[Marshellette]

I am bipolar and have trouble sleeping. However for the next month I am scheduled to work 24 hour shifts. 24 hour shifts with a four hour break to sleep at which point I could be awakened by patients at any time. I think I will complete the shifts and then sneak off quietly after a month because I tried to quit before and they hunted me down and wouldn't let me because no one applied for the job but me. Horrible. I wish I had a life. I just have to make it through this month because they pay well. Advice?

[BipolaRNurse]

How many 24-hour shifts are you scheduled for? How often?

I hate to say this, but making people work that kind of shift is insane. You have bipolar, you have difficulty sleeping.......what part of "this is a BAAAAAD idea" does your employer not understand, and why do you put up with it? Talk about asking for trouble......

Money does you no good if you have to spend it on hospitalizations and meds. Get out while you still have your sanity. Good luck.

[Curiosity77]

Sleep is so important for stability. I'm a nurse, but I don't do any night shifts because I can't handle it. I work in the community instead of a hospital, so it's regular daytime hours. I tried night shifts for a while and it was a disaster. I can't even imagine 24 hour shifts, that would make me pretty crazy, pretty quickly. Do you have to take this job?

[cybermember]

24 hour shifts? Is this even legal?

[~Christina]

24 hour shifts as a nurse is illegal where I live... the max is 16 ... too many mistakes can be made working such long insane hours .. Personally I would not want a nurse working that long and taking care of me.

Same advice as others .. find better more reasonable hours .

[Marshellette]

I have to, I signed a contract. In one month I could get out...

[hamster-bamster]

This is a bad idea for a woman who is well and an invitation for a disaster for a bipolar woman. You are in Utah - can you call the Nursing Board on Monday morning to inquire if the contract you signed is even legal. I mean, it seems insane, and everybody on this thread agrees, unanimously, that it is insane - I am hopeful that there are similarly reasonable people making laws in Utah...

Let us know what you find out.

[BadGirlBlues]

In my state anything over 16 hours is illegal. I would check with the BON in your state, that is one messed up 'contract' they had you sign. Doesn't sound kosher at all.

I worked midnights for awhile and had the biggest, longest, most destructive mania of my life. I cannot imagine 24 hours with 4 hours of (possibly interrupted) sleep. That is a mess.

[unlockingsanity]

Maybe it's not necessarily a whole shift, but "on call"?

If you have to keep the job, just do your best to keep on a schedule.
Take your 4 hour break as "rest time" and tell yourself that if you sleep, good, but if you don't, it's okay because you can sleep when you're shift is over.

If you set your mind to what you know your routine will be, it will be easier. Be strong about it. If you know it's only short term, too, it could be easier.

Your frame of mind is soo important.