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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To absolutely hate night shifts?

60 replies

BlueRaptor · 07/02/2016 04:30

Started work at 7pm, only now on my break. Back on days on Monday (tommorow?! That's odd) and know I'll be shattered from having done these nights.

I know it's my own fault and IABU because I knew this when I chose this job but AIBU to throw a strop about how much I hate night shifts?

OP posts:
Chorltonswheelies422 · 07/02/2016 04:37

Yanbu - I love my job but it comes with regular events that can only be done at a weekend usually starting around 3.30am gmt which is tough.

V v pleased to find that someone else is up. When I left the house at 3.00am it felt like I was the only person having to do such mad hours

Original poster
BlueRaptor · 07/02/2016 04:46

I think that's what I hate most - when I look at the clock at 3am (evil hour, definitely the worse of the whole shift!) and realise every other bugger is snoring away in bed.

Unsociable hours working is just shit then really, glad to know it's not just me Grin

OP posts:
Chorltonswheelies422 · 07/02/2016 05:00

Yep it sucks! This is the 3rd Sunday in a row I've had to get up just before 3 am. The only way I get through it is going to Tesco on the Saturday and bulk buying treats to get me through Smile. Currently tucking into hot cross buns - yum

ParsnipSoup · 07/02/2016 05:13

Now all I can think about are hot cross buns and I have FIVE hours left of my night shift. cries

Redglitter · 07/02/2016 05:16

I love night shift I love going home in the morning when everyone else's day is starting.

I hate early shift with a passion

Original poster
BlueRaptor · 07/02/2016 05:25

Five hours!!! Ouch. Just over three for me now.

OP posts:
shouldnthavesaid · 07/02/2016 05:59

Yanbu - they're awful. I find they set my mood all over the place and find myself sitting sobbing in the toilet at 11 pm usually. And I always end up sleeping for 24 hours after as well.

Thankfully I won't be doing any until April or May now..

ParsnipSoup · 07/02/2016 06:35

I think summer night shifts are better, they seem shorter as the sun rises earlier so they feel like they're coming to an end.

Shouldnt it sounds like you really suffer on nights. I used to sleep for ages post nights but weirdly at the moment I don't seem to be too bad.

I've just counted and I only have 15 nights (and soooo many day shifts) until maternity leave. Hurrah

Jibberjabberjooo · 07/02/2016 06:40

I hate nights. I hate 3am, it's the worst time.

CaptainWarbeck · 07/02/2016 06:55

YANBU. Part of the reason I left my job was because I hated night shifts with every last bit of me!

MrsPatrickDempsey · 07/02/2016 07:26

I hated them. I did then for 17 years including about 4 years where I did only nights to fit around the children. Messed up my mental health and sleep patterns; only realised to what extent after I left midwifery. Four am was the witching hour for me (one night I dozed off and nearly fell into a birthing pool!) yanbu but you are doing great to keep going. Sleep well.

x2boys · 07/02/2016 07:31

I,m a former nurse so I did nights for years we had crap off duties too like finish nights on Sunday morning and back on a long day on Mondays just rubbish yanbu.

sallysparrow157 · 07/02/2016 07:32

I quite like a night shift but I've done far too many these past couple of months and my sleeping pattern and willingness to cook food and go to the gym and clean the house is all completely rogered. And yes, random outbursts of crying and misery the evening after a night is a common occurrence
I am about to have the perfectly timed finish to my night shift though, we are going to get back to base early enough to go home on time but late enough the day team will feel sorry for us and restock all our kit so we can leave!

x2boys · 07/02/2016 07:44

The only thing I liked about nights was there were no interfering managers on duty I did do permanent nights for three yrs after ds1 was born bit this was on a dementia care ward so once the men were in bed after midnight it was generally very quiet.

Chorltonswheelies422 · 07/02/2016 08:22

Hot cross buns finished along with phase 1 implementation Smile.

About to start phase 2 - salt and vinegar Pringles at the ready.

HicDraconis · 07/02/2016 08:25

YABU 😄 I would love a night shift or 3 in exchange for my 24h ones. Nothing like looking at the clock when you've been working 10h straight and knowing that you've got another 14 to go...

They come with the jobs. I thought I hated night shifts too - going home at 10am knowing you had to be back at work the same day - but 24h ones are worse.

Original poster
BlueRaptor · 07/02/2016 08:32

x2boys that's my off duty this week - Friday Saturday night, Monday day.

Finally finished, now trying desperately to stay awake until at least 4pm as if I sleep now I won't sleep this evening and then that's a day shift on no sleep.

chorlton sounds amazing, I like your style! Grin

hic 24 hour shifts sound like actual hell. I'm impressed I made it through the night without someone finding me curled up on the floor crying, and that's only 13 hours!

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x2boys · 07/02/2016 08:38

It's bollocks isnt it I used to.think nights wouldn't be so.bad if it wasn't for 5he constant chopping and changing of night and day shiftFlowersBrew and a strong coffee for you op.

OohMavis · 07/02/2016 08:39

Yanbu. They're shit.

HashTagYesYes · 07/02/2016 08:41

I am post night 6 of 7 now. I fucking hate night shifts. We are not designed to be awake all night and functioning - it is just awful.

HicDraconis · 07/02/2016 08:44

💐🍫🍷 nobody was designed for night shift working.

SandunesAndRainclouds · 07/02/2016 08:45

4am was my worst hour too. Hated the shift as a whole, but 4am more than any other part.

I used to do 1300-2100 shift with 2100-0800 stand by followed by 0800-1300 shift. We were allowed to sleep on the stand by in an on call room if there were no emergency cases but I could never drop off for fear of not waking if my bleep went off. If I did sleep is have the weirdest, most vivid dreams. Being in the hospital for 24hrs straight was horrible.

Very glad to not do that any more!

Original poster
BlueRaptor · 07/02/2016 08:46

Thanks x2boys. I agree, there is no pattern at all to mine. Managed no night shifts in November but clearly paying for it now! I am now home though and have managed to wake DP, who suggested going out for breakfast as I'm in such a foul mood and need to stay awake, and sitting at home I'm likely to doze off. Pleased about the food but still feeling grumpy Grin

Glad to know I'm not the only one who feels like this! Awful awful shifts.

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TooMuchOfEverything · 07/02/2016 08:48

They are also awful for your partner and kids. Our house needs a spare wing for DH to sleep in on nights. Sadly it doesn't have one and we all tiptoe about. EVERYTHING I need is always in the wrong bastard place.

Original poster
BlueRaptor · 07/02/2016 08:49

sandunes that sounds awful, dont blame you for being pleased they're over!

I try to nap on break but the same thing - can never actually drop off as too scared my alarm won't go off and I'll just sleep through!

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