night shift is really hard on me...

wiley6coyote · Sep 16, 2010

I like night shift because it is quiet and less staff. Generally I find I have no issues with staff because it is a small, close knit group. I have heard plenty about the dramas of day staff. I also don't deal with management ( a huge plus). I can comfort the residents one to one ( it's LTC) because I usually have more time ( but not always)

It can be pretty crazy sometimes esp. if we are in outbreak or have had multiple medical emergencies but on the whole I like it. My biggest health concern though is my weight. I'm packing it on- I recently tried to start flipping my meals upside down so I would be eating breakfast before I go to work at night etc and trying to eat a sandwich in the middle of the night and staying away from the nibbles and goodies that night shift is famous for. :nurse:

Nurseinprocess · Sep 16, 2010

*** Did you ever try working night shift before you spent a lot of time and money investing in a job where working night shift, especialy for newer nurses, is to be expected?

There are plenty of hospitals in my area that hire new grads for nights or afternoons. Not everyone has to start on the night shift :rolleyes: !

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 16, 2010

There are plenty of hospitals in my area that hire new grads for nights or afternoons. Not everyone has to start on the night shift !

*** No, of course not. However the chances are good that a nurse is going to work night shift, at least some, and at least at first. Everybody knows that. When one chooses nursing you have to know this.

LuvPedsNrsg · Sep 16, 2010

of course i knew night shift was a strong possibility starting out. Knowing this I added myself to the waiting list right when I started, however, now mgt is adding nurses ahead of me and some others, therefore, making the wait even longer when I know I will be waiting at least a year.

My main question was should I speak with my manager about looking at different departments that may have a day shift available within 6 months to a year? Would that look bad or be proactive in doing what is best for me?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 16, 2010

of course i knew night shift was a strong possibility starting out. knowing this i added myself to the waiting list right when i started, however, now mgt is adding nurses ahead of me and some others, therefore, making the wait even longer when i know i will be waiting at least a year.
my main question was should i speak with my manager about looking at different departments that may have a day shift available within 6 months to a year? would that look bad or be proactive in doing what is best for me?

yes, it will look bad. it looks very bad. you need to think hard about what truly is best for you -- do you have to have a job to put food on the table? there aren't that many jobs for new grads -- which you admit you are -- that don't involve nights, weekends and holidays.

you also need to think about the fact that in most places, any day shift openings go to the people who already work in that unit; transfers either rotate or go to night shift.

LuvPedsNrsg · Sep 18, 2010

I also appreciate all the advice on getting used to sleeping during the day :)

Ruby - yes i am a new grad, but have been working at this hospital for a little more than 2 years. the hospital may be expanding soon so there may be opportunities to transfer to a day position in 6 months to a year. i've seen recent new grads transfer to other units to get day shift positions as well. I'll probably just mention something to my manager in another 3 months...

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2010

I just started working as a new grad on a night shift position. This is not my desired position and its been really hard on me. I've been added to the waiting list for days, but now mgt is trying to add nurses before me who have been there longer than me. So I'm thinking I will be doing nights on this unit for a minimum of 2-3 years. I'm a person who is prone to depression and anxiety and working nights is exacerbating this problem with the lack of sleep and odd hours.
I want to start looking for another job either outside of this hospital or in a different department. I understand I probably won't get hired immediately somewhere else, but I want to get the ball rolling. Should I discuss this with my nurse manager asap or should I wait a few more months?

The first thing that I would do, is review how you are sleeping. The first week or so that I started working the night shift, I literally, thought I was going to die, and some days...it is hard...but overall, it pays more and there is less hassle...I wouldn't trade it for anything. Here is what I do.

1. If you work 12 hour shifts, your goal when you come home is to eat and then go to bed. If you use the time to go grocery shopping, etc...it cuts into your sleep. I never do anything, on the days that I work, except work.

2. I get up about 2 1/2 hours before my scheduled shift...that gives me plenty of time, without rushing, to get ready, fix something to eat, etc.

3. I have learned to keep a small cheap fan on in the room to drown out traffic whiz (I live near a main road).

4. If I have a long stretch off, the day I work, I take one children's Benedryl..OTC.

5. I am a firm believer in aromatherapy...it also conditions your body to associate the scent with sleep.

6. Make sure all my uniforms are clean and ready to go...the goal is minimal effort when I get up.

Now, this is what I DON'T do:

1. I work with nurses that take Ambien and Ativan to help with sleep, almost on a daily basis...to me, this is not a good practice and both of these products are addictive. Any type of sleep aid, can cause a degree of dependence in as little as 3 days, if taken daily.

2. I exercise, but not on the days I work...unless you are really used to it, the endorphin dump can actually keep you awake.

AtomicWoman · Jan 25, 2011

I know this is an older thread, but I wanted to thank the OP for starting it. Now I am certain I am not going crazy. :) Some of the posters here, however, do not seem to understand that for some people, working nights (especially 12-hour nights) can have a PROFOUND effect on your physiological and mental health. I mean *profound*. It's not always a matter of just waiting it out to see if you "adapt". That's a good way to crash into an abutment on your way to or from work. I now believe that some people are just not meant to work nights.

PMFB-RN, RN · Jan 26, 2011

I know this is an older thread, but I wanted to thank the OP for starting it. Now I am certain I am not going crazy. :) Some of the posters here, however, do not seem to understand that for some people, working nights (especially 12-hour nights) can have a PROFOUND effect on your physiological and mental health. I mean *profound*. It's not always a matter of just waiting it out to see if you "adapt". That's a good way to crash into an abutment on your way to or from work. I now believe that some people are just not meant to work nights.

*** Working nights is very hard on most of us. It is hard on me. However when I made the decision to become a nurse I knew, like we all know, that nurses work night shift.

If one simply can NOT work night shifts then I strongly suggest they not take up a line of work were working light shifts is expected.

I get sick of having to work more nights because some people, who presumably made an informed decision to seek work in a 24 hour field, whine about how they can't work nights cause it's too hard on them.

AtomicWoman · Jan 27, 2011

It's not about whining and since you said that, I know you don't get it. That's OK. I frankly wish I did not get it. Have a nice day.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 28, 2011

it's not about whining and since you said that, i know you don't get it. that's ok. i frankly wish i did not get it. have a nice day.

i know that you don't understand this, but it's you who doesn't get it. you are whining. you made the decision to go into nursing and then to work in a place that staffs 24/7. you're going to have to work some nights. either suck it up and deal or opt out and find a job in a place that doesn't staff 24/7. your colleagues shouldn't have to work their share of nights and your share, too.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 28, 2011

i know this is an older thread, but i wanted to thank the op for starting it. now i am certain i am not going crazy. :) some of the posters here, however, do not seem to understand that for some people, working nights (especially 12-hour nights) can have a profound effect on your physiological and mental health. i mean *profound*. it's not always a matter of just waiting it out to see if you "adapt". that's a good way to crash into an abutment on your way to or from work. i now believe that some people are just not meant to work nights.

we get it. unfortunately, night shift is a fact of hospital nursing. it's hard on most of us. if you don't wait it out and do your utmost to adapt, you won't know whether or not you're capable of adapting. if there truly are some people who are just not meant to work nights, they ought not to be working in an environment that staffs 24/7.