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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Night shifts

101 replies

Chocolatebox11 · 04/07/2021 22:49

Has anybody done them before? I work in a care home and I’m struggling with them.
I manage to get enough sleep the next day so that’s not an issue, it’s the actual shift. It’s 10 hours with no allocated break and we aren’t allowed to sleep at all or else we risk being dismissed.
About 6/7 hours in I really struggle to stay awake. I’ve fallen asleep a couple of times, albeit for a few minutes. Some of the other staff do it , but there are other staff who will report you if you do.
I feel awful but really struggle. I don’t drink any caffeinated or energy drinks and don’t want to start for this.
Colleagues always tell me I look exhausted, they get tired too but don’t seem as bad.
Does anyone else manage them? I don’t mind the actual work, just feel so rough on the shift.
Has anybody had any strange side effects from them? I always get very bloated on and after a night shift.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chocolatebox11 · 04/07/2021 22:51

I do 3 a week but not 3 consecutive nights. Maybe it’s too many ?

OP posts:
Watto1 · 04/07/2021 22:51

Are you eating during your shift? You’ve got to eat to keep your energy up.

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 04/07/2021 22:52

You shouldn't be having 10 hours without a break, it's against the Working time directive. That break you should be able to do what you want, whether to chill or nap.
I work 2 night shifts as part of my shift pattern and I always sleep on my 45 minute break

Duckyneedsaclean · 04/07/2021 22:52

You should have allocated breaks as you would for a day shift.

Enko · 04/07/2021 22:54

Yeps breaks allocated but it is tough

QueSeraSarah · 04/07/2021 22:56

I started hallucinating when I worked nights. They really didn't agree with me at all! I think some people just aren't cut out for them.

choosername1234 · 04/07/2021 22:56

Consecutive nights are much easier, you switch to night mode for a few days (nights) and the switch back. Constantly changing between day & night mode is hard and will make you feel terrible. 3 night was optimum for me, could easily do 4 but missed the daylight

Original poster
Chocolatebox11 · 04/07/2021 22:57

Yeah I eat little and often which seems to help but it’s so tempting to just eat chocolate etc.

Exactly, if I could get a 30 minute nap or something it would make the world of difference.

We aren’t allowed to leave the main lounge, we can eat etc in there but we have residents who will get up in the night etc and sit there so we have to supervise them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chocolatebox11 · 04/07/2021 22:58

I am fortunate that I get plenty of sleep the next day, I just feel so wrecked around 4/5am. Makes my skin bad too, hate looking in the mirror on a shift.
Maybe I’m just going to have to change to days if they let me.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 04/07/2021 23:01

I always used to try and have a sleep before I started the night shift so as soon as dh came home at about 5.30 I would have a couple of hours before the shift started. I hated nights though.

NavigatingAdolescence · 04/07/2021 23:01

You are entitled, by law, to one 20 minute break if your working day/shift is for 6 hours or more. This can be unpaid, but if it is you have to be able to leave site.

Seesawmummadaw · 04/07/2021 23:01

They can’t not allow you breaks!

Peppermint tea is good for the night shift belly bloat farts

Bettysnow · 04/07/2021 23:03

Drinking a pint of water really lifts me when im exhausted on night shift as does staying away from high fat/sugar snacks. Try and snack on fruit again with lots of water. Taking deep breathes by an open door inhaling cold air also helps me.

Eleoura · 04/07/2021 23:08

I agree, its illegal to NOT have a break!!! Check your contract, and if not in there, bring it up.

Set your mobile to a setting that every hour it vibrates. Stand up, stretch, go for a quick walk, drink some water and you will feel more alive. Are you able to stand outside, feel the cool air, look at the stars/moon for a few minutes?

I used to ease myself into the nights where possible, by staying up later and later till the night shifts started. It helped a great deal.

Original poster
Chocolatebox11 · 04/07/2021 23:09

Thanks for the suggestions I will try them.
Yes we are not allowed to leave the care home or even go in the staff room for more than a couple of minutes.
We do get time to sit down and eat but we’re supervising residents at the same time plus have to be on call as buzzers can go off any minute, so it’s not really a break.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chocolatebox11 · 04/07/2021 23:11

I’m able to stand outside for 2 minutes at the door so I’ll try that. I’ve asked staff who’ve been there longer and they’ve confirmed we have no breaks on a night and no sleeping allowed.

Once the sun comes up again I’m ok, it’s just that 4/5am period.

OP posts:
OydNeverDeclinesGin · 04/07/2021 23:12

Do your nights consecutively if you're able to sleep in the day. Have an afternoon nap before first night shift. After last night shift sleep as much as you need to function in the evening but not so much that you can't have an early night. I usually have three hours after my last night, and then an early bed time.
Bananas are a healthy way of getting a boost on your shift.
All of us who work nights find we have a time that tends to be the worst re. wanting/needing to sleep. I find doing small cleaning jobs at this point, plus banana! really help me get through.
Bloating and the associated farting is unfortunately pretty standard for nights. Sad.
I tend to find waiting at the bus stop on route home seems to induce a rather robust reaction to that BlushGrin

Cheeeeislifenow · 04/07/2021 23:14

I feel the same op I hit a wall around 3 am. I work in a respite home so we can't make noise have lots of lights on etc. It's really bloody hard. Try and do some yoga stretches every hour. Stick your head out the window. Try and break the night up into blocks of time. They are very tough op.

Original poster
Chocolatebox11 · 04/07/2021 23:16

Sadly I have different shifts each week so can’t do consecutive nights. I will try the suggestions mentioned, if things don’t improve then I will have to change to days as it’s not worth ruining health over.

OP posts:
motogogo · 04/07/2021 23:16

Not sleeping is fair enough, they are paying you to work, but you are entitled to take a break, but can vary the time according to business needs.

You need to be eating and drinking like you are on a day shift and sleeping before you go on shift

Original poster
Chocolatebox11 · 04/07/2021 23:18

I meant the chance to sleep on a break, if it is illegal to not provide at least 20 minutes break then perhaps I need to speak to a union.

OP posts:
Eleoura · 04/07/2021 23:18

It sounds like there are more than 1 staff member on at one time? Isn't there a senior on at night to co-ordinate? You need to allocate yourselves breaks then at the start of the shift. Sarah- 1:-1:30, Jo 1:30-2am, Chocolatebox1 2- 2:30am etc. This still leaves someone to answer call bells and cover, but allows staff a break.

Original poster
Chocolatebox11 · 04/07/2021 23:20

No senior on sadly and 3 of us. Usually 2 answering calls and one has to stay in the lounge with residents who are still up.

OP posts:
Anordinarymum · 04/07/2021 23:20

@Chocolatebox11

I do 3 a week but not 3 consecutive nights. Maybe it’s too many ?
I worked two nights a week when my children were babies. It meant I could look after them during the day. I worked Friday and Saturday night for years. It was very tiring and in the end I had to stop. Perhaps three nights is too much OP
Eleoura · 04/07/2021 23:23

@Chocolatebox11

No senior on sadly and 3 of us. Usually 2 answering calls and one has to stay in the lounge with residents who are still up.
In this case- 1 staff member stays in the lounge, 1 answers call bells and the 3rd has a break! Yes, it might be slightly busy sometimes, but each person at least gets their legally allowed break!