but it really comes down to this: I am not a night shift person. Period. Bottom line here too is its just not healthy to work nights and you hate nights. Your body is telling you this, listen to your body. :redpinkhe Find a way to get off nights....you deserve it!

SlightlyMental_RN · Sep 19, 2009

No advice, just a hug for you. I personally love working noc shift, as I get to come home after work and get the kids off to school. Then, while they are at school, I get to sleep. I wake up at 1400, get the kids home from school, and I'm around to make dinner, do homework, etc. I also take a nap after dinner and its cleanup from 7:45-9 pm. I then get ready for work and head out. I feel for you for not being a natural night person and having to work this shift, as I'm the opposite (natural bedtime for me is 1:30 am). Personally, I hate the PM shift, as I don't get to see my kids at all. AM shifts are just brutal for me, as I don't naturally want to be up at that time. I'm also fortunate that I sleep well at any time of day....just give me my pillow and I'm good.

saintplatypus · Sep 19, 2009

Yes nights works well for some and not others. Sorry your situation seems so bleak. But you probably should look elsewhere if nights is bringing you down so bad.

julirn196840 · Sep 19, 2009

HI! I am a labor and delivery nurse I have been working nights since June of 2007. I LOVE LOVE LOVE labor and delivery but I do not love nights. I hate them with a passion. I live in a small valley where this is the closest hospital to me the next one is about 65 miles away. Turn over on day shifts where I work is almost non existent. We have really awesome nurses that have been there 20+ years. But it presents a problem to myself. I am 2nd on senority on nights and the girl above me has 6 days senority. That will cost me about 1-2 years more on the night shift *if* a day shift opens. Which is highly unlikely. I am concerned though. I hate going to work now. I try to request call almost every day. Which is a huge red flag for me. I love the job and I have worked a few days and have noticed a HUGE difference in my attitude and just work production. I am not a night person. All through out life I went to bed at 8pm woke up at 5. When I took this job back in 2007 I didn't realize that it was going to be nights for the rest of my life. Since I am in a small community there are no job openings for nurses at the moment. I just know that I can't work nights very much longer. I do NOT like who I am. I am extremely bitter, depressed and just hate life. I know it's from working night shifts. I also feel that the hospital I work for just doesn't care about the night shift at all. Maybe i'm just a whiner and need to suck it up? I don't know! I just do not like who I have become and who I am now because of the lack of sleep and bitterness towards my job. I mean I went into nursing to care for patients and when i'm avoiding work because I am too exhausted does that counteract my caring for patients? I think I need to find a new job? *sigh* *cry*[/quote

RNHuskyFan · Sep 20, 2009

It sounds like you have quite the dilemma. You are torn between the type of work you love and your current schedule. I worked night shift for 10 years while my kids were small and it worked out great. The only way it works is if you can get into a routine that works for you. However, you stated that you hate life, who you are, and are miserable most of the time, perhaps it is time to move on. There are other settings, ie LTC that are rewarding and challenging. If you give another setting or department at the hospital a chance, you may be pleasantly surprised. Life is too short to be miserable. Take a chance.

MissyRN83 · Mar 6, 2010

So update I switched jobs and do my L&DPRN now. I don't work over nights anymore and my job satisfaction has gone up 100% and i'm not bitter anymore and feel so much better. I now work at the OB/GYN clinic for the physicians that work on the L&D unit that I work PRN at now. So the transition wasn't too difficult and now I get to meet the patients before they deliver and see them afterwards. Also I still work almost every weekend at L&D so in no way am I losing my skills. Also just working days and being home at night with my children is great for me. Since i'm a single mother now of 2 children just to be there with them at night is a HUGE thing for me. I didn't explain in my first posting that I was living w/ my husband (now ex husband) who didn't help me with our children, also dealing with a possible foreclosure on my house and just several health problems due to stress/lack of sleep. So I just figured a pay cut and going to days was what I needed. Thanks everyone for your advice =)

Katie5 · Mar 7, 2010

Night shift is brutal when it comes to work...ANY kind of work. Moreso, in a profession that requires all your concentration and no half measures. For those of you that work nights and love it, I applaud you. You are to be lauded!