Nights

Published

Well I start my first night shift today..... and yes I guess I should be asleep. I took a Tylenol #3 and am waiting for it to take effect. Anyone else working nights? I am very nervous. I'm afraid I won't be able to stay awake. I really want to work 3 in a row but our manager discourages it. So I will work tonight and then again Tuesday and Wednesday.

I am still technically on orientation but I've been taking patients totally on my own on days for a while know. One of preceptors for nights says I should spend the first couple of shifts just mirroring someone.... not real sure how I feel about that. I know I need to relearn a lot and we were so busy on days I was pretty much just thrown out there and told to go do.

Anyway.... any suggestions from those of you already on nights?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

FourBirds, Welcome to nights...There have been many posts on this, so if you want lots of information, go to the search function and put in your request. That said, it took me awhile to get accustomed to nights, I had to find what worked for me. I have found that I need to nap before my first night on, three or four hours. I work two days on, two days off, four days on, six days off. I love it. For me, I enjoy working the four in a row, it allows me to get into a set sleeping schedule. The two days warms me up :) I sleep in a darkened room, in a comfy bed, with a fan on. i try not to drink water a couple of hours before I go to bed. I usually come home in the am, peek at allnurses while I eat cerel for breakfast and go to bed. If i need to take something for sleep, I take tylenol pm...but I haven't needed it lately. Staying up at night has not been a problem for me, strange since I used to not be a night person at all. Anyway, good luck, take care of yourself and make sure that you get enough sleep...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Fourbirds!

How did your first night shift go?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Although I like the atomosphere--slow and mellow, working night is hard to me too. We rotate and I have to work at least 3 nights a month. If you work only night, it might be easier. To me, it's like getting bad jet-lag evey time I work night. It takes 2 days or more to bring myself back to normal. They say I should just take a nap when I get off from night shift, but I get so sleepy when I get off work like not even safe driving home.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I stay on 3rd even when I am off. Dr's orders and it really has been best for my health. How many ever days you choose to do in a row it is always best to get at leaste two days off in between. The first day does not count as you sleep it away. Protect your sleep ferociously 1st shift people do. I do enjoy the more quite and laid back enviroment of nightshift just be aware that when things go bad they go real bad and you have fewer people to deal with it. All that said it is still my pick at leaste for now which is a good thing as I have no choice anyway. Good luck and keep us posted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Good luck with everything. I don't work nights, but some of my co-workers that I graduated with say that they like it. They tell me that they don't have a problem staying awake. Just try to stay busy! ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

yep yep just started nights in the ER, i find myself disoriented to day and time when i wake up, but other than that nights work well.

also, on my days off, i stay up in the day with my son................... somewhow that first night back on nights isn't so bad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just got hired on for nights for when I graduate in December... I'm excited, but I'm sure its gonna be a rough few weeks..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics/Alzheimer's.

When I first started working night shift at the end of July, I really disliked it. I couldn't sleep more than 3 to 5 hours and couldn't nap in the evening. I cried sometimes before the shift, just because I was so tired and frustrated, and sometimes felt like a zombie during the shift. (Not good!) I ended up sleeping my days off away, I would sleep from 8 am until 6 pm, then go to bed at 10 pm and sleep until 10 or 11 am the next day. It was awful!

One day about one month ago, I decided to try to enjoy my new life schedule. Develop a new attitude. Plus I discovered Melatonin. I take it after I get home from work, before I eat breakfast. I go to this web site, eat my breakfast. By the time I'm done I'm sleepy. I can sleep without a problem from 8 am until 4 or 5 pm. If I wake up to go to the bathroom, I can get back to sleep easily. Before it would have been impossible. When I go to work now, I feel refreshed and alert. I love that normal feeling again. I really do feel great!

I still sleep during the day on my days off , until 3 or 4 pm and I go to bed at night around 2 or 3 am, my husband works evening shift, so we watch TV together and talk about our day. (I only get to see him two days each week right now, but he is talking about taking a night shift job, so we can be together more.) :)

If it wasn't for Melatonin, I may have quit a job I do love. I work in LTC and I love my residents. It's very busy, especially with all the new colds popping up, plus some of our residents are 100+ years young, but I love it! This is the first job I have really enjoyed in years. So I'm glad I didn't quit. I also love the extra time to do quilting, or bake cookies or spend time with my grown children, when they come by. I love the flexibility of my time and day, plus I get to work while my husband and younger son is sleeping. It is working well for me.

Good luck to you and the night shift!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am about to start my new job on January 19th, day/night rotation. I eventually want to go to straight nights. I don't think it will be too bad for me since I am a night owl. Oh, and don't let my name fool ya, I am graduating Dec 17th. and I will take boards in February!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

NO TYLENOL #3 DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT i WOULD SLEEP RIGHT THROUGH THE SHIFT IF I TOOK ONE.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment