nights are killing me!

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hi,

i have been doing nights now as a new grad for about 4weeks. I love the pace at night and have no problem staying awake during my shift or when i go to bed the next day. The problem is i am all ways tired, fuzzy feeling! And i am cranky all the time. I am just not able to get to the gym like i use to either. I sleep at my inlaws away from my young son who would wake me if i sleept at home. I usually go to bed btw 8-9am and get up btw 3-4. But i wake up groogie and could keep sleeping. I even am able to go back to bed that night by 9 and sleep till the next day. But still tired even after all that! any adv or suggestions....i dont think my marriage or my son can handle this sleeepy cranky unhappy mama!

Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

something i did that helped me when i worked nights was to go to bed by 9 and get back up about 2:30 or 3:00 pm. i would go back to bed about 7:00 or 8:00 and sleep for another 60-90 minutes, get up, take a quick shower and head out. some of my friends who also worked nights thought my system was weird, but it worked for me. sleeping one stretch left me grumpy, tired, forgetful, and unable to concentrate.

kathy

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

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Specializes in Adult Acute Care Medicine.

I SO respect night shift.

I work eves and do not think I could handle the complete switch in schedule....especially with young children!

Night shift nurses will be more helpful in giving input...but hang in there...

our bodies are amazing at adjusting.

And if (in a few more weeks) you truly feel that this is not the correct decision/shift for you and your family, I would suggest trying to change your schedule...(I know easier said than done)...

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I did nights for 5 years--to manage childcare. Had to.

Such is life..........

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Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.
Waaaaaaah. Suck it up.

Like you're the only one that has trouble with 3rd's/nights.

4-weeks!!! You haven't even given your body time to acclimate.

Give it 4-5 years and move up to days like the rest of us.

Geesch, give the girl a break! No need for sarcastic or unsympathetic remarks! :no:

Some people never get used to nights. 7p-7a seems to work better for some (like me), especially if you can lump as many together as possible. I do agree that you need to give it time, at least six months to a year, to develop a routine. But if you are still having trouble, consider a different shift. Good luck!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I worked nights - always 3 12's grouped together for 15 years. Am not a real night person, but had to do it for childcare reasons.

I never got used to it, but made it work: on my first night I would nap for 3-4 hours during the day, go to work, sleep the next day from 8:30am to 4 pm, do the evening things we gotta do with a family and start again.

I turned off my phone, made it very clear to everyone that my cell phone was for emergencies only!!!! and had dark shades on the window.

As to less then helpful posters, just as in real life, sometimes it is best to just ignore.

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I have been on nights for 13 months and I never got used to it. It was the only job offer I got as a new grad so I took it. I feel like I've lost a year of my life however. I am happy to have my year of med-surg but it came with a big change in the quality of my life. You might get used to it eventually. I work with a dozen nurses who love nights. In my case I am thrilled to be starting a new job second shift at a hospital closer to home. Only two more nights for me!:yeah:

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

I've been working 7P-7A for about 3 months now as a new grad and love the pace too. The key to making it work for me is having a consistent schedule. I don't think I could ever work 3 in a row, and my unit manager advises against it, so what I do is 2 days on, 2 days off, rotating as such. I often sleep from 9-3 on my first day off after a night on and then nap in the evening and try to get myself back on a normal schedule. I know some people would advise against it, but I haven't really had too many problems. My biggest issue lies in wanting to do things, like running errands when I get out of work and then getting caught up in putting things in front of sleep.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

another thing that made a huge difference in how i felt was to stay properly hydrated. i drank lots of water and crystal light lemonade and nibbled on walnuts, almonds, cashews, almonds, granola bar bites i made simply by cutting up the bars. now there are granola clusters. i also ate cut up apples and sectioned oranges. i did the cutting up at home because that way, i could grab a bite on the way by. i also packed jello cups for more fluid on the run. i'd also put dry cereal (often special k) in a baggie to munch.

kathy

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

I generally only sleep about 6 hours a day, and do my nights all in a row. Go to bed at 8:30-9am, wake up at around 2:45p right before my kids get home from school. It gives me about 30 mins of quiet time to get my head together (they get home at 3:15p). I spend a few hours with them, then I'm off to work. Once a week I flipflop my schedule (wake up at 6am, since I work a PRN day shift position as well).. It's not really that tough - it just takes planning and it takes self discipline to make yourself wake up, stay up, or go to bed at the times that you previously planned out.

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