Working nights is killing me.

Hoozdo, ADN · Jul 16, 2009

Are you switching up your schedules on your nights off? I avoid that. The earliest I go to bed on a night off is 3 AM. I could handle "flip-flopping" in my early 20s, but not now. There has to be an awfully important reason for me to stay up during the day time.

Today it was about 116 degrees where I live. Who wants to be awake for that anyway? I have to say, I love night shift.

blondnursey · Jul 16, 2009

i also have done mostly nights for years. i do not flip my days night over when i am off, even if its for a week.

i also get enough sleep. everybody knows if they wake me up early something better be on fire.

make sure you get uninterrupted sleep! use earplugs or a mask to get better sleep.

i have found it easier to stay up for a few hours in the morning when i get home, rather than try to get up early.

that way if i have to make an appt, i try to get the first one of the day.

i love nights......

Ruthiegal · Jul 16, 2009

i also have done mostly nights for years. i do not flip my days night over when i am off, even if its for a week.
i also get enough sleep. everybody knows if they wake me up early something better be on fire.
make sure you get uninterrupted sleep! use earplugs or a mask to get better sleep.
i have found it easier to stay up for a few hours in the morning when i get home, rather than try to get up early.
that way if i have to make an appt, i try to get the first one of the day.
i love nights......

What this poster said.... getting enough sleep is a big part of the fit, my husband is the gatekeeper, and he won't wake me unless it is truly an emergency...I have some darkening window treatments, dark towels could work in a pinch. Hang in there and if you don't adjust soon, look for something else. You can't live your daytime life all day and work all night without paying the consequences, I also make appointments as early as possible to avoid breaking up sleep time. I know sometimes it is unavoidable but a day here and there isn't a deal breaker, everyday would be. Ok I need to get going to bed I just got off my shift.

Good Luck! :yawn:

want2beanurse2 · Jul 16, 2009

Sorry, I cant offer any help. I have been working nights for 3 years, the first year was FT 8 hour shifts now even though I only work PT maybe 3 days 8 hour shifts I can honestly say it hasnt gotten any better! I'm 32 with a 12 and 6 year old. I am the lightest sleeper ever, I hear everything! I do have an opaque blanket over my blinds to darken the room but working nights it seems like I never get that "good sleep" that everyone else gets when the rest of the world shuts down at night and all you hear are the crickets. Trying to sleep after working nights is equivalent to just taking a nap. Theres the garbage truck, the landscapers, the neighborhood children that are allowed outside before noon either bouncing a basketball or knocking on my door for my children to come out. When school is in I have told my children to call my cell phone if they have problems at school but for some reason I just cant seem to ignore the house phone when it rings. I work 11p to 7:30a and I find that when I have days off I try to switch my schedule so I can have the same routine as my family.....doesnt work either. For instance I find that after taking the kids to school at 8 and waking at 3 to pick them back up, I get home, help with homework and cook dinner and by 7p I'm still so drained that I have to take another nap before work.......now say I'm off that night, I pick the kids up at 3, help with homework, cook dinner and by 9p I am so drained I feel like I was drugged and cant keep my eyes open...You would think some good sleep is about to follow? WRONG! I sleep to about midnight then I am back up again and really dont get sleepy until it's time to wake the kids up for school and that's about 6:45a. I've tried taking benadryl on off days to sleep through the night so I dont sleep the entire next day but nothing works. I believe working nights has contributed to gaining weight, I'm always grouchy especially when being woke before I'm ready, I dont eat healthy because I'm usually so tired after I make dinner I'd rather sleep and eat at work around 2am. My friends seem to always call at the wrong time, they think I'm anti social and they just dont understand. Yes I've tried ear plugs but having children I dont recommend using them, you need to be alert but the problem is I'm just too alert. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise but right now it's a headache. I thought about afternoon shift but I would never get to see my children. I plan to be in school FT this fall so working days isnt an option. Now recently I dont know how but I've been able to go to sleep by 8a and get up by noon. I'm still sleepy but since school is out I find that I am more productive this way and I've been able to stay awake til about 7p and not spend the entire day in the bed. Good Luck! Let me know if you have any suggestions because I'm still trying to figure this out! And I couldnt imagine working 12 hour shifts because thats what time I lay back down around 7p when the shift would be just starting. Who ever can offer some sound concrete advice I would appreciate it also! And it doesnt help that it's not really dark outside until about 9:45p!!

Tait, MSN, RN · Jul 16, 2009

I have been on nights for over two years. I was finding recently that I was depressed and very lonesome when my husband would go to bed, so now I go to bed when I am tired and when he goes. I often take a nap on my days off for about 4-5 hours and then go to bed around midnight.

If I have to work the next day (like today) I get up around 8 or 9, do housework or just veg/run errands and then nap from about 1-4 or so.

When I get to work I keep busy and generally don't hit a small hurdle until about 4 am. Then I start cleaning and stocking to burn the hour away.

I find if I keep working I am more than alert.

My scenario: I am 31 years old, no children (yet!) and 12 hour, three day a week gal currently.

Tait

out2years · Jul 16, 2009

Hi, I have worked nights for 8 years and this usually works for me is a fan at night/day time. The kids are at day care and on on my first night off I stay up may be an extra hour and get up early about 3pm. I have to walk 2-3 miles 4 days a week. I am over weight but the walking decreases stress and has increase my stamina at work. I am a stress eater so when my night blows so does my food in take. Hope this helps Sheila

PedsJen23 · Jul 16, 2009

i know what you mean! at the company i work for, they have lots of night cases available. i chose to wait a couple of weeks for a long term day case. i worked nights as a LPN for about 1 month. i hated it! by around 4am, i was a zombie!

deleern · Jul 16, 2009

I worked Nights for 2 years. I loved them, but as an RN now ,they want me to work days...(LTC) I had a movie I would put in on low volume, "You got mail." I would put it in and have it auto repeat. Its been two years since I worked nights... If I watch that movie I fall instantly asleep! LOL The Fan works as well, but I prefer TV

gest1971 · Jul 16, 2009

Hi there,

I successfully did nights for 11 years and just went to days last year. I have a few tips, the one that I didn't see anyone mention is stay hydrated! I always felt "hung over" and dehydrated in the morning after. I would get as much uninterupted sleep as possible and drink plenty of water. Stop at around 2am so your not up to the bathroom all day when you should be sleeping. This really helped me. I would walk in the am, come home, shower and go to bed. No eating anything big. On my days off, I would go to bed around 9pm and get up at 8 or so. I did 3 12 hour shifts. I would try to do them in a row and give myself 3 or 4 days to get back to normal. It is difficult. I realize now how much better I feel on days, but I miss the flexibility of nights and how well it worked for my kids. I am actually looking to go back to nights now. Crazy girl! :bugeyes:

Good luck!

aeronursenj · Jul 22, 2009

Thank you all so much for the advice. And to read some of the post where the person seems to hit the wall makes it seem as if I am not the only one.. Again thank you all. On we go..

Fred