Suffering thru night shift position for your kids sake

Published

Any nurses out there working nights for the sake of your kids and having a hard time?.

I'm a new RN (9 months out) who took a 4/5 night shift position because I wanted to be there for the sake of my school aged kids. There were no day shifts available, only PMs. I'm a single Mom, so PM's were out of the question as my kids would never see me if I worked PM's. I have someone stay with the kids at night.

I was lucky to be one of the few chosed for this new grad L&D training program, so at the time it seemed like a good move. I figured I'd get used to nights- Not happening. I cannot sleep longer than 2 hours at a time. I'm feeling crummy and grumpy.

I could get a day shift position in Med-Surg, however I'm terrified to work Med-Surg. Sure is nice to work with only 1-2 patients in L&D:uhoh3: !

Anyone else in a similar position?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hello. i have also had to "suffer" through night shift, but have been doing it longer. when i left my first job (all day shift) because of having to move, i was shocked to hear there was nothing but night positions left (in ICU - I refuse to work med-surg b/c i have never done it!) not any hospital had a single day shift. where i had left there were plenty of day shift positions.

so i had no choice. not because of children though, i don't have any.

long story short, i did end up getting used to it. it took a long while but you will get used to it. i work 3- 12 hr shifts 7p-7a. later they offered me half days and half nights. but by that time i had been used to nights i stayed nights. give it some more time.

also, why are you not sleeping? if it's because the kids keep you awake that's one thing. i can't help you there. but if they are at school and you do have some time to sleep let me offer some helpful hints. these are from seasoned night shifters. make sure the room is pitch black. i have tension rods with (and this sounds cheesy) dark green vinyl tablecloths with FLANNEL BACKS that i bought at walmart. total costs for 2 windows was like 6 bucks. drape the tablecloth over the tension rods and put them on each of your windows. that way you don't have to invest in darkening shades that i hear don't work anyway, and you can very easily take the tension rods down when you are not working...

also i take 50mg benadryl (over the counter, "sleep aid") but all it is is benadryl. not all the time but when i know i have a good 6 hrs of sleep coming my way and i need some "help". try soft earplugs too. i also hear a fan works.

i find that night shift is nicer all around. in both hospitals that i have worked nights in, the people are nicer, you never need to find help to turn your patients and you don't have annoying dr's to put up with. it's quieter most nights and it boils down to just you taking care of your patient. not taking care of social workers, dieticians, physicians, PT/OT. no getting them out of bed, no dinners to set up. it's fantastic!! maybe you can try 12 hour nights, that way you'd only have to suffer 3 nights a week not 5. good luck to you. just give it some more time.

-erin

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I found I preferred nights myself in time. I also worked nights because of family; PM's didn't work for us (me and hubby drifted apart). My hints for sleeping during the day:

Turn all phones off and disable doorbells. Keep a beeper JUST for kiddo emergencies.

No caffeine at work after a certain hour...mine was 3 am.

Noise machine with soothing sounds, or soft soothing music as 'white noise'..

Fan on for cool air circulating (coolness helped me snuggle in)

DARK room w covered windows.

Warm bath. Usually after I'd done all the above and settled in the bath I was falling asleep.

If THIS didn't do it within 30 minutes (90% of time it worked) I took Benedryl 50 mg.

Good luck. Most people adapt to nights out of need or choice. Only a very few cannot adjust, but if you are one of them you may need to look into other childcare options, or another position.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.

We have to rotate. That can be extremly hard. My last postion every 3rd month was nights.I was a mess. I am not a night person. They are a special breed. When I first got a divorce I went to weekend nights for a few months until I could get my bearings I worked 12 hour shifts every weekend, More money base pay wise plus bonus pay for working night weekend on top of that a weekend diff. The kids went with dad friday eve until sunday afternoon. Friday nights I was junk ,Sat I slept all day. Sunday I crashed . I would pick up an 8 hour day shift if money really got tight.It was hard when the kids were young and I was newly single mum. But it gets better. Can you go to 12 hour shifts? Alot of places still baylor a weekend night nurse. It s a temp fix but it will save you from going nuts which is what noc shift does to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am considering night shifts myself. But what I'm wondering is, can you work nights forever or does it eventually take a toll on your own health? What kind of nurses work nights in your hospital? Are there more younger ones or are there as many older ones that have worked nights for many years?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I did nights for about 12 years total. Hubby worked days and then we were both home part of the evening. I didn't like it much, but would do it again for my kids.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

when I had taken a night-shift position, even the HR staff sounded apprehensive about offering it to me. I took it, happy to have the offer (it had come at a time when it seemed like no one was hiring RNs). I found myself to be comfortable and happy. Most of the time I was able to sleep during the day, sometimes woke after about 4 hrs sleep. Just turn off the phone, and keep the room darkened. And eat properly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I worked nights on my first job, and I must say I rather enjoyed it (neurovasc floor). But, my husband is a paramedic and worked nights also, so the only time we saw eachother was from half opened annoyed eyes as one would turn on the lights to go to bed...LOL! (let alone one try to have relations! Oh man no way I was so not for that! But it is very important!!!!).

Finally, the job became too much and was so badly managed that I left. I spent the next 6 months in turmoil trying to find another job that fit my schedule with my school aged children and husbands horrid work hours! Finally my hubby said I could work part-time if I needed to (and I am the one that brings more pay...what a sacrifice..but he needed me to be his wife and mother more!).

I finally got a part time position, work about 3 days a week 8 hour days and still make the bills with no problem as he works full time (but he loves his job..LOL!). Things have been great...but I did have to go through living heck to get it...lots of disapointments, lots of doubt in finding a job that would cater to my needs, and so on!

I felt my family was worth it, and my family is the top rung of my ladder of priorities! Now I am a wife, mother and nurse on the side...and I love it!!!!!!

Good luck to you....take those helpful hints on sleeping during days..those are awesome! (also heard about sunglasses when you drive home to stop your melanin production as you drive home..but in Oregon...yeah right, wouldn't be able to see! LOL!).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Where I work there are no 12 hour shift options or baylor shifts. And Labor and Delivery is unique in that family, lab people, md's are all there whether it's day or night; well not necessarily the md's, unless they have a couple of laboring patients.

My sleeping situation (don't laugh, I know you will)= I sleep in my walk in closet. It's pitch black. I have a twin bed in there. It's big, a architectural mistake of sorts. I have a fan.

I take occasional ambien, benedryl, valerian, melatonin, you name it, i've tried it. I stop drinking caffeine after midnight. I stop drinking liquids by 4am. I am asleep and in bed by 830 or 9am (getting kids to school, work until 730a) and then have to up by 230p to retrieve kids. I first wake up at 11 then 12, then 1, etc. The one time I slept for 3 hours was when I came home and had a cup of chardonney before bed, but I don't want to become an alcholic for sake of this job, thank you very much.

I find my sleep is especially bad the week before my period. I wake up every hour. I'm seeing my doctor next week, maybe there is a connection, I'm desperate at this point.

And, to answer one of your comments, yes, long term night shift work is horrible for your health. It ages you, big time. I was shocked to hear 2 ladies I worked with (10 year night shift veterans) were the same age as I was; they look at least 15 years older than me. I am not exaggerating or being boastful, really.

But hey, you do what you have to do. Especially when you are a single mom.

How many of you in specialities, where day shifts are scarce, switched to a general medical floor to get a day shift?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

You are SO RIGHT with the age look! OMGoodness, they did look old for their ages!!!!

I didn't even consider the day shift in med surg or anything like it. I knew the med surg grind during the day time hours as a student and a small stent as an RN and hated it...I liked my 8-9 patients at nocs, not having to do it all during the day with that many (even our day nurses looked aged!).

But I left hospital...felt it was a better choice for me, and although assisted living isn't that much better, at least I can do a day shift on part time :).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
And, to answer one of your comments, yes, long term night shift work is horrible for your health. It ages you, big time. I was shocked to hear 2 ladies I worked with (10 year night shift veterans) were the same age as I was; they look at least 15 years older than me. I am not exaggerating or being boastful, really.

What do you think makes them age faster?? Is it only the sleep depriviation? Because if that's the case then anybody who can sleep well during the day should be fine?! (I don't have a problem with sleeping during the day. I can sleep anywhere, anytime. Just give me a big comfy pillow and a blanket. :yawn: :) ) Or do you think that there are other factors that play a role in the aging process of night shift workers?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What makes us age more rapidly. I believe it's a combination of your circadian clock being off (the reality is, even if you say you can sleep anywhere, anytime, studies show daytime sleep is not as good in quality), the eating habits maybe...and who knows, I think there is something about the ventilation at night. My face, nares, everything is so darn dry. Another common thread I see among night shifters is fat, many are overweight. If they arn't overweight they usually smoke. When I see articles about the detrimental effects of night shift I try to not even read it. Right now it's a necessity. If I start dwelling too much I'll quit. It's my worry wart nature.:uhoh21:

What do you think makes them age faster?? Is it only the sleep depriviation? Because if that's the case then anybody who can sleep well during the day should be fine?! (I don't have a problem with sleeping during the day. I can sleep anywhere, anytime. Just give me a big comfy pillow and a blanket. :yawn: :) ) Or do you think that there are other factors that play a role in the aging process of night shift workers?
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion