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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to really really hate, loathe and despise working nights?

68 replies

EccentricaGallumbits · 27/09/2010 19:33

I can't sleep properly so I feel like shite.

I do nothing except sit waiting to go to work because I feel too shite to do anything interesting.

I don't get any shopping, bill paying, important stff done.

I miss things at school, appointments and nice stuff.

I miss daylight.

My body clock is shagged, my bowels seize up, i get wind, constipation and the runs.

I either eat too many meals or nothing at all.

I get all dehydrated.

My work collegues are generally a weird bunch at night.

I could mention pateints at night but that might tip me over the edge.

I have to palm my children off on various relatives to sleep over.

I am grumpy.

OP posts:
ilovemydogandMrObama · 27/09/2010 20:37

Hated nights. Maybe you nurses out there can clarify, but apparently most deaths are between 03:00 - 04:00? Always felt horrible around this time.

I knew this guy who used to stay up after doing nights, and then go to sleep about 8 hours before he had to return to his next shift. Worked for him....

Bingtata · 27/09/2010 20:41

Lol Minx, I'm an RMN too, I think most wards have one of those rancid haggard old cows, I can think of one for each ward I have worked on. Having qualified at the grand old age of 21 they seemed to take particular exception to my age in relation to my grade.

minxofmancunia · 27/09/2010 20:44

The night crew I worked with (mental healht types tho so a bit err odd) used to go to some random club place that was open specifically for them in North Manchester and have a few pints!! Then go home lunchtimeish sleep and get up just before next night shift, as a day worker on a late may have done.

i tried having a glass of wine at 7.30am watching GMTV one day after a shift but it felt wrong, so wrong. And i had to deal with hideous dehydration on the subsequent night shift.

onepieceoflollipop · 27/09/2010 20:44

minx I used to work with one of the "type" that you described. Man of late middle age, had been doing nights for donkeys' years.
One night for some reason I worked with him, he whinged about a slight cold until asking if he could go on his "break" early. I left him for ages; I was qualified so just covered the ward.

The N/As (some of them) hated me. I did all manner of unreasonable things. Once I made a distressed man a mug of hot chocolate. They were outraged. i also used to check the patients hourly (or more often as required) and this made me v v unpopular.

I've not done nights since having dcs. When I did nights my body clock would reverse. This was great for nights. When I went back on days I was often to be found sobbing in the clinic/other quiet area as my sleep was so screwed up.

minxofmancunia · 27/09/2010 20:46

*bingtata8 I can only imagine, I was an F grade by 26 and some of those nasty old harridans and their lackeys so so hated me!

there's always one though isn't there? And they're bloody allowed to get away with it as management are too pussy to pull them in for it!!

onepieceoflollipop · 27/09/2010 20:47

I used to crave chips after a night. Once I had an pathetic argument at the McDonalds drive thru because there are no chips until 10.30am.

One night I had a migraine but couldn't go home (no staff). My face was literally the colour of my white t-shirt. One of the staff gave me some smelling salts Shock which oddly enough revived me.

Also some of the "old school" delighted in telling me ghost stories. All that achieved was I would be too scared to do the checks/go to the loo etc.

minxofmancunia · 27/09/2010 20:50

They especially hate it when you give the night meds out at 10, as stated on the card, instead of 9 as they liked to do as it meant they would actually have to have more than half an hour of patient contact.

Always very anti any kind of compassion or support for the patients, obviously, dare it interrupt the cards/scrabble Hmm

onepieceoflollipop · 27/09/2010 20:52

Sometimes I would give the meds out at 10 and have a little chat with each patient! Shock

Clearly I had a lot to learn.

One particularly unpleasant assistant did get her own back on me. She "forgot" to rinse my mug after she had helpfully bleached them all. Very unpleasant.

This thread is taking me back...haven't done regular nights for 10 years.

Bingtata · 27/09/2010 20:55

The ghost stories! All psych wards have ghosts! They sit on beds you know and waft through the corridors Grin Our toilet used to be in another part of the hospital, I used to be nearly wetting myself waiting for the daylight.

Early night meds, oh yes, had that argument too. I used to quite like 'accidentally' dropping books on the table when the NAs decided to go to sleep, and then promptly remind them to go and do a check.

PinkieMinx · 27/09/2010 20:55

I love nights cos of the freedom (I only do one a week & get paid well-ish for it) but hate the rest! Especially the fucking weirdos colleauges I have to endure work with! I'm always a raaanndy mare of nights - poor DH doesn't know what hit him Hmm

minxofmancunia · 27/09/2010 20:56

i remember one night they all ordered a take away delivery right there in front of me, without even passing me the menu, and all munched away avoiding eye contact whilst I made do with my packet of twiglets.

Such charming magnanimous people, ideal for patients suffering from major mental illness.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 27/09/2010 20:56

I worked nights for 6 years I am a nicer human being for no longer working nights. YANBU

onepieceoflollipop · 27/09/2010 20:56

Our staff loo was outside the main door, next to the lift. obviously there was a ghost near/in the lift as well as near/in the loo.

Also we had an old disused ward opposite which was worse.

Sidge · 27/09/2010 20:56

Oh hell I feel for you - I hated nights especially after having children, and that's why I now work as a practice nurse - no nights!

When I was in the Navy we used to do 7 nights on (Monday to Sunday, 8-8, no proper break) but then had 7 days Night Duty Stand Off which was fab. Mind you it took until about Wednesday to feel vaguely human again. I didn't really have a life when working my week of nights, it was literally work, eat and sleep.

Then I did agency nights after having DD1 - I did 3 in a row each week, and could only sleep from 0900-1400 on those days due to childcare costs. I used to sit and cry before going to work as I was so shattered. I did that for 4 months and that was enough, I nearly went doolally working nights.

minxofmancunia · 27/09/2010 20:57

See the ghost stories didn't bother me, i just used to make a little extra noise when nipping out for a ciggie Wink

colditz · 27/09/2010 20:58

Oh jesus is there ANYTHING else you can do?

I worked nights in a residential home, and it nearly finished me off.

onepieceoflollipop · 27/09/2010 20:59

It was so long ago for me that everyone, patients and staff, used to smoke in the patients' lounge. Grin

I didn't smoke myself, but always had a light (my top tip for diffusing tricky situations!) Once I leant over to give a lady a light and had my bum pinched Very hard. I was very unhappy.

DaisySteiner · 27/09/2010 21:00

Hmm. I did permanent nights for a few years unit recently and quite enjoyed it. Could have a right giggle with my colleagues as no managers around and I got to go to bed as everyone else was going off to work. However, I have recently finished them and feel much better - didn't realise how tired they made me. OTOH I think they've improved my stamina levels - have just started at uni and all my cohort are knackered apart from me!

tiredemma · 27/09/2010 21:05

I hate nights but have to do a stint again in January.

They turn me into the living dead. I work with 'old school' night staff who dont like patient contact after 10pm (heaven forbid someone is in 'crisis' and needs a chat)

Psychiatric wards have some very odd night staff.

tigerchilli · 27/09/2010 21:10

YANBU. I worked as a RN. permanent P/T nights, which worked out as 6 nights on and 8 off on a busy HDU. I would just be getting my body-clock somewhere that resembled pseudo-normal when it was time for my next stint. Didn't have much choice really because of the absence of child-care - 3DC.

In the end I jacked it all in and went for a career change which I studied for over a period of several years. Night duty is no easy option (many folks seem to think that patients give it zzzzz's all night)Hmm

minxofmancunia · 27/09/2010 21:12

What was your career change tigerchilli? i am desperate for a career change!

frazzled74 · 27/09/2010 21:26

I do 2 nights and 1 day shift a week, all 12 1/2 hour shifts, am permanently drained with upset stomach/constipation, grumpy etc. Any ideas for a career change? cant be a community nurse as dont drive.YANBU.

tigerchilli · 27/09/2010 21:26

I re-trained as a counselor and gravitated towards health related issues such as substance misuse and sexual abuse. Although I did do some short-term jobs as project worker in women's projects etc. While I was in a sort of transitional stage I continued to do "bank work" for the local hospitals/ nursing agencies until I became established in an area that suited me.

Have to be honest that it was a bit nerve wracking as I'd been a RN for oh lots of years! However, it was worth it in the end and I have no regrets.

ThatVikRinA22 · 27/09/2010 21:26

as someone about to start working shifts which include nights

im hiding this thread...

maize · 27/09/2010 21:34

Oh I looooove nights, I feel all grumpy doing days. It is busy but it passes and its all nice and routiney and lovely. I am much much more patient on nights as well, endless singing and buzzing and wandering just seems less stressful somehow.

I love going to bed when everyone else is getting up.

I love feeling knackered at 5 but knowing the next two hours will whizz past because its so busy.

Love reading take a break and snacking at 3am.

In saying that they do make it hard to live a normal life and I am currently re-training to do an 8-5 job so make of that what you will!!

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