No One Understands

[AlmostThere19]

My family doesn't understand how much being a nurse takes out of me. I have to work tonight, and I've had to spend all day today and yesterday helping my grandmother prepare our family's huge annual Thanksgiving feast. She can't do it herself and I don't see anyone else volunteering to help her. I live with my parents, and I also had to spend a lot of this morning doing all the housework (including cleaning up after 8 cats) because they won't do any of it. Do they not understand I'm going to work tonight to work my tail off until 7am, and I've had no sleep whatsoever today even though normal night shift people sleep all day before heading into work? I know I'm 23 and the youngest in the family, but I can't do everything. This is ridiculous, and I'm just so frustrated.

[Daisy4RN]

Why do you live with your parents and what is the understanding you have with them re: living arrangements (time frames, independance within the home), money (rent, utilities etc), and household chores. Sounds like you need a sit down with them if you need to live there, but agree with others that maybe it is time for your own space. Dont expect people to get how hard, stressful, and exhausting nursing can be, they just wont be able to grasp it unless they walk in your (our) shoes. You need concrete boundaries for a happy living situation, your parents will probably be happier also. Good Luck!

[emilymorgan, ASN]

I'm sorry about your situation ? I can't imagine still living with my parents at 23. Honestly, they expect a lot out of you which is not fair as you are a professional working adult. My advice would be to move out and if you can't move on your own, get a roommate. If your parents or grandparents really do need the help, pre-arrange a day every week (or however often) to help them with whatever it is they will need.

If your grandmother/parents have other children/grandchildren, enlist them to help out, too. It's not fair you're the only one doing this.

[myoglobin, ASN, BSN, MSN]

The bottom line is that you "must" have a regular sleep schedule if you are to be healthy working night shifts. Thus, someone who worked 7p to 7am should probably sleep somewhere along the lines of 8AM until 4PM in the same way that someone who worked day shift might sleep from 11PM until 0700. Having a regular, adequate sleep schedule is a non starter, and may be even more important (or certainly as important) as proper diet and exercise to being a safe, healthy nurse.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

I echo everyone else. Not sleeping and going to work like that is a danger to your patients too. Time to fly the nest.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

Move out. Find a flat share. I lived with "strangers" for many years. Most become friends. Some are oddballs that at least give you good stories to talk about with friends.