3 - 11 shift

[Jolly]

Would really like to hear from those who work the 3 - 11 with regard to how you plan your days prior to going to work -

do you sleep until late morning?

do you do your errands?

do you get the kids off to school and are home for their lunch?

And, after work, do you find you can't get into bed and fall asleep until 2 in the morning, or do you crash as soon as you get home?

I just want to know how other people handle this schedule . . . I find it quite difficult and somewhat disorienting, and just wanted some tips on how others handle it.

Thanks.

[Chaya, ASN, RN]

Love 3-11 but only work parttime. I have a short commute home and usually am exhausted enough to be in bed by 1. Spouse and kid up together in AM so he does lunch. I am up about 8-9 and love the lack of traffic, no lines at the grocery store, and daylight hours to garden or whatever while I still have energy. When I did days I used to be too tired to do anything after work except the minimum. Lunch hour or Sats were for battling lines at the bank or store. 'Course I had some semblance of a social life then; we didn't have to plan dinner with friends for weeks in advance. Still, I love 3-11 and find it only changes the times get up and go to bed by an hour or two.

[Jolly]

Thanks to all of you for your responses.

I worked 3 - 11 several years ago, and, as I stated earlier, I had a very difficult time adjusting - getting home after midnight, raiding the refrigerator till 2 AM, sleeping till 11 AM or 12 noon, and then getting ready for work - I felt like all I was doing was working, eating, sleeping, working, eating, sleeping, working, eating, sleeping, working . . . . after about a year, I switched to 7 - 3 - - but that wasn't great either 'cause I, too, hate alarm clocks, and I really can't get rolling at that hour of the day. I now work an 8 - 4:30 nursing research position, but I am so out of my element due to very minimal patient care and contact -

Soooooo,

I applied for and was offered a psych nursing position on the 3 - 11 shift -- am so excited about the position and the facility (great working environment, great behaviorial-care unit, excellent reputation -- NO WEEKENDS! -- and psych is the reason I went into nursing), but I have been concerned about the hours and the fact that it is an hour's drive (was glad to read that two of you drive an hour each way - really am impressed by the one who has a change in time zones - that is different!).

You know, I guess it's all in how you look at things - attitude.

I AM in a different place with myself than I was several years ago, therefore, I think I can discipline myself to make the change.

If not, I can always bid for the day shift after a year (and go back to an alarm clock? -- no way!!).

Again, thanks - your input has helped.

[kids]

I am not an early morning person, when I worked days (6a-2:30p) I was chronicly late. Working nights (10p-6:30a) I get sick after a few months, no matter how much sleep I got it was not enough. My body loves swing shift, if left totally to its own internal clock I wake up around 10:30a and fall asleep around 2:30a.

Unfortunately swings didn't work with my life. I never saw my kids once they were school age. I never got anything done...by the time I was up and moving I had time to do some things around the house and then it was time to get ready for work.

I am working 8-5 or 8:30-5:30 M-F now and it is working EXCEPT I had forgotten how hard it is to get any "business" stuff done: banking, Dr. appts etc.