Struggling to maintain happiness on the night shift

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2009

Nights are isolating and I think you are probably responding to your shift.

Day jobs tend to be offices, amb surg, that kind of thing. And they pay less.

Good luck.

aunegis · Jul 20, 2009

Hi-

Hang in there - first of all, you are a new grad and I think all of us experience the 'real world blues' out of the gate. Secondly, night shift is hard to adjust to and throws our rhythms off, so try to be patient. I think what you need to do is put your time in on this shift with the hope of tranferring to something with better hours. New grads are always bottom feeders when it comes to shift work and you won't be a 'relatively new grad' for long! Jobs that would fit what you described would be clinic, outpatient radiology, etc. but the pay is usually lower. Good luck and hang in there - I don't think your frustration is about nursing as much as it is about your schedule and the co-worker whose a thorn in your side!

silentRN · Jul 20, 2009

I experience the same thing at times, but I seem to go through cycles. On my days off I like to get out of town. I tried working 3 on 1 off 3 on 7 off. That was the best schedule that I could ever ask for. I felt refreshed and I was never burned out. But, I'm going back to school now and I just transferred to the ICU so that schedule won't be suitable for awhile.

Try putting a transfer into a different unit when you can. You need to work on a unit where you actually like being at. The co-workers I work with are great and makes the night fun. You just need to find that spot.

I usually start getting depressed when I work a bunch of overtime shifts because I'll be up all night and sleep all day. Imagine the winter when I wouldn't see any daylight except for my drive home.

Things will get better. I've noticed when you put a goal in your life, something you are working to achieve, it makes the nights a lot better because you realize there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm in the RN to BSN program so that keeps me excited and focused on other things besides work. I also transferred to the ICU just to get a different experience and have a new scenery around. The past unit I was on I worked for 14 months and I decided to get out. That's what is great about nursing.

-David

PAERRN20 · Jul 20, 2009

I love 3-11 shift. You get to best of both worlds. Sleep in late, but you still get off at time where you can go out with friends if you want too. Also, 3-11 is a shift that seems to be friendly and open to new grads. I work both days and evenings and I like evenings because the support is still there (respiratory therapy, PT, OT till around 5ish) but you don't see administrators for the most part. Maybe it would be a good fit for you. Good luck!

Diaper, RN · Jul 21, 2009

I've just started working in night shift and I'm suprised by how supportive my coworkers are. We all helped each other out and they always bring food and share with everyone. It's almost like having a potluck every night. The unit secretary also orders Starbucks for us. I suggest you to talk to your manager and coworkers and see if you can do something fun such as having a mini-potluck at night :)

Good luck

LaurenBoog · Jul 21, 2009

Amalbon,

You are not alone when it comes to feeling out of sorts on night shift. I worked night shift for a year as a new grad. The money was great, but the feelings of isolation and stress affected not only me but also my relationships. I would come exhausted, only to wake up and worry about the upcoming shift for several hours before work. I'm not sure how much of that was new grad anxiety, or just my response to night shift. The night shift on my floor was chronically understaffed, so I felt a lot of guilt when patient's didn't get cared for properly. I was always afraid that a patient would go bad, and I wouldn't handle things properly because of lack of support staff/managers/rapid response team.

I tried to use working night shift to my advantage. I used the "down time" (if there was any) of night shift to study up on patient's labs and medical history, so that if an emergency happened I would be prepared to call the MD. I learned a lot from reading the H & P's and progress notes. There was really no one my age on my shift, either, but I really leaned on a charge nurse that had 20+ years experience and was happy to anwer my questions about her many experiences. I also bonded with a newer nurse, a few decades older than I was, and we would make a point to help each other out or joke about being new and inexperienced.

I transferred to day shift when there was a spot open, and I have been working days for about a year. The day shift is staffed better, with more experienced nurses and techs. I have actually gotten to know the MDs and support staff, and I feel comfortable talking to them about concerns (knowing that I'm not waking them up in the middle of the night). I have energy for exercising on my days off, and I can sleep better at night.

I guess what I'm saying is: your feelings are normal, try to hang in there. I've been where you are, but it does get better. Don't let age hold you back from getting to know your co-workers--you'd be surprised how much offering to help will get you in the door with other nurses. Good luck on your journey!

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2009

Get evaluated for a sleep disorder -- I found I had sleep apnea after I went to the doc complaining of not being able to sleep more than 3-4 hours, urinary frequency only during sleep, cranky, depressed, unhappy. Doc sent me to a sleep clinic and now I sleep fine, and my mental outlook went back to its normal state...whatever normal is....

kcochrane · Jul 21, 2009

First of all, I don't think the night shift is for everyone. I myself love it. I sleep during the day when everyone is at work or school and I'm up in the evening with everyone. By the time I leave for work at 10 everyone is usually going to bed.

So try sleeping during the day instead of "sitting around". While your friends are at work, you will be sleeping and ready to go in the evening. Except on weekends I have to imagine that your friends have to get in bed by a certain time for work?? Athough I do remember my days of getting only 2-3 hours at times in order to party.

amalbon · Jul 21, 2009

Thanks for your responses. I guess I just worry that my discontent is with nursing in general and not just the night shift. I'm trying to remember that I do have a good job, leadership is acutally really good here, and the other nurses (even if they aren't ever going to be my "friends") are pretty good at answering my questions. I've just really had a hard time with this new schedule affecting the rest of my life so much. Not knowing when/if I will ever get to days is making there seem like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I don't want to feel like I chose the wrong career path.

carleah · Aug 9, 2009

How are you doing on the night shift? Are you adjusting to the schedule yet?

amalbon · Aug 10, 2009

I go through good weeks and bad weeks. I still feel like I really need to get off the night shift though. I just don't think it's for me. But, trying to find new ways to cope and also making the most of the time I am not at work.

I'm worried though. My unit is okay, but I would like to get onto a different kind of unit soon. But, I'm sure that's going to mean staying on nights, and going back to the bottom of the totem pole, in terms of getting a day shift.

As always, advice and stories and experience are always appreciated!