Night Shift Nursing

Published

Hey everyone,

I've been working the night shift (obviously since I'm online this late) steadily since last February, and I was just wondering what everyone's schedule is like. I usually try to stick to nights on my days off and will go to bed at 3 or 4 in the morning and sleep in until the afternoon. I seem to need a lot more sleep when I work the night shift and cannot make myself get up before noon on my days off. My eating schedule gets all messed up as well on my days off. Sometimes I'll only eat 1 or 2 meals a day, definitely not healthy, if it's my first night off I'll sleep until 5 or 6 PM, especially if I worked a lot of days in a row, and then I'll eat around 9 or 10, and go back to sleep around midnight or 1 AM to try and be awake a little during the day the next day. How do you spend your days off? Does anyone else have as many problems as I do with the night shift?

Specializes in CMSRN.

I am the same as joanna73. I am a night owl, always have been. I have been working nights for 4 years as a nurse but worked nights at others jobs as well. I have no problems sleeping. Up before 11am on my days off is unheard off.

For my kids though I try and schedule 3 in a row so I have more days off in a row.

Find what works best. It may not be nights.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I loved working nights- and even after 7 years on disability, I'm MUCH more likely to be up at night and sleep during the day. I prefer to go to Wally World or the grocery store at 3 a.m. when everybody else is NOT there :D I'm a night person- some people are, some aren't. Some adjust, some don't. I loved it. Tell me I have to be somewhere before noon, and I am not happy. :yawn:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am also doing night shift. Night shift changes the entire routine procedure.At 3 o clock i feel sleepy.:yawn:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in acute rehab, psych, home health, agencey.

i have worked all three shifts at fulltime status, each have there pros and cons. For me i like the overnites, the trick is adjusting your day schedule to overnite. I believe ur days off should be together, try to exercise even just walking before or after ur shift. As far as diet, ur personality will tell u when and what to eat just as if u were working days. the hard part is and can be the sacrifices to your personal or social life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OMG-you took the words right out of my mouth! I saw your tread yesterday before going into work. As soon as I walked into work, I found out I was switched to days! I am soooooooo excited! I do not think I can last on nights for another month. I feel your pain. I hope things get better for you. I too have lost weight, eat awful, have permanent bags under my eyes, rarely talk to my family, rarely see my husband or friends and never have time to do errands on my off nights because nothing is open expect Walmart. I phase between being a vampire and a zombie. How long until you can transfer/be on days?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have adjusted better than I thought I would on night shift. I've been working it for four months now and I love it. You couldn't get me back to days. I work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (12's) and I'll sleep til around 11 or noon Monday mornings then make myself get up. It gets me back on normal sleep schedule for the week.

My diet is the only down side. I have gained a little weight but it's been my choice of food, not the times I eat. There's too many sweet goodies in our kitchen, haha.

Best of luck to you. Some people aren't cut out for the graveyard shift but if you have to stay on nights I would try to do them all in a row like I have.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hey everyone,

I've been working the night shift (obviously since I'm online this late) steadily since last February, and I was just wondering what everyone's schedule is like. I usually try to stick to nights on my days off and will go to bed at 3 or 4 in the morning and sleep in until the afternoon. I seem to need a lot more sleep when I work the night shift and cannot make myself get up before noon on my days off. My eating schedule gets all messed up as well on my days off. Sometimes I'll only eat 1 or 2 meals a day, definitely not healthy, if it's my first night off I'll sleep until 5 or 6 PM, especially if I worked a lot of days in a row, and then I'll eat around 9 or 10, and go back to sleep around midnight or 1 AM to try and be awake a little during the day the next day. How do you spend your days off? Does anyone else have as many problems as I do with the night shift?

actually when i am working mostly nights my schedule sounds pretty similar to yours.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've worked many years on both shifts and I'm noticed some simple things.

-They only come out at night. Some of the weirdest ones stay up all night. And I mean creepy weird.

-Day shift people are the high stress, red bull, ready to have a heart attack nurses.

-Night shift people are paranoid. this I believe comes from sleep deprivation. They don't realize it's happening because it's over the course of weeks or months.

-Each shift complains more than physically thought possible. However, I think nights complain about things that don't warrant complaining- because of the paranoia.

After working both shifts, I prefer days. The differential is really not even noticeable. The "raccoon eyes" are gone. The long hours of inactivity and boredom are over. I can see a patient rehabilitate, with eating, physical therapy, etc. I understand more about nursing, more than getting a sleeping pill because he's awake.

My humble opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

Lol Mikeworks RN...."Night shift people are paranoid?" Where are you getting this assumption? Remember, just as some people prefer days, there are those of us who prefer nights.

It is unnatural for me to get up at 5am for work. Always has been, always will be. I've worked various day jobs. I hate HATE days. That's just me. I never want to sleep before 1am, even if I just worked a day shift. Everyone is different.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

For many people, the issue with nights is either falling asleep, staying asleep, or out of necessity having to be up during the day for kids. Or rotating shifts. With any of those variables in the mix, nights will be awful.

I have no kids, so I sleep all day and stay in bed until at least 5pm when I work. If I wake up, I go back to sleep on purpose. Otherwise, you're burning the candle at both ends, and you're exhausted. You can't work 12 hours all night AND be up during the day, and expect not to be tired. I also eat healthy, and I don't eat junk on the nights I work. Doing so will deplete your energy.

So in a nutshell, that's why nights work for me. I also said no to rotating shifts. I was hired into a perm night position.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Lol Mikeworks RN...."Night shift people are paranoid?" Where are you getting this assumption? Remember, just as some people prefer days, there are those of us who prefer nights.

Not assumption. Professional judgment. Remember I'm a nurse trained in assessments. And I have worked many years in both shifts and have recognized the change in behaviors in each; as I've noticed the actions of the people around me.

You don't get it until you've gotten out of it. Like an abusive relationship.

Alright! More visits to my personal page! Sorry there's no info on there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

I respect your opinion, but I am also a nurse. Mike RN, I think you are generalizing about some things. I reread your earlier post. Most importantly, at 38 years old, and after 24 years of working, I know myself better than anyone else would.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion