How to handle rotation shifts

[nurseling]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to best handle rotating shifts. I work 12 hour shifts on a busy med-surg unit, but I rotate between days and nights. I will generally be 1 week on days, 1 week on nights, then switch back with about 2 or 3 days in between.

I find that I feel kinda jet lagged all the time and it's pretty much become a 'normal' state of being for me. Is there any way to make it easier to adjust to this? I've been thinking of maybe working permanent nights, since days are not available, but then I worry I will never see the light of day..

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I would rather work all nights vs rotating shifts. At least your body would get the chance to adapt. That being said some never adapt to the night shift. Good luck to you.. Perhaps switch to nights until there is a day opening?

[VANurse2010]

What about maybe doing 2 weeks of one, then switching? That might work better than week-by-week.

[nurseling]

I've tried doing 2 weeks of one then the other. I find I can't handle too many nights. I feel pretty useless on my days off. I might try it in the winter when there's less sunlight anyway

[VANurse2010]

I've tried doing 2 weeks of one then the other. I find I can't handle too many nights. I feel pretty useless on my days off. I might try it in the winter when there's less sunlight anyway

If you're having trouble with 2 weeks of nights, I doubt very seriously you'll tolerate full time nights. I'm speaking from experience here.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I'm a rotator too, but thankfully I'm only required to work one night shift per six weeks, the rest of my shifts are days. I cannot imagine working the schedule you posted about. It seems dangerous and just in humane. Can you extend your shifts to 2 to three weeks ? Or you can do three in a row and have a week off in between rotating. For example: Mon, Tue, Wed one week then Thur, Fri, Sat the next week. Hope it all works out.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I worked permanent nights for 4.5 years, but I'm naturally wired for nights. Many people are not. Like some of you, I know that rotating shifts would be worse for my health.

Getting plenty of sleep, exercise and healthy eating can ease your fatigue. Sometimes it takes a while to determine what works best.