night shift and health

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 9, 2014

Hey All ,
I was wondering does anyone have a chronic illness and work NOCs? Do you think it is making your worse off?
Thanks!

Yes. And no.

poppycat, ADN, BSN · Dec 9, 2014

I have RA & type 2 diabetes. Working nights hasn't made my conditions worse but the constant exhaustion that comes with RA makes working very difficult.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2014

I didn't think so when I was doing it but my chronic headaches are MUCH better now that I don't work nights anymore.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2014

I have hypothyroidism, chronic idiopathic urticaria (a.k.a. chronic hives), dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Yes, I suspect that night shift might be aggravating my chronic health issues.

However, I'd rather die a few years earlier than deal with the hell that is better known as day shift bedside nursing.

ChopperCabra · Dec 10, 2014

I worked nights for a while and researched this topic. Evidence shows that it can be detrimental to your health. Of course this depends on your situation. At my hospital my shifts always ended up being 13-15 hours and usually four in a row. It was taking a toll on my physical and mental well being.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Dec 10, 2014

I had to leave nights years ago. I loved them, as I am not a "day" person by any stretch of the imagination, but nights didn't love me back after about the age of 40. As I recall---or as my family likes to recall FOR me---I had memory problems, and was very unstable and prone to fits of rage. I couldn't figure out why. I didn't find out until three years ago when I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and learned that I was probably manic for a lot of that time back in my late 30s and early 40s.

I got better once I changed to a 3-11 schedule. I didn't handle days well because they were SO stressful, and that exacerbated my BP symptoms almost as much as nights did. But that 3-11 shift was a sweet spot for me, even though that was when I'd get a lot of admissions and there were fewer staff to help.....it was much more in sync with my normal circadian rhythm, and I experienced more stability with my moods.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Dec 10, 2014

Yes. And no.

So far THIS.

I've increased my hours; it has started to become a challenge, but I don't mind working nights; day shift has the wonderful drama that makes me miss all my favorite soaps that are long gone.

CopperEmerald · Dec 10, 2014

I often wonder about this, myself. I have worked nights my entire career, with a couple of exceptions while orienting for new positions on days. I am a miserable person on dayshift (my phone even autocorrects "dayshift" to "Satanism" and I swear I didn't do it lol). I hate it from the minute my feet hit the floor until the time I'm depressed over having to go to bed so early. I become severely depressed, even bordering suicidal I remember. On nights, I can come home, go to bed around 10-11ish am (never in a million years would I go to bed at 10pm, no matter what shift I worked) and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to get up, as opposed to resentful that it's still dark in the mornings. I laugh at the commuters on my way home, thinking they're in the morning rat race and I'm on my way to bed. I have no problem staying awake all night, either, provided that I sleep during the day. That's the key, getting enough sleep. I think you're either cut out for nights, or you're not. Personally, I have always been a night person, even as a baby.

I know they say that nights hurt your health, but really....which would hurt me more? Being miserable all the time working during the day, or being content and going with my natural flow and working at night?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2014

I know they say that nights hurt your health, but really....which would hurt me more? Being miserable all the time working during the day, or being content and going with my natural flow and working at night?

Your point is really salient. Since childhood I have always been a nocturnal night owl of sorts. I've never been able to fall asleep at 9pm or 10pm. I dread waking up at 5:30am for a 7:00am day shift.

I am a hardcore night shifter who falls asleep at 10am for a quick nap and awakens at 4pm to start getting ready for my 12-hour night at work.

firstinfamily, RN · Dec 10, 2014

I am sure there are plenty of research articles out there about how shift work affects ones health. However, in nursing, it can be any shift may be detrimental to ones health!! I feel as long as I am able to get adequate sleep, I am doing OK. Day shift is just too stressful, there are too many people coming and going, everyone is hurried. Nights may get more admissions, but at least things are handled in a calm way. When it gets busy, it is busy and everyone helps out. During day shift when it gets busy, everyone scatters. I also loved 3-11 shift, and it met my normal circadium rhythm, however with the 12 hour shifts 7p-7a fits me better than day hours. Nursing in general can be hazardous to your health.

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2014

I do. I have Ankalosing Spondylitis. It is worsening but it's a progressive condition so who knows if night shift is making it worse. I've had SI

Pain flares for 17 years but only hand pain this past year but it started postpartum. It's hard to know.