Thoughts on the 3-11 shift: I can't fall asleep afterwards!!

Nurses General Nursing

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So,

Does anyone else have this problem with swing shift: You get home, you want to go to bed, but you stay up for another 2-4 hours unproductively surfing the web and mindlessly snacking?? Maybe you do something else besides surf the web, and the the mindlessly snacking part may be just me;)

Does anyone purposefully NOT work swing shift because of this?

I am deciding between a couple job options and this may be the deciding factor. I've worked swing on and off for the past 4 years and this has always been a problem for me. I like swing *in theory* b/c I am not an early bird/morning riser, but it seems not to be worth it in the long run.

Has anyone been able to combat this successfully?

Specializes in pediatrics, pediatric ER.

I worked 3-11 for about 15 years total. I loved it, but it doesn't seem to work if you have a family. When I was

younger, I found myself sleeping more, but less as I aged. You sort of have to make yourself go to bed. I loved

not having to go in early, though. I have been working days for most of the past 15 years. I try to go to bed

early when I have to work the next day also. If you take a nice hot shower before bed, that seems to help me

relax. Also, a cup of sleepytime tea. Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC.

Hmmm, yes, mindless snacking and surfing the web for hours. Then I toss and turn when I do try to go to sleep. And then I drag myself out of bed at 10 in the morning, and sloooooowly get ready for work all day, between more mindless eating and web-surfing. It's kind of ridiculous. Some people like 3-11 because they can get stuff done before they go to work. I can't get motivated to do anything.

When I worked 7-3 I got up, got my work day out of the way early, then came home and walked the dog, cooked dinner, etc. I got more stuff done. Then when 930-10 o'clock rolled around I'd drift off into irresistible sleep. On my days off I would naturally wake up early.

This is why I just put in for first shift. I like 3-11- I like the work and the people that I work with, and I love that the bigwigs all go home by 5, but it's really no good for me.

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I work 3 - 11, also that's y I'm still up right now@ 5:o7 am kinda sucks I have the same problem with going to sleep as well a shower usually helps. And just laying down and trying to go to sleep but the shower has worked for me. Its not an easy timing for a shift try different things like hot shower, drinking warm milk, read boring book, listen to sound scape music, stare @ wall next to bed, try to still mind by not thinking @ all count sheep, backwards, breathe in and out real slow deeply, try to do it same time everyday, u should have better pattern of sleep. Hmmm I should try these things everydat it'll b 6 am soon I'm still up!! Ugghh

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Specializes in Home Health, SNF.

I worked 3-11 until a day shift position became available. I found myself wired after work and staying up way too late, reading, watching TV, surfing the net, etc. Then I would basically get up late, and get ready for work. I seemed to have no life outside of work.

I'm now working 8:30 until 5:00 P.M. and it's going much better. You have to choose your shift and have some discipline I guess (I had none:yawn:)

Good luck

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Specializes in med/surg, ER, camp nursing.

A nice glass of vino always did the trick. :yawn:

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

I kinda adjust to either day or pm shift. i work mostly the pm shift. i prefer the days now though. i have a drive home though after my shift (40 min) so thats my wind-down time. but there are times though that i am wound up and i sit and watch a movie.

What i did in the beginning, maybe you can try, have a plan for when you go home, either clean a room, or watch a movie or something. that way, you have a plan that you know you are going to do and then your body will wind down naturally. after a while, you will get tired faster and it will get easier.

i never have slept well anyhow, so i do take sleeping pills. but that doesnt matter, because if i am that UP, they dont do anything, so i still come home and have my little 'plan' of things to do before i take and fall asleep.

gl!

-H-RN

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
So,

Does anyone else have this problem with swing shift: You get home, you want to go to bed, but you stay up for another 2-4 hours unproductively surfing the web and mindlessly snacking?? Maybe you do something else besides surf the web, and the the mindlessly snacking part may be just me;)

You just described me perfectly.:eek:

My actual circadian rhythm has always been a little "off". Evening shift works well for me, because I do best when I can go to sleep around 1 AM and get up around 9. I've never been a morning person, although I can adapt when I have to; the only thing I really can't do is work nights (takes me two full days to recover now that I am old and set in my ways).

One thing that does help a little is, I take my nightly dose of Ativan as I'm warming up the car after work. It takes over an hour to kick in and I've got only a ten-minute commute, so no worries about falling asleep behind the wheel. (I do NOT do this when weather conditions are such that I need to be hyper-alert, or when there is night construction that could delay my getting home.) Then when I do get home, I take 3 mg melatonin and hop in the shower.........I usually get pretty sleepy after that.

But yeah, there are many nights when I sit up till 0200, posting on allnurses and eating cereal (laughs).:D

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