Night Shift Nursing

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2006

It's very hard on the body to work night shift and then expect to be awake during the daytime just because it's a day off. Many people pressure themselves "not to waste the day". Many people sleep a few hours and then get up and do things. Or they stay up in the morning, nap in the afternoon and then sleep at night.

When I worked nights I surrendered to sleep, which made me more awake during the nights on my nights off. But I would clean house, go shoppng, go to the gym, play on the internet, watch TV or read during those wee hours. It was isolating, but I'm o.k. alone.

I did take a lot of naps, especially if I needed to be up during the day for errands. In the end after 13 years of night shift, it took it's toll on my old body and I was very fatigued and lived in a fog. I had to switch to dayshift to feel better.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jan 18, 2006

Night shift is taking a toll on me already. My BP is not as stable as it was before I started working nights.

mom23RN · Jan 18, 2006

I was one of those that hated to waste my days off. I worked 2 8s and 2 12s per week with 2-3 days off in between. On my first day back I would have adjusted to days so I would get up between 9 and 10 and then I would be up all day and all night my first night back. When I worked I would usually sleep all the time (usually because I would get wrangled into working overtime on my 8s anyway). I would get home about 8:00 am and hit the sack and not get up until about 4 or 5 pm. I would head for work about 6. On my last night I would come home and sleep until about noon maybe and then be up and then go to bed that night.

Thankfully I have no problems going to sleep, having my schedule flipped all over the place, or getting sleep whenever. I did this for about 6 years.

I really think that some people can't work the nightshift. My gf did it for years but always had a really hard time. Seh finally went to afternoons and LOVES it!!! She says she feels fantastic!!!!!

I hope you find something to work for you! Sleeping all the time (or feeling you want to) gets old!!

froghair · Jan 18, 2006

i dont revert on my days off. im on a day off now and its 4am here, ive been awake for the last 5 hrs. its a pain especially when yu go away and catch up with friends but doing full time nights i just found it to hard to change around on my days off. also being single im not effecting anyone else so its a bit easier to do. i dont think i get depressed but other friends who are nurses who rotate onto nights say that they do

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Jan 18, 2006

I love working night shift for many reasons, but it hates my body and I do become isolated socially. I am on maternity leave now, so I am enjoying being awake during the day even though I don't get out much. I am sleep deprived from having a new baby, but I still feel better than when I work night shift. That must say something about what working nights does to your body. :stone

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 18, 2006

I feel the same way as the original post. I decided to look for something that is kinder to my psyche and body and I got it!! I need to be able to enjoy my life as a nurse, not just work and work and not enjoy the fruits of my labor. Not only working nights was killing me but the 12-hr shifts as well. I think I'd much rather 8-hr shifts. Good Luck!!

mstigerlily · Jan 18, 2006

I've only been doing nights for almost a year now but I felt that way after working days. I was so exhausted on my days off didn't want to do anything, dreading getting up at 5am, fighting traffic, all the crap that goes in during day shift and returning home, driving in the dark to return to a dark quiet house with everyone asleep (or nearly).

But I think night shift can be hard and there may come a point where you can't do it anymore. See a doctor, maybe it's a condition that can be fixed (thyroid or depression meds, etc)

Hi there....I'm going on my 4th year of working nights. First 3 was as a PCT and this last year as an RN at the same hospital, different floors. My nursing school graduate buddy said to me yesterday, that since she started to night shift, on her days off all she wants to do is sleep....I've been feeling this way too.
I have no motivation to do hardly anything. I want to get out, but I don't unless I HAVE to. I feel tired most of the time and just not the same. Seems like a metabolic issue combined with some mental health issues...Who knows....My buddy said that she's depressed. I thought to myself...ya know, I bet that's what it is. Yikes. My job is so stressful...my home life is confined to my home...away from any additional stress....
Are there any other night nurses that do this on their days off? Others that don't? What do you do on your days off?

ER Night Owl · Jan 18, 2006

Yes to all of that. People who don't work nights can't understand the feeding patterns or fussings of the critters who work those long shifts during the wee hours. Why doesn't a fast food restraurant have fresh fries @ 0200? Why doesn't the liquor store open before 1000, it just doesn't feel right to stop on the way to work? What's wrong with shrimp and eggs for breakfast/supper @ 1700 or dinner @ 0830 for that matter?

zacarias, ASN, RN · Jan 19, 2006

I work nights and if I'm not careful, I can end up sleeping the days away when I'm off. The more you sleep, the more you sleep and vegg, and feel down.

So my thing now is to set my alarm to get up after 8 hours of sleeping (when I'm dont with work for the week). I get up, shower and plan my evening knowing that I don't have to go to work and suddenly my attitude is brighter.