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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be PISSED OFFFFFF!! Headache after each and every shift -any suggestions?

78 replies

worriedsilly · 30/12/2011 17:36

I'm a health professiona and work 12 hr shifts as that is how it is done whereI work.

Now, I only work 23 hrs a week, which is two shifts. But say this week, I have just done a night shift [slept 9 until 2.30] and then had to get up ans I am on tomorrow 8am until 8pm so I Have To Sleep Tonight.

So now I have an awful awful headache. And I will have tomorrow after the longday,a dn most of sunday.
Monday I'll be ok, but I'm back on 2 nights so back to where I started.

I think after nights I go into such a deep sleepmy neck sufers and it makes me feel sick and heady. I'm drinking like a fish to try rehydrate 9can't drink too much at work as there isn't time to wee when you need too!)

ANy shift worked have any ideas?

Am so fed up of my days off being spoiled. This shouldn't be in AIBU but I am fed up and want a moan.

OP posts:
CarolCervix · 30/12/2011 19:56

Shock really? i'd take a drink in and tell them to fuck right off if anyone said anything. really. noone can expect you to not drink and surely it is better practice to sip a drink inside your room than to leave your woman alone every hour for you to pop out and have one.

CrabbyBigbottom · 30/12/2011 19:58

Any chance of a community postition, worried? Or caseloading? Harder to plan childcare etc and still long nights and unpredictable on calls, but more job satisfaction im(limited)e. AN clinic? Are you on labour ward at the mo? That's def the worst for not getting breaks, although PN is its own personal hell. Grin AN ward?

In the long run, its no good for the nhs, parents, babies or other staff how punishing the shifts are in MW, nor how utterly un-family friendly it is. So many great MWs are lost to burn out. It makes me really sad.

ReduceRecycleRegift · 30/12/2011 20:00

when our trust banned drink bottles on wards they had to install water coolers in order to enforce it. Surely yours would too?

Original poster
worriedsilly · 30/12/2011 20:04

Yes we have a cooler Reduce. But only on delivery suite and never drinks allowed in a room or work station.

Thanks Crabby - is that what you do? How do you manage the oncalls? Our communtiy are out a lot at night either to delivery suite or homes and I have no idea what I'd do with the dcs and the school run etc.

It is just amazibngly unfamily friendly, and seems to get harder as you get older not easier. I find i am passed around shifts to address skill mix issues, adn I'm only a band 6!! Band 7 have it really tough imo.

OP posts:
ReduceRecycleRegift · 30/12/2011 20:06

its not just harder as we get older, its getting harder anyway. when I started people who suited nights did permanent nights and loved it (no child care and they were they type who could do a night then so school runs and housework with just a few hours kip in between, unlike me!) and others got pretty much permanent days, or fixed days.. this 'Flexible' working just makes everyone unhappy and patients less safe! when people were allowed to do what suited them, all the shifts were covered and everyone was happier

mosschops30 · 30/12/2011 20:07

I also work 12 hour shifts on ITU and get terrible headaches after nights.

It does help to drink lots of water, i try and drink 2L in 12 hours, plus green tea, no caffeine. I drink when i get home, and also more begore i get up.

It is legal to double back on shifts (finish at 7.30am start at 7am following day so almost 24hrs between shifts), i would also say youre maybe sleeping too long for one night shift (obv different if its 2 together), i try not to sleep longer than 4-4.5 hours, then im tired in the evening and can get to sleep.

HTH Smile

therugratref · 30/12/2011 20:08

I have 3 long days from sunday. I am dreading it i will have a banging head by day 2 and be too wound up to sleep properly in between. Thank goodness the kids will be back at school because I will collapse on the first day off.
I survive nights by a no caffeine after midnight and at least two litres of water during the shift rule and i keep my water at the nurses station, not supposed to, but fuck it, its either that or half a brain incharge of ICU. I rarely take a proper break and I get really dehydrated if I dont drink. After nights I always have a big cooked breakfast with lots of protein or I wake up starving at 1200.

Original poster
worriedsilly · 30/12/2011 20:16

God yes the hunger. I bloody starve on nights.

We are not alone - that sort of helps doesn't it? Funny at work we would never dream of sharing these tips or having a moan as such. It isn't done to show weakness like this, although moaning about off duty is clearly ok Grin

Now I've trie getting up after 4 hours or so, but I was actually sick Blush Would that pass if I persevered?

Totally agree that the old 'set shofts' was better, but it will never come back. There just isn't the workforce anymore is there.

I need to drink more, and have a catheter for the shift.

OP posts:
CarolCervix · 30/12/2011 20:19

i'd like to meet the nob who decreed we weren't allowed to drink - except in staff-rooms. twat. what the absolute fuck were they thinking? why are we not allowed a drink to hand? what is their ratonale?

only being allowed in staff-rooms is fine if you get at least 2 breaks [er shift but even then not enough. and if a woman is in the pool for a few hours you get even more dehydrated. mental.

CarolCervix · 30/12/2011 20:21

although if you must go to the loo every couple of hours maybe we could grab a pint of water every time too - staving off the crispy dehydration.

ReduceRecycleRegift · 30/12/2011 20:22

"Totally agree that the old 'set shofts' was better, but it will never come back. There just isn't the workforce anymore is there."

this is a myth, why does everyone believe this? the amt of people who'll choose nights for extra money/less childcare etc IS enough to cover the nights just as well as they'ld be covered with todays system, and the amount of people who'ld rather take a bit less than do em IS enough to cover the days, and the amt who want weekends off was covered by the amount of people who wanted to do weekends (I did cause I didn't like nights so liked the extra money, so I did ALL the weekends and people who wanted them off because they had partners who worked mon-fri had em off)

You DO NOT need higher staffing levels to do this. its covers the shifts with the same amount of people as if you cover them disregarding people's preferences. Think about it, the shifts would be covered exactly as they are but everyone would be better off.

ReduceRecycleRegift · 30/12/2011 20:24

"i'd like to meet the nob who decreed we weren't allowed to drink - except in staff-rooms. twat. what the absolute fuck were they thinking? why are we not allowed a drink to hand? what is their ratonale?"

we were told it was for infection control reasons. What bollocks! its not like we were holding the bottles while doing bed baths

frumpet · 30/12/2011 20:24

It is ridiculous to expect anyone let alone a midwife or other health care professional to go without basics such as water . I would lobby your trust to be allowed a bottle of water in delivery room , have a look for research regarding dehydration and mental ability ,im sure there is loads . After all if you are incapacitated mentally due to lack of hydration ,you are more likely to make mistakes ? making mistakes costs money or at the very least causes hassle to the trust (never mind the poor woman you are looking after ). Get the bean counters twitchy and you will win Grin

AnyoneforTurps · 30/12/2011 20:39

One of my A&E colleagues had a complaint made against her by some relatives who saw her taking some food into the staff room half an hour after she had been looking after their granny who had died. They said it was disrespectful.

The consultant's reply was a politely worded feck off: he pointed out that we couldn't care for patients safely if we didn't eat during a 12 hour shift. Sounds like carol's managers need to grow a pair.

Original poster
worriedsilly · 30/12/2011 20:45

Ours was after a complaint that went to local papers. So blanket ban imposed.

OP posts:
AnyoneforTurps · 30/12/2011 20:49

typical NHS screw your staff approach

BastedTurkey · 30/12/2011 21:12

I've worked nights in a HC setting so you all have my sympathy. I just wanted to register my disgust at the way you are treated, not even allowed water to hand.

welliesandpyjamas · 30/12/2011 21:18

Poor you, OP :(

DH spent years doing shifts, emergency services not NHS, but like you, never a chance to rest and pisstakingly ridiculously tight shift turnarounds. And also spent years having constant headaches, even for years after he left the job for another with normal hours.

The only thing which has helped at last is Q10 supplements. Not cheap but what a difference.

ggirl · 30/12/2011 21:19

Loads of sympathy , hate nights , now changed jobs where I don't have to do them and feel miles better.
Sorry no advice .
Shit manager who gave you a day so close to finishing night duty .

MidnightinMoscow · 30/12/2011 21:33

I hate nights too.

The smell of warm milk on the breakfast trolley makes my stomach churn.

However, the worst situation is being on nights when the clocks go back. Not getting paid for that extra hour and the mess it makes of your fluid balance charts!

Oh and why do chest drains always fall out after midnight?

GeorginaWorsley · 30/12/2011 21:52

Hate nights also.Been in nursing 25 yrs now but still hate them.
Luckily now i only work one long shift a week.Couldn't do any more,am knackered after 12 hrs on busy paediatric ward.

spiderpig8 · 30/12/2011 21:54

I find holding in wee for too long gives me the mother of all headaches.You need to go to the loo at work when you need to!

sneezecakesmum · 01/01/2012 19:15

Would Occy health put in a requirement for adequate hydration ? !!!

Nights are the killer. I dont do them any more!

Midge25 · 01/01/2012 19:25

Just a thought .... What about an eye test? Being optically challenged turned out to be the cause of some excruciating headaches on my part, which painkillers didn't shift. Agree with other posters' suggestions too though...

purplewednesday · 01/01/2012 19:41

Poor you.

I used to work internal rotation on the wards and got so headachy, bloaty and depressed doing nights. I now work as a CNS and its much better.

Trouble is the general public like to moan about lazy nurses and midwives sitting around eating and drinking and not delivering care - such a load of bollocks Angry

Caffeine doesn't help, nor does getting dehydrated. When i was in labour DH went off to get a coffee and offered to get the midwife one; she declined. Now I understand why Sad

No real advice to offer, just remember you are doing a fantastic job x