Anybody else working nights?

So I made it through the day shift orientations and HR's training, and last night I worked my first regular shift, 7 PM to 7:30 AM. I've got a middling migraine right now, other than the fuzzy aura in my right field of vision. I'm managing, but I wondered if anyone else works nights and if they've got any tips or tricks.

I do plan to keep a nocturnal schedule, but I do know that today's M is from staying up all night, so I know I just have to adjust. Since I've just spent five minutes fixing all the spelling issues my head is making, I'm gonna keep this short.

take care all, and I hope your head is happier than mine

Sorry, I've just had nerve blocks so I'll need to keep this short and I'm medicated and close totalling asleep because the pain is super bad.

I did nights for a very long time. I did shift work as well as straight nights. Shift work was the hardest but straight nights were not too bad. It was a tough life to live but was way easier then shiftwork (shifting days to eves to nights and then back to
days etc).

Are you working shifts or sraight nights?

I found sleep and diet were very important. Nights can be very enjoyable and some people find it really easy.

You can find lots of great tips online. I'm so happy for you working and I really hope the night shifts work out for you!!!!!

I'm on straight nights, and I do think I will be very happy, it's just getting my body swapped over that I'm struggling with. I do find that work (hospital setting) is another world at night. No one not directly involved with patient care is there, and the visitors are usually only immediate family, and even that is a smaller group after 10 PM.

It's refreshing, because everyone there is just there for one purpose, to get the patient well, so they can get home. My last two weeks were orientation, and I was there 7AM-3:30PM, and the entire place was jammed with people. Family, HR, large amounts of therapy (social, physical, speech, nutrition...) personnel, housekeeping.... Plus I had to park about a mile away and ride in a shuttle. And drive home in early rush hour traffic. I'm really glad I'm on straight nights!

Thanks for sharing your experience, and I hope the nerve blocks are doing their job!

I agree, nights can be really fun, for many of the reasons you mentioned. It's a slower pace but requires the ability to do with less, so often requires your brain to work. You have more time to get to know your coworkers and often are able to get your work done. I'd still be doing straight nights myself if things were not the way they are now. Traffic and less politics are definately HUGE bonuses.

Best of luck to you!!!!

I work at nights a lot. Since I don't sleep too well, it's a great time to do stuff. I get a lot done from midnight untill 5, then sleep in until 10:30, have a light lunch, then start the day.

energy level is down, and has been for a long time. i'm much more functional in the evening than the mornings.

i am not a morning person. there once was a time, maybe 20 years ago that flew, but not anymore.

How are the nightshifts going Sara?

I'm doing really well on nights, I'm even having fewer migraines, I think because the lighting levels are lower and I'm not fighting glare.

I had to laugh at a phlebotomist (lab person, drawing blood), I'd been in the room giving a breathing treatment in the dark. Usually I do just fine working with the light from the doorway. She gets in the room and startles once she noticed me. I try to laugh it off, that I've just gotten used to working in the dark, and she joked that there's no way she could manage that, so I was truthful and said that if I were aiming for a vein, I'd need a light too.

I really like all the people in my department, and they are amazing at supporting one another. Everyone gets an individual work load, but if your load goes quickly, you check in on the others around you, because everyone knows there are a couple areas where your load can go from very little to overwhelmed in less than ten mins. We all know there are a couple wards where the doctor will make rounds at 8 or 9 PM and then you've suddenly got six new pts to see by 11PM.

Way to go Sara. You are making the migraines conform to your schedule. Not many of us can say that!
Hugs,
Cindy

What a great post to read!!!! Awesome news!!!!