ZOMBIE

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

zombie

zombie is the name how a colleague of mine refers to when she describes her status as a night shift nurse. granted, she loves her grave yard shift, however, it's a total downer to her love life and other personal relationships, which had dwindled over the years. furthermore, most of the time her family and friends have gotten use to her not being present during early events or planning trips for festivities in the future. following this further, she claims that her own cat seems not to recognize her at times when she works doubles :sniff:. on the other hand, several of her friends have set her up with good perspective dates, always to reschedule or not being able to comply with the demands of a new relationship. therefore, my question to all of you night owls is how do you balance the vampire lifestyle as she refers to it, with your social life?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pulmonary, Transplant, Travel RN.

I guess I am getting off lucky, my cats still know who I am. They act like they own the place and I am merely an "approved visitor", but something tells me they'd be that way even if I didn't work nights.

Does your friend do a lot of OT?

I've come to realize night shift and OT don't mix. I've been doing three 12s/week for awhile now and Im starting to feel it.

We all float down here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

a relative does NOC, she is with a guy who does NOC as a policeman ..eventually they were able to even get the same days off..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

does your friend do a lot of ot?

i've come to realize night shift and ot don't mix. i've been doing three 12s/week for awhile now and im starting to feel it.

we all float down here.

come to think of it, she does several ot's during the month, she loves seeing her bank account grow, however, then she calls me crying that she doesn't have a man in her life :no: then she looks at her finances and i guess it makes her forget her lack of social life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
a relative does noc, she is with a guy who does noc as a policeman ..eventually they were able to even get the same days off..

i believe you got a point there eureka! :yelclap:... i'm going to try and play matchmaker and see if any of my staff knows of any single cops that might want to date an independent nurse :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

it takes creative scheduling and you have to make a real effort to connect to others. It helps if you stay on the same shift rotation so you can predict when you will work or be free.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I have always worked the off shifts.......even when I was a manager I would roam around on the off shifts whenever possible for I missed the "peacefulness" of the off shifts. (no brass...I know I was brass)

For some people the glass is half empty. I was able to stay out late on my days off. Breakfast in bed is romantic.....nothing like cuddling on a cold rainy day. I'm from Chicago and there is nothing better but a good cold beer with that greasy breakfast at the end of a long shift.

I was a newlywed and got pregnant within the first year and another 11 months after my first born. I raised 2 wonderful babies on nights. I was able to do all the parent teacher meeting and classroom parties. I missed a few games and my wonderful family would celebrate when we could attend.....but I have 2 sisters that are nurses so missing family is the norm.

Some people are born Eeyore.......nothing is good news. Maybe the reason she/he can't find a realtionship is the presentation of themselves..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
zombie

therefore, my question to all of you night owls is how do you balance the vampire lifestyle as she refers to it, with your social life?

truckloads of cocaine.

im lucky in that i have been able to amend my sleeping schedule as i have wanted it. scheduling for 4-6 day breaks in my schedule allow me to rejoin society and see my friends. early morning things are still rough coming off a working stretch but it happens. im lucky to be dating a nurse who also works nights so we get to live our messed up/no sleep schedule together.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
zombie

zombie is the name how a colleague of mine refers to when she describes her status as a night shift nurse. granted, she loves her grave yard shift, however, it’s a total downer to her love life and other personal relationships, which had dwindled over the years. furthermore, most of the time her family and friends have gotten use to her not being present during early events or planning trips for festivities in the future. following this further, she claims that her own cat seems not to recognize her at times when she works doubles :sniff:. on the other hand, several of her friends have set her up with good perspective dates, always to reschedule or not being able to comply with the demands of a new relationship. therefore, my question to all of you night owls is how do you balance the vampire lifestyle as she refers to it, with your social life?

i do not really have a social life. never had a big one to begin with and do not care much for the most part. sometimes i do , then i work a day shift and forget it! i also relocated for a job to a rural area by myself where i knew no one, so that makes things about 23423423424 times worse. if i go out with friends it has to be in the middle of when i have a few days off in a row. i either sleep way too little or too much and usually am pretty tired a lot. some nurses go to bed after work at 9am and get up at 1-2 to do things with their families. ugh i am super glad i have no such obligations and anticipate not having them for years if ever......... i don't see how people with families can keep it up .

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Does your friend do a lot of OT?

I've come to realize night shift and OT don't mix. I've been doing three 12s/week for awhile now and Im starting to feel it.

.

From personal expereince OT and nights is a huge difference from days and OT.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I don't think it is an Eeyore issue. For some working nights is just not ever going to be something they can deal with. For a large percentage of the population circadian rhythms are pretty firmly set for daylight hours. Take them out of that and fatigue (both emotional and physical) and depression set in. I certainly have that problem and I am definitely no Eeyore. Night shift has meant intense isolation and for me that equates to loneliness and being very down.

I hope she is able to find someone or to switch to days. Some things are not worth the money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was in exactly the same situation about 10 years ago, but then I lucked into a position where we did 7 on / 7 off (7 days/nights on and 7 days/nights straight off). While doing the 7 on, it is like the little train story....you just keep saying I think I can, I think I can, and you get though the week.....then the 7 in a row off, are glorious.

Most of us would sleep for like 20 hrs after completing the 7 on, then flip to a day schedule for the next 5 days.

This would be impossible with small children, but as a single person, who wants an active lifestyle, its amazing.

If she has a supportive manager, who is willing to do creative scheduling, this is one great solution.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment