night shift - sleep dilemma

suebird3 · Sep 9, 2005

Good lord! I work grave yard, and the boss gives me 2 in a row off! Just got off, and can't think straight right now.....will get back to ya. Take it easy....peace!

suebird

purplemania, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2005

you really need to be off the night before the class and the night of the class. I had a similar problem in BSN program but grad school was all online. Like you, I felt school was a way to get off the floor. Now I miss the patients. Go figure.

Rio, ASN, RN · Sep 9, 2005

How bad is the schedule once you start working it, comprared to what you're willing to sacrifice in the way of qualilty of life and getting the most out of your education?

:flowersfo 1.If you have to remain in your current position then try to swap out the days you need off with a colleague.

2.If you must , change jobs and/or employer to suit your schedule.

:idea: 3.Take some vacation days or personal days.

:nono: 4. Last resort. Call in sick, I'd hate to BUT, if the schedule is not healthy for you then you're likely to be physically sick , if not emotionally ragged. Of course this would violate a HR policy somewhere and could lead to termination. In which case you'd have all the time you need :beer: .

stidget99 · Sep 9, 2005

Give your boss your availability times. (Seems to me that working 4 days one week and then 2 the next week.........well just seems funky to me.) Tell her that working this schedule just does not work for you that you feel that you are unsafe to provide patient care. Do this in the form of a letter and carbon copy her supervisor. If the schedule does not change, then look for another place to work immediately. Accomodating a one day per week class does not seem like it would be too difficult. Just my opinion though.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2005

When you are in the middle of night shifts and have only one night off - you really should keep the same schedule. Don't go to bed until at least 4 or 5am, and then sleep until about noon. It's ridiculous to try and sleep at night just for that one night, and you're going to really screw yourself up.

Agree that you really need that two-day off stretch for the nights before and of your class.

Honestly, this doesn't sound like a great place to work if the management isn't supportive of your educational persuits.

NorthernRose · Sep 10, 2005

And do you plan on continuing working at this facility?! 12 hour shifts are hard enough with out trying to do school, even 1 class!! I have to agree with trying to trade the night or use benefit time for even part of it off. I also think it would be better to have the night before class off and work that night, atleast be able to make class with some rest/clear head. Good luck!! I was lucky in that my supervisor is an angel and worked with my night schedule while i was in school. Hope you can get it worked out with her.

mtnmom · Sep 10, 2005

When I took the position she went on and on about how supportive she was of anyone trying to get an education, but her actions are showing otherwise. All summer I have put up with having to work 7pm-3am 5nights a week and working every weekend, because "she didnt have anywhere to put me". Now I graduate to what should be a nice 3 night per week schedule and it stinks. You know how some women seem to choose the wrong kind of man over and over...well I am starting to feel that way about nursing managers. Maybe I am too gullible...

Well, I have to give it a year, dont want it looking bad on my resume, plus I also stupidly committed to a year...and I believe that unhonored commitments can come back and sting you (never mind the commitments made to me that are not being honored). But at the end of April i am giving notice that either I go prn and have more control over my schedule or I'm outta there.

But until then I will have to be in survival mode. The worst part of all of it is that my Thursday course was originally scheduled from 4-7 pm; the school changed it right before the semester to 2-5 pm. That means that every other Thursday I will have to go to class with about 4 hrs or less sleep - not good. Especially since my 3 remaining exams in that class are on Thursdays that I have worked the previous night.

I am going to plead and beg with coworkers to cover me those 3 Wednesday nights at least...I have already emailed my professor but havent heard back from her yet. And its past the drop date!!!! (as if I would drop)

Thanks for your sympathies and any tips or prayers...I dont know how I am going to get through these next few months.

rach_nc_03 · Sep 10, 2005

When you are in the middle of night shifts and have only one night off - you really should keep the same schedule. Don't go to bed until at least 4 or 5am, and then sleep until about noon. It's ridiculous to try and sleep at night just for that one night, and you're going to really screw yourself up.

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm working a few weeks of nights during orientation, and i'm hoping to go to straight nights as soon as possible. I'm not a fan of the three shifts in a row kind of schedule...I personally can't physically function too well on that third shift (have some joint problems), so my preference is 2 on, 1 off. On that shift before my night off, I come home and try to stay up as long as possible- til at least noon- then i sleep and get up when i feel rested, usually til six or seven in the evening. then i get up and clean or do other stuff around the apartment, and typically go to bed between five and seven AM. that way, i can get more than enough sleep to go back to work that night, and I don't start dragging toward the end of my shift, which sometimes happens if I get up *too* early in the afternoon.

Of course, I'm a natural night person, so adjusting to it might be easier for me than some.

babyktchr, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2005

I don't understand the scheduling process you have to put up with. If you are working 7p...why do you have so many shifts in one week? I only work 3 per week, anything over that is considered overtime....in that week...not per pay. Perhaps things are just different in my neck of the woods. Seems to me your manager is punishing you for going to school instead of supporting you. I don't know how I would do it, especially if you have a family also. I barely get what I have to do done, working what I do, and only have one kid.

I am truly sorry this is happening to you. It is a shame. You are only asking for one night....YEESH

milenko · Sep 11, 2005

Hi there,

I am student as well, and I was in a similiar situation where I have one class day a fortnight, and I was working 3 nights 1 off and then 2 nights 1 off and barely had any time for study as night shift gets hectic, and after I wake up from night shift I feel buggered.

I went to my boss and basically laid it out, that since the schooling was coming out of my pocket, and I wanted to stay with them when I was finished then it may be a good idea to bend the roster, because if it was them paying for my tuition it would be a different ball game wouldnt it.

I now work 3 day shifts, and then 1 off and then I work 4 nights and then I have 6 whole days off to study, catch up and relax. Is there anyway you can get her th change your roster, I guess I feel that if they want you when you graduate then they will work with you and keep their investment instead of letting it walk out the door.

Milenko

I know there are other threads dealing with how to get adjusted to night shift but I've not seen this question addressed before.
My manager is (supposedly) trying to accomodate my one-day a week current class schedule. I work night shift and my unit does not self-schedule. Telling me that this is the only way she can accomodate me, here is the hell schedule I have been given: (all night shifts are 7p-7a)
work Sat, Sun, Mon nites, off Tues night, work Wed night, off Thurs (class day), then work Friday 1pm-1am, off Sat/sun, work Mon night then off 4 days, then start all over.
I never have a whole weekend off - my manager says that arranging the schedule is a pain and she has no plans to redo it for the next few months. End of discussion. I am going to bite the bullet and bear with it until spring when I plan to transfer/look elsewhere.
In the meantime, though, my dilemma, when I am off one night after working 3 in a row and then have to go back for one more, how do I sleep? And how do I get ready for that awful stretch??? I'm trying to drink water, take vitamins, all the sensible things, but am afraid I will make myself sick. Any help or support will be appreciated.
Makes me all the more determined to finish graduate school and get out of floor/hospital nursing for good!