Night shifts and medical issues

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I have been a nurse for almost 4 years. All of which I have been on rotating day/night schedules. I work in the NICU. My first job was a smaller unit and the wait to get off of day/night rotating was insanely long- at least 10 years due to seniority. I have never been someone who does well with night shifts. I don't sleep well at all and I have a migraine disorder. When I was pregnant with my son 2 years ago I also ended up with hyperemesis and was hospitalized 3 different times- all after night shifts with intractable vomiting and severe dehydration. My doc said no more night shifts but when I brought this issue up with my manager she had zero empathy and told me my choices were to take a full blown leave or just deal with it. So I did. I left that job over 6 months ago and moved to a very large NICU with hopes I wouldn't have to wait long to get off of nights. I am currently working a .75 FTE (5 shifts every 2 weeks) 12 hour rotating day/night. My migraines have escalated greatly and a few weeks ago I had a seizure/hemiplegic migraine episode that bought me a ride in an ambulance and a hefty ER bill after working 3 12 hr night shifts in a row. I have never had symptoms like that before. My neurologist has also suggested that I get off of nights but I am looking at a 2-3 year wait before I am going to gain enough seniority to get off of them .I am going to request a meeting with my manager to talk to her about if I can get a note to be off of night shift or if I should be looking for a new job. I love where I work and I don't want to leave. But I also can't risk this happening while I am driving or alone with my toddler. Has anyone been medically written off of nights? I am scared that being in a union is going to hurt me due to being "contracted" day/night and seniority causing an issue. I think I am even more scared that she will agree and my coworkers will HATE me. I don't do well with conflict and hate to step on peoples toes. I know that there are nurses that are waiting to get off of nights and I want to be respectful of their seniority but I literally cannot do night shifts anymore. It's killing me. Thoughts?

Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

Have you tried explaining? Maybe you could go PRN while you wait for a day spot and take less night spots.

My hubby has horrible migraines too and he recently took a job where he does 7a - 7p and then the next week 7p-7a......it's hell on his sleep which makes his migraines worse.

Is it your lack of sleep or irregular sleep schedule giving you the migraines? Is there any way you could transform your bedroom into a peaceful, dark, quiet place and trick your body clock?

Just some ideas.

Specializes in retired LTC.

The medical need for OP to switch to day shift is NOW. There shouldn't be a selective waiting period for such a position to open up. So for OP to switch to days would require that an co-employee on that shift would have to be 'bumped' out. I doubt that would fly very well esp with the union. Would any of you out there tolerate being forced out of your position to 'reasonably accommodate' OP (one so new without any seniority)??? I don't think I would, even though I can sympathize for OP.

The problem is the availability of a day position which is so scarce. What options remain is for OP to switch to another unit with an open day position or to the 'float pool'. Whatever 'reasonable accommodation' can be made must be compliant with other considerations.

While OP is in a very undesirable position, she did move to the new job "with the hopes she wouldn't have to wait long to get off nights" (as she wrote). Sadly, it hasn't worked out to her advantage. Her employer is also in an undesirable position.

The way I see it, her options are limited in the she needs to look at new possibilities. I well understand being in a difficult position when health concerns are also present.

You were aware that you have difficulty tolerating night shifts when you were hired six months ago, but yet accepted the position because of an unrealistic hope of moving into a day shift position. Have you looked for nursing positions that do not require night shift?

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I got a medical note that I was not allowed to work past midnight per my doctor. It was for a legitimate medical condition, just to be clear. The non-night shift accommodation was considered "reasonable" under ADA rules.

HOWEVER, remember that the hospital has to accommodate you, but it doesnt mean that you will like how they do it. You might have to accept working on some other floor of the hospital. They are not obligated to accommodate you on your current floor specifically.

In my case, I was moved to the 3-11pm evening shift.

Other staff might have been more upset if they had noticed, but I was float team so nobody really paid attention to me. If you do choose to do this, I suggest you keep your mouth shut about the details to even your closest friends at work.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Being a float nurse is rather different. You accommodate units' needs doing this. Less likely others would be upset than when one is in a unit where people get the shift they choose based on seniority and when someone "jumps the line" will be seen, every day, working they shift they are waiting for. I second the idea of going per diem. That is a great way to work when you are able/can/want to, and not likely to ruffle so many feathers. That or go float like above. Much more likely to get what you need without as much pushback from other staff, jealous (again however unjustified it may seem to you). It would be win-win for you.

Remember, lots of nurses have serious (at least to them anyhow) issues working night shifts as said above. Most do, I would wager, as it affects normal sleep patterns and social lives. Other people waiting go to days are looking for relief, also. I would just try to remember that.

Meantime, try to get a grip on your migraine situation. It's very serious and could be triggered by other stressors, innate to nursing no matter what shift you work. I get the migraine pain and suffering. I don't have seizures, but they affect my life at least 2 times a week. I wish you well, really, I do.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

If you knew your condition is exhasterbated by nights, why would you take a job where you rotate & are required to work nights?

I have epilepsy & am bipolar, I know I can't work nights so I don't apply for rotating schedules or straight night shifts.

It sounds like you need to start looking for a day shift job. It may not be in the NICU but at least your health won't be compromised. Because there is no guarantee your manager will be able to switch you to days or that you won't upset a bunch of your coworkers & you will stay long after your move to days.

You need to do what is best for your health & your family.

I just can't imagine that the other nurses wouldn't be understanding towards your medical issues. If they give you grief over being moved to days, and are aware why , don't mind them. I remember that a nurse that started on nights with me was a complete mess on nights. I often saw her crying and looking like a mess (I'm not aware that she had medical issues but nights just didn't work for her ). She got moved to days almost immediately where she was a completely different person and I havent heard anyone complain about it. We are not all the same. Hope for your sake you get moved. Sounds awful for you right now and frankly unsafe.

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