Tips for working midnights

[RNMOM]

I worked nights for many years and now, 4 years after retiring, I can't break the day sleeping cycle.

I found it best to cluster my work days together. I usually worked 4 in a row then off for several then 4 more. I wasn't full time and started out working 12 hours but they moved it to 8 hr shifts. It was easier on the 12 hours. My family got used to leaving me alone for those days.

I know you wish to spend more time with your kids but realistically, it may not be possible. If you are sleep deprived and grouchy you aren't doing them any favors. Not to mention, your patients need and deserve you wide awake too. I found atarax worked wonders for me. I have skin problems and often itch so I had them anyway. I take one when I am restless and not able to sleep and it works for me. I have taken 2 but it is a bit too heavy a dose if I have to function.

I found the sleep mask essential. I still use it. That way my DH can turn on the lights when he is getting ready for work and I don't even know. For some reason, the darkness from the mask seems to keep noises from bothering me too. Weird, I know. I often sleep with the window open in summer and the landscapers come to the neighborhood, the dogs bark, the kids play and even people cut down trees and I often don't hear them. It might be because I also have two adult sons living at home and have learned to block them out.

Perhaps if you give yourself till summer to get adjusted, by this I mean put the kids in an after school program, make dinners extra easy and make you sleep a priority, you might get this demon conquered. Good luck and congrats on getting your favorite job.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I used to have the same problem, and be exhausted by the end of my shift when I worked late. Sooner or later I got used to it, but now I can't fall asleep until around 5:00 or 6:00 AM, which is much later then I need to be up.

I really don't like it, because I sleep when I could be doing errands, and then when I do wake up I have to go into work, and then by the time I get off, there's nothing to do since everything's closed, and my friends all have "normal" working and sleeping hours.

Sorry, I realize that doesn't help you at all, but hopefully you'll be able to find away to get some more sleep soon.

 

[johnsontrio]

I worked nights for many years and now, 4 years after retiring, I can't break the day sleeping cycle.

I found it best to cluster my work days together. I usually worked 4 in a row then off for several then 4 more. I wasn't full time and started out working 12 hours but they moved it to 8 hr shifts. It was easier on the 12 hours. My family got used to leaving me alone for those days.

I know you wish to spend more time with your kids but realistically, it may not be possible. If you are sleep deprived and grouchy you aren't doing them any favors. Not to mention, your patients need and deserve you wide awake too. I found atarax worked wonders for me. I have skin problems and often itch so I had them anyway. I take one when I am restless and not able to sleep and it works for me. I have taken 2 but it is a bit too heavy a dose if I have to function.

I found the sleep mask essential. I still use it. That way my DH can turn on the lights when he is getting ready for work and I don't even know. For some reason, the darkness from the mask seems to keep noises from bothering me too. Weird, I know. I often sleep with the window open in summer and the landscapers come to the neighborhood, the dogs bark, the kids play and even people cut down trees and I often don't hear them. It might be because I also have two adult sons living at home and have learned to block them out.

Perhaps if you give yourself till summer to get adjusted, by this I mean put the kids in an after school program, make dinners extra easy and make you sleep a priority, you might get this demon conquered. Good luck and congrats on getting your favorite job.

I agree 100% with you on both these thoughts. I wanted to stress those points too but didn't want to be perceived as antagonist towards the OP. You managed to discuss those issues without doing so.

I have seen many, many times over the years people choosing to work nights but continuing to care for their children during the day. I don't get how they think that is safe for them, their children or their patients. Sleeping while your preschool aged children watch tv and heavens knows what else is scary. I am not implying that the OP would do this. There are going to be many instances where their school schedule, snow days, half days, etc.. will impact her sleep if she doesn't get a plan set for them to be watched by someone else while she sleeps.

I doubt many people would expect to work all day and then care for a relative (elderly or sick perhaps) all night. It's as if you somehow need less sleep because you work nights. As I stated before, you might need even more sleep than when you were working days or in school.

The suggestion to cluster your days on and off is a good one. Hopefully your boss can accommodate this and result in less switching between sleeping days and nights. This will be of benefit to you and make the transition easier. I think in the end you will find out if you are suited for working night shift. As I stated, constant headaches, nausea and a 25 lb weight loss let me know midnights was not for me.

 

[puffkin]

My MIL is a nurse and worked nights for 20+ years. I can honestly tell you that her. system for sleeping is HORRENDOUS and to not do this. She basically has lived like a walking zombie for as long as i have known her and it has led to a lot of resentment from DH and her other children because she never was available for them growing up.

She basically worked clusters of 3-4 days on then a few days off. She went in around 9 and got home around 7 am. She would go to bed right away and sleep til noon. Then she would be up during the afternoon, however she often would nap. Then after dinner she would go back to bed for another few hours. During her off days she would sleep a full night then take several naps during the day. Basically she never got herself on a sleep schedule for 20+ years. She lived in a fog, was constantly sick, and basically was never there for her children. Her whole life was consumed by sleeping.

Fast forward to now and her unit was closed at the hospital. She then got a pretty normal day job at a doctors office. After several months you would not believe the difference with her. She still has issues with being available as a parent/grandparent (that is a whole other topic ) but health wise she seems much better and "with it".

FIL also started working night shifts a few years ago and he has adjusted much better. He usually runs errands and does housework after work and sleeps from about 10-dinner time. I really think the key is to find a schedule and stick to it....don't sleep whenever you feel like it or your body is never going to adjust! Hope this helps.