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Night Owl

So I said I'd do a post after I'd gotten adjusted to night shift on "my adjustment process to night shift"

...so I will be writing this post in 6 months.

;) Just...kidding...Ha....Ha...

Okay, so I haven't adjusted. But, I'm managing. As of this week (week 3) -- I'm finally able to sleep during the day after I've worked. Week one, I got like 5 hours of sleep for the 3 straight days. Not cool. And it was Christmas.

But, I think I've got it down. The hardest part for me is just sitting down when I'm not at work. When I'm at home, I am go-go-go. Seriously. I actually make a rule stating "I will not sit down until ___o'clock".

I tried to continue that lifestyle when I worked nights. It didn't work out so well. But....here's my little pro and con list I've made thus far

Pros:

  • I work nearly every Sunday this month (except the weekend my sister is here). If I were working days, that would mean my WHOLE Sunday would be ruined. However, now I get to go to church in the morning, spend time with Ryan in the afternoon, rest a little, and still get to have dinner with him before I leave for work at 6:30 pm
  • The hospitalists and cardiologists don't tend to be around at night. (unless something terrible occurs
    • I'm going to be honest and say....as a new-grad I am scared of doctors.
    • I still feel like I know very little. (AKA..I feel like a dumbass)
  • I eat healthier. I eat a bowl of oatmeal with fruit after work before I go to bed (at 8 am), I sleep until about 2-3 and have a light snack or fruit or veggies, and then eat a norma meal before going into work. During my 12 hour shift at night, I eat the same thing every night -- an apple, and some yogurt.
  • There is a pay incentive.
Cons:
  • I miss my husband. I leave work when/before he gets home....and I get home after he's left for work. So if I work multiple days in a row (remember, I do 3 12's...) I may not see him for a few days. Yuck.
  • When I'm not on my "work schedule" -- my biological clock is completely *effed* up. I have a tough time waking in the morning, and a really hard time falling asleep at night!
  • Sleep deprivation caused me to get a cold, which turned into a sinus infection. Yuck. I hate taking antibiotics. Now, if I ever REALLY NEED those antibiotics -- I'll probably have developed resistanance to them. And then I'll probably just die......
  • Yes, I'm drastic. I know. ;)
All in all -- I can do this!!!

Every night when I go into work, I tell myself "I'm just puttin' in my time. I'm jsut puttin' in my time." --

Luckily, when I get to work, I'm happy as a clam b/c I love my job! So that makes it better. :)
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Comments

qwerkyqook said…
Ha Abby. I promise not one single nurse is scared of me! Maybe when I'm an attending. Hopefully the night shift adjustment works out. I have to work nights for 4 months next year. I've heard residents put tin foil on their windows so they can sleep! My neighbors might start thinking I need to be admitted if I start doing that?!
January 6, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Marlys said…
I smile, because as I was reading your blog I thought to myself - "I wonder if Suzanne is going to read this?" I can't imagine anyone being afraid of you, so seeing your comment made me smile all the more! I'm glad you are adjusting, and I'm sure it will get easier as time goes on. It's just great that you love your job, though! Take time to relax and smell the roses!
January 6, 2011 at 6:54 PM
Amber said…
Nights shifts suck! Good for you for trooping through. I remember when Eric used to work 12-hour night shifts and was like a zombie during the day. It was hard! Sounds like you're getting a nice routine going though :)
January 6, 2011 at 7:36 PM
Lisa's Yarns said…
I hope the adjustment process gets easier... and hopefully you won't have to work nights for too long.... The pay differential is nice, though! :) And it's probably better to do 3 12's instead of 5 8's or something like that, right? Well, at least when you are doing nights...

Hang in there! So glad that you love what you are doing, though! Not alot of people can say that - esp about their first job after college!!
January 7, 2011 at 8:46 AM
Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said…
Oh man, I could never do night shifts- I'd be definitely screwed up on my sleep forever. I'm glad you are at least beginning to adjust. How long do you have to do this for again?
January 7, 2011 at 2:11 PM
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