Nightshift vent

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, Ortho.

....I need to vent. I HATE NIGHT SHIFT!!!!!! :devil::devil::devil:

I love my job or at least I did when I started (3 years ago)... but the amount night shift changes a person is horrible... I barely sleep when I work and I'm miserable overall now...

I'm tired... and I'm tired of hating my job - I know I would love it if it wasn't for nights..

Any advice would be great!

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Specializes in Cardiovascular, ER.

Did you speak to your manager about switching to days?

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, Ortho.

I have.. but in this tough economic time there is really no movement in our hospital... I've looked into other local hospitals and of course no one is hiring... I'm happy to have a job.. and i do LOVE nursing.. It's just nights are so horrible.. :(

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

If you really can't sleep, you need to look at getting a light sleeping aid to help you. You also need to look at your whole lifestyle and change it.

Do u work just nights or rotate around to other shifts? U didn't say.

Anyway when I've worked nights, I ensured I got exercise, even if it was just walking around the shops and shopping after I finished work. Make sure u take Vit D & Vit C, or at least get out in the sun 4 a while. I always had a good nutritious meal b4 sleeping and when I got up, no junk food (that makes it hard with cooking but I'd use a crock pot with a timer, or cook something when I got home). I also made soups and stews I could freeze and defrost for nights on my days off.

I always had a warm shower after work, that helped me sleep. Also look at your room, is it dark enough? Do u put a sign on the door so no-one interrupts you? R u cool/warm enough? Do u need a new bed maybe?

If you really can't do nights, maybe quit if that's an option and go thru an agency. Then u can choose ur own shifts.

I also tried to see nights as a challenge instead of a drag, but maybe you've got 2 the point where u just can't do it anymore. I found as I got older I could not do different shifts, such as late/earlies as I actually fell asleep at the wheel when driving. It got to the point where I was having to get expensive taxis (cabs) 2 work cos driving became impossible on those shifts. Sometimes u have 2 look at your life and say I need such and such changes. I'm getting older now and am slowly moving out of nursing, starting a new job soon, and I accept I'm older now and can't bounce back as much as a younger person - it doesn't bother me acknowledging that. Let the young ones race around a hectic ED/ER for 8 hours, doing ECGs, pg & UA tests & the million other things expected of us nurses! Most times I enjoy it, but as u get older ur priorities change.

How old r u if you don't mind me asking and how long have u been a nurse?

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, Ortho.

I'm 25 - been doing nights for over 3 years.. I do three 12 hour shifts a week - whatever the schedule me for.. I ask to have them try to have them in a row but surprise surprise that never happens... I get out of work typically around 8am - get home by 8:45, try to eat something then get to bed by 9:30... My room has room darkening shades so there isn't even a slight drop of sunshine in my room. I also use a fan to help with noises. No one is home during the day. I try to sleep as much as I can but I'm wide awake by 2pm... Shower, play with dogs, make dinner, etc. I leave my house at 5:30 to be there for 6:30 pm (typically charge RN so I have to gather stuff).

I feel like I should be able to handle night shift without being so miserable after 3 years.. I want to enjoy it again... and I did for the first year - two, this past year has been really hard though.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

TeleRN, you might be like me. I usually wake up about 5am everyday, but I make myself sleep more when I'm going onto nights or afternoons. I just can't go to work and be tired. I reckon u need more sleep, don't know how u survive with as little as ur getting. I need at least 9-10 hours sleep or I just can't function. I take a light sleeping aid sometimes.

Can't u have another talk with ur NUM and tell them this is really getting u down? I myself would get supporting Dr's notes as well to show them. You're probably pumped full of adrenaline that's why u don't sleep late. I've also done relaxing pilates and youga @ home b4 I've gone to sleep and that can help too.

I'd make an app't to go see ur NUM and explain what is happening.

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

I worked nights for 8 months. After enough close call accidents when driving home from classes 1 hr and half away. Also the irritability from constant phone calls during the daytime from people wanting you to run errands, neighbors cutting grass, and the tv on in the other room my bed and I are now best friends :). Go to day shift!

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Specializes in Emergency.

I started on my dream floor (onco) two years ago, on nights.

I'm leaving in a couple weeks, to go to a different floor on days. There was no nights to days movement on onco & it was really starting to take a toll on my health & relationships. Even sleep aids weren't helping me. I hate to leave, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Get a sleeping pill from your doctor that should help you cope and get enough sleep!

Also schedule yourself 2 or 3 days in a row, on off is a nightmare for the night shift that will really mess with your sleep and your life!

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I'm 25 - been doing nights for over 3 years.. I do three 12 hour shifts a week - whatever the schedule me for.. I ask to have them try to have them in a row but surprise surprise that never happens... I get out of work typically around 8am - get home by 8:45, try to eat something then get to bed by 9:30... My room has room darkening shades so there isn't even a slight drop of sunshine in my room. I also use a fan to help with noises. No one is home during the day. I try to sleep as much as I can but I'm wide awake by 2pm... Shower, play with dogs, make dinner, etc. I leave my house at 5:30 to be there for 6:30 pm (typically charge RN so I have to gather stuff).

I feel like I should be able to handle night shift without being so miserable after 3 years.. I want to enjoy it again... and I did for the first year - two, this past year has been really hard though.

What else has gone on that has changed in your life? (don't have to answer here , obviously:)). I'm not a big fan of sleeping pills, but sometimes they are helpful for temporary use, to at least catch up on some sleep, and maybe reset your 'night' clock.

I worked nights for years. In order to get my shifts in a row, I offered to work weekends. It was GREAT!!! No scheduled surgeries, no management, no babysitting docs who can't find their way out of a bag (not many of those, but enough to take up WAY too much time), etc.... it is a sacrifice- but it also gave me time off when everybody else was at work-and I knew my schedule months in advance. It could be a temporary fix...:)

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Even with the bad economy and everything else, I can't believe there isn't someone willing to trade shifts with you for the extra shift differential.

I'm seriously considering the NS due to the extra money, but at my age (47), I'm not sure I could handle it.

Good luck to you TeleRN.

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I used to have to get up at 4am when I worked in a bakery for 2 years, and for the life of me I could not get a good night's sleep if I tried to go to bed early enough to get a good amount of sleep. But you should try melatonin..boy that stuff knocked me out, and it worked at least 6-8 hours. And it didn't make me do crazy things, like I've heard ambien does haha

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