Nightshift- sooo tired on off days

humglum, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2009

Nights is hard. It's such an unnatural schedule. I try to take a quick, 2 hour or so nap before going in on my first night. On my last night I go home and sleep until 1 or 2 pm at the latest (then I wake up and do energizing things like drink coffee and/or workout). Then I go to bed sort of early (before midnight usually) and wake up at a normal time. There are times when I am REALLY tired and end up sleeping until 4 or 5 pm and then I'm up all night long while I'm at home. That's no good.

Your body might need an adjustment period until you feel less tired on your off days. How long have you been on nights?

ozoneranger · Mar 3, 2009

I worked nights for 9 years. For me, it was easier to stay on the same schedule, (sleep days, up nights) while I was off work.

That was 12 years ago & I still have a tendency to stay up late & sleep in.

My husband (PA-C) works 12p to12a, in the ER, when he gets off, there is only one doc in the ER from 12a to 6a, so hubby never leaves until the waiting room is empty. Sometimes that's 2 or 3am.

Take tonight, I just heard life flight come over my house, so hubby is shipping one out, which is time consuming. In about 20 minutes, he'll send me a text, saying he's going to be late. I usually cook for him when he gets in, heck, if I didn't stay up, we'd never see each other.

EllaGirl · Mar 3, 2009

I just started...about a month. I also did something last week that might have thrown me off- I worked 5 in a row. I'm never doing that again! How long did it take you to adjust Humglum?

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2009

I've been on nights for almost a year now. I like nights, but I'm still in a depressed like state of mind that won't seem to lift; no past history of depression either. I heard on the NBC nightly news tonight about the health drawbacks of working night shift, which only seem to compound my worries. It's time to fight back and try to stay healthy. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#29472201

On my first day off, I sleep most all day and can still go back to bed at 10-12 pm. After all this sleep, I wake up early, like 5am, on the second day off and thus have my day schedule back. The sleeping is no problem. I just can't seem to get out of the house on my days off.

Wishing you happiness and wellness.

humglum, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2009

I just started...about a month. I also did something last week that might have thrown me off- I worked 5 in a row. I'm never doing that again! How long did it take you to adjust Humglum?

Probably a good few months. Maybe as long as 4. I started out feeling sort of zombielike during my days off but my problem is that I'm a light sleeper and I had trouble sleeping during the day. Now I have darkening shades, I go to sleep with the TV on, etc., and I can sleep longer and better so that I'm more alert during my wakeful hours.

You worked 5 12s in a row? Ouch!

BradleyRN · Mar 3, 2009

I never liked nights because even if you try to get up earlier on your days off, you still lose the first day because you just got off work and slept it away. When i worked nights, i lived at night. :)

britgirl37 · Mar 3, 2009

I tend to do a similar thing to humglum, only when I get up on my first day off around 1pm/2pm, as well as doing the caffeine/tea thing (hey I am british!), I usually go out in the afternoon to get some daylight and fresh air. I've been doing nights in the US for 6yrs now, my main problem used to be sleeping during the day, but now I have blackout curtains and use earplugs and don't usually have a problem. Personally, I also find working longer stretches gives me longer tiime to adjust (6 on, 8 off)

Wendy18 · Mar 3, 2009

All the hospitals here in Ohio have started rotation shifts days and nights. I applied for a position that I have always wanted. Pediatriacs at a big hospital here. I have an interview next week. I am very worried about my schedule getting "screwed up again". I worked nights for about 5 years finally I got a day position in a nursing home, however I am very burned out and there is no room for advancement. So I am willing to take anyshift to advance myself some. Has anyone worked a rotating night and day schedule and how did it work for you??

Schmoo1022 · Mar 3, 2009

I have been doing Tues and Thurs 7p-7a and Friday 11-7am for 7 months now and I am still not used to it. It is actually making me a very miserable person, but I am afraid to even look for another job. It is too scarey out there right now to be looking for a new job.

CHRISTOPHERSDAD · Mar 3, 2009

I work 6p to 6a Fri., Sat. & Sun. on Friday I get up at 05:30 to take my son to school and try to get a nap between 14:00 and 16:00. Most of the time I dont get the nap so I normally get back to bed at 08:00 sat. and sleep until around 13:30 when I wake up without an alarm other than my stomach that says it is time to eat. I then repeat the process from Sat. am on Sun. then work to Mon. AM and I will not sleep on mondays untill my normal time at 21:00 this lets me switch back to days with no problem. Well maybe just one problem if you do the math I only sleep 10 to 15 hrs out of 72.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 3, 2009

When I worked nights it seemed easier to keep pretty much the same schedule all the time. Of course, I did not have little kids in the house.

Be sure to get a check up and test your thyroid and blood sugar. Sometimes the upset in normal rhythms results in things getting out of wack. BTW, not everyone is an owl. Some are larks.