Night shift is killing me-Help!

[pedsnurse22]

Hey everyone,

I am a new grad working in the PICU on nights. I am trying so hard to adjust to this schedule but I'm struggling. I am not a night owl. I can stay up through the shift but feel awful the next day, and feel nothing but dread during the day before I go in. I am still working out, eating healthy but I'm still so unhappy. I'm really liking the job just not the hours. I hate leaving my family at night. I am on the wait list for days and I'm trying to accept that it is probably better to start out on nights as a new grad. Does anyone have any advice? Is what I'm feeling normal? I just don't want to burn out. Thanks

[WoosahRN, MSN, RN]

Others might have mentioned it but you MUST guard your sleep. No lunch time dates with friends or family. No appts. Set your sleep time and stick to it firm. Family living in your home need to understand that too. I'm not sure if you have kids but if you have younger kids and someone is watching them, they need to treat it as if you are NOT even there.

I do earplugs, black out curtains, keep the room cold, Melatonin and Ambien. But if you aren't protecting your sleep time, none of that matters. I've known many a nurse completely quit their (good) jobs after only a couple months because of an unsupportive spouse at home (doesn't let them sleep, complains about being "left alone").

And it does take some time. That said I would have spurts. Some months I was sleeping great on days and couldn't night sleep on my off nights. Then a few months later my day sleeping sucked and I could only night sleep. So sometimes there are still rhythms. Regardless of day or night sleeping I really try and guard my sleep as a priority. You are no good to you, your family or your

patients if you aren't resting and

recovering.

Do your shifts in a row. I always found myself a lot more tired if I happened to have one shift versus my stretch. I would do 3 or 4 on, one off (for my brain) and then my final 3 or 2 shifts. That way my two weeks if work are done, I could stay in my scheduled and now I have a week off.

[LargeMarge]

I think it helps to make sure you adequately hydrate while you are working the night shift and eat light, protein rich meals or snacks during your shift. I try not to eat when I get home in the morning, but also not go to bed hungry so that can be tricky. I usually have a good protein shake about 0500 that way I can get to sleep by 0900. I also try not to drink caffeine after 0200 at work so that it won't keep me up while I try to sleep during the day. I use the DOHM sleep machine and that has been a huge help blocking out noises like people cutting the lawn during the day and barking dogs. I also sleep with a light fan on and use a puffed out sleep mask since my room isn't completely so dark. If I wasn't so lazy, I would totally have blackout shades because I think that is ideal, I just haven't gotten around to that yet. I also HAVE to have really happy uplifting music on my drive into work, it will get me out of whatever funk I may have fallen into. Try to stay positive and remember, this isn't forever :)