Night shifts and medical issues

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2017

You need to take care of yourself now, before things get so bad, that you might end up on permanent disability. I have migraine, and I've been lucky to only have 3 hemiplegic migraine in my life. Thank the goddess. I understand your concerns.

I am currently on medical leave for severe asthma. I started getting sick in may of last year, would take a few days off of work then return until I had another exacerbation. Wash, rinse, repeat. My firs thought was always "what about my coworkers" when I was told I had to take a couple of weeks off work to recover. I never truly did recover, fought going on medical leave until my working nearly killed me. IT's not worth it. I loved my job, I loved my co-workers (no, it wasn't perfect but it was decent) and it was very hard for me to leave. And yes I still feel guilty. Sometimes, though, you have to be selfish (for the lack of a better term). Think about your family, your children, yourself and do what is best for you physically. (And emotionally).

I wish you the best of luck and I hope you are able to get your migraines under control. Take care of yourself.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Mar 20, 2017

I don't believe you can get a note to be taken off of night shift, unless you have something written in your contract. Regardless you need to take care of you. Start looking for another job. I cannot imagine doing rotating shifts. That's got to be awful. I'm doing it while in school, I can't imagine trying to do it for years as my career. Good luck OP.

LovingLife123 · Mar 20, 2017

You can talk to them and see what they say, but my guess is going to be you have to find another job. You need to take care of yourself. You may not be in a NICU but finding some good health and mental sanity in another unit on days will be worth it.

MNNICU, RN · Mar 20, 2017

A coworker told me that there was an employee that used to work there that was able to get written off of nights but it "didn't go over well with the other employees" and she eventually left. So I think it's possible. But I haven't spoken with my manager yet. I am kind of hoping for something to get magically better but even after changing medications numerous times this isn't getting much better. I know I need to start looking for other jobs and I have been somewhat. I guess we will see what happens. Thanks for the advice.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2017

Say you do get approved for day shift based on medical needs, and say your colleagues are aware of your medical issues... either through discussing it or answering the question "How did YOU get straight days?" Say they are aware that you had a seizure and hemiplegia due to a migraine, precipitated by night shifts. Those migraines are causing injury to your brain.

Now say it doesn't go over well. If they are really more concerned about their comfort than about your LIFE, they are vile human beings and should be ashamed of themselves. My toddler has more empathy than that.

If they can't accommodate your needs, I would absolutely look for a day position. Your safety is more important than any job.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 21, 2017

A coworker told me that there was an employee that used to work there that was able to get written off of nights but it "didn't go over well with the other employees" and she eventually left. So I think it's possible. But I haven't spoken with my manager yet. I am kind of hoping for something to get magically better but even after changing medications numerous times this isn't getting much better. I know I need to start looking for other jobs and I have been somewhat. I guess we will see what happens. Thanks for the advice.

Well you can bet your bippy it won't go over well with them if YOU Do this, either. I guess, if you can swing it, go for it. But be prepared for some really bad feelings from others who have waited their turn in seniority. A lot of people have various problems working nights, poor sleep, eating problems, headaches (I had migraines too) and will resent your jumping the line ahead of them to get on days via a medical note.

I suffer migraines; I have empathy. But you agreed to work a shift and it's very hard to jump seniority even for medical conditions. A LOT of people have claimed similar situations here on NOC and ended up just quitting and getting new jobs to save their health and sanity. If yours depend on this, then you, too, should look for other employment. There ARE day jobs, maybe not in your chosen specialty (I had to change specialties) but they exist. Go for one of them.

Your best bet is to try and find a day shift job elsewhere.

NotYourMamasRN · Mar 21, 2017

Reasonable accommodation will be your best friend if your boss is difficult.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 21, 2017

Reasonable accommodations are notoriously hard to justify and get. Not that you should not try, but it won't be easy. And you will find push-back and resentment (however unjustified) from others who have spent years waiting their turn to be on straight days. If you can handle that, then go for it.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 21, 2017

And I can't understand any unit forcing people to rotate shifts. That is horrible. I could not work like that either.

Sour Lemon · Mar 21, 2017

Everybody has problems and most people think of their own problems as a priority. If you can't wait your turn or work the shifts you were hired to work, I second looking for a different position.

I wonder if a per-diem position might be a good fit for you since you'd get to choose the days and shifts you're willing to work? I get horrible migraines switching between days and nights ...and although I still do it (caring for my baby during the week and working overnight on weekends), the headaches are a bit more manageable because of my predictable and consistent schedule.

MunoRN, RN · Mar 21, 2017

I would say you need to balance how much you enjoy working on this unit with the benefits of looking out for your health. The health effects of night shift on you would appear to be more immediate and apparent than in most nurses, but keep in mind working night shift is a significant health risk to all nurses, it's a known cause of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. As a result, arguing for reasonable accommodation isn't likely to get very far since skipping over someone else's place in line to get off nights or rotating shifts would negatively affect that employee, which would make the accommodation unreasonable.