Night shift for 20 years

I've had 2 doctors tell me I need to get off of night shift. But really has it helped you that much with your sleep or anxiety? I have done a day shift here and there but my main shift has always been eves or nights.

The problem is with days I worry all night about having to get up early and I sleep horribly then too. I'm not so sure I'm going to like this. Today is my second day of doing day shift. I HATE not being available to my family too. I take care of my grandma and i also have 2 kids and a father in law that is dying. I just don't know if this is gonna be good or not.
Seems like you know the answer as to what is best for you. What I can gather from your post, days aren't any better. I work nights almost all my adult life (different types of jobs besides nursing). Days just did not fit me. If I had any anxiety I would look at different causes besides working nights.

If working days causes you more anxiety and sleep problems, I'd say logic demands you go back to nights. Or evenings might be a nice compromise, since you can sleep at night and have a "normal" lifestyle. Up to you.

Quote from Vtachy1I've had 2 doctors tell me I need to get off of night shift. But really has it helped you that much with your sleep or anxiety? I have done a day shift here and there but my main shift has always been eves or nights. The problem is with days I worry all night about having to get up early and I sleep horribly then too. I'm not so sure I'm going to like this. Today is my second day of doing day shift. I HATE not being available to my family too. I take care of my grandma and i also have 2 kids and a father in law that is dying. I just don't know if this is gonna be good or not.

So 2 doctors have told you to get off of night shift, but you are still debating it? Hhhmmmm? Do these doctors know your medical history and current medical situation well? If so, maybe there is a reason they are saying "get off of night shift". What do you think of patients that ignore medical advice and do their own thing? Thats right, "frequent fliers" because they never get better. How can you take care of your family if you don't first take care of yourself?

I can see the previous post regarding giving 6 months to adjust and to try and listen to the md's. But as nurses, we all know md's are not always correct and no one knows you better than yourself. Do what you feel is best for you (first) and your family. It is hard for anyone to tell you what you should do. There is no straight answer. I hope you get through this happy and healthy. (I am naturally a night person, been that way since birth per my mother, tried days and hated it, then ran back in the shadows like a vampire. I appreciate nights even more. But that is me)

The OP has only done 2 days of day shift. If she were here commenting that she "can't do nights" after 2 shifts, we'd all be telling her that's not enough time to make a judgment.The OP needs to give this time-her body must adjust to such a huge change. I don't know if she needs 6 months, but she sure needs more than 2 days to decide that her MD's are wrong.A couple months for sure, OP.

I am not a day person by any means. Therefore, I'll continue to work the night shift even if it means that I might die sooner.

Quote from Vtachy1I've had 2 doctors tell me I need to get off of night shift. But really has it helped you that much with your sleep or anxiety? I have done a day shift here and there but my main shift has always been eves or nights. The problem is with days I worry all night about having to get up early and I sleep horribly then too. I'm not so sure I'm going to like this. Today is my second day of doing day shift. I HATE not being available to my family too. I take care of my grandma and i also have 2 kids and a father in law that is dying. I just don't know if this is gonna be good or not.

I worked straight nights for 12 years. I loved night shift, but over time, the stress of my job got to me where I couldn't sleep enough and my health went down the drain fast. I think if you can get a solid 6 hours of sleep straight through, then you'll survive. It's just like living in a different time zone (like Paris!). Otherwise, if you're on 3 hours of sleep at a crack, it will slowly kill 'ya.

I work nights and I have stress, but its not the nights that is causing the stress. My son has been ill and of course that is stressful by itself. On top of that I have to take him to all sorts of specialists. At my hospital we choose between week shift or weekend and I do week shift. This means I am off every sat/Sun, but I work 3 our of the 5 weeknights (usually M/T/R). The only time I have to take him to the Dr is late Wed afternoons, and late Friday afternoons, but those times are not always available. This means I often go without sleep for two days at a time. I have to work tonight, will get home at about 9am in the morning, and have to leave to take him to the Dr at 11:30. This is an every week thing until we find out whats going on. And I am stressed. That being said I would be even more stressed if I did days. I am going without sleep, but at least I am available to take him to the Dr. If I did days I would be working (and we know Dr's aren't going to see him after my 12 hour day shift). You just have to look at your life and see what works best for you. They may both be bad depending on your life situation, but one will be less bad. Then try to look at the +'s. You might also look at changing what you do in nursing all together. Maybe check Dr's offices for a night 9-5 day shift etc. I would do that, but I don't have a enough hospital experience (only a year, and most want two). Do what you need to do to take care of yourself and your family.

I cannot comment on working days/nights as I'm still in nursing school (although I AM a night owl and hope to work nights). I"d just like to point out that maybe it's not the nights that are getting to you. It sounds like you have stressors other than your sleep schedule that could cause a lot of anxiety. Being responsible for children, your household, an elderly relative and another that is declining could cause A LOT OF STRESS.Please take care of YOU so that you can continue being that amazing person you seem to be.

I normally work nights, but I worked a day shift the other day. I HATE day shift, as I have always been a night owl. First, I don't enjoy going to bed before 1230 am, which you can't do when you are working days. So I'm essentially forcing myself to bed before I'm ready. Then, getting up at O43O is inhuman. It depends on your body clock.