Adjusting to 12.5 hour nights

SwinkerDoodleRN · Jun 18, 2005

HI! :) I work 7p-7a shifts Mon, Tues, and Wed. Thursday I work 7-11. This is my summer schedule while Im not at school. Its wonderful to work nights when you finally get your routine down. Most people prefer nights. Last night I went to bed at 11 and woke at 7am to go to the gym to work out. I sleep normal hours on the weekend, but again, Im 20 years old, and it may be a little easier for the younger ones.

my boyfriend is 24 and works Fri and Sat night 7p-7a. He loves it and he can sleep normal during the week or if he wants, sometimes he stays on the same schedule if he doesnt have anything going in in the week.

Dont stress. 12 hour or 12.5 hour shifts are not as hard as you might think. Give it a chance and let your body adjust. You might experience sleeplessness maybe the first two nights, or mornings i should say, but you have to give your body time to adjust. I had stomach aches the first week because i was anxious, stressed, and trying to adjust but its been three weeks and im loving it. GOOD LUCK!!

Hi.
I'm a new grad and I'm starting my first job on 12.5 hour nights in the NICU (7:30P-8A). I was wondering if anyone had any tips on adjusting, how to go about heading into my first day, and if it's possible to sleep normally on days off. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

enfermeraSG · Jun 18, 2005

It is not as bad as you might think, but yes as the previous poster said - it is easier on the young. I am only in my 30's, but wow what a difference from how I functioned on nights in my 20's. Since I don't know how old you are, my advice is to take a nap in the afternoon. This makes or breaks my night. On my days off, I do follow a normal schedule. I have 3 children though, so I have to. SG

redwinggirlie · Jun 18, 2005

I don't think it is really an age thing, I think it depends on the person and how they manage their days off. I work with nurses from 24 to 54 years old and then some. Everyone has their own formula, and to be honest, it's hard on all. If you can switch your life to the night schedule all the time, well, you are on top of the game. Nights is not easy on anyone, perhaps that's why they pay more.

enfermeraSG · Jun 18, 2005

AAhhhhhh.... differential $$$$$. That's why we stay on nights! SG

don_rhonda · Jun 19, 2005

Hi.
I'm a new grad and I'm starting my first job on 12.5 hour nights in the NICU (7:30P-8A). I was wondering if anyone had any tips on adjusting, how to go about heading into my first day, and if it's possible to sleep normally on days off. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

No commitment to anything else in life helps a whole lot on night shifts for me. I am working 2 12 hr days and 1 12 hr night per week until I go back to school. I have always been a sleeper so it is easy for me to take a 3-4 hr nap during the day before a night shift....ear plugs and eye mask required!

mstigerlily · Jun 19, 2005

Take a 2-3 hr nap before you go in, makes all the difference (says me who is starting night 1 of 2 in a row without napping today). If you have trouble napping do something that makes you sleeping first like reading a boring med-surg textbook in dim light, take a warm bath, lie out in the sun for half an hour, etc) Then black out the windows, put in those earplugs, turn off the phone, turn on the alarm (CLOSE to you) and go to sleep.

I sleep normally on days off. Some weeks are harder than others depending on how tired I am, how hard I work, if I am sick/coming down with something and what else is going on. Sometimes I can work two nights in a row and feel normal right afterwards. Other times I feel hungover for two days but have trouble falling asleep at night. Eat right, take a nap first, respect your sleep time and make others do it too.

Melissa

Hi.
I'm a new grad and I'm starting my first job on 12.5 hour nights in the NICU (7:30P-8A). I was wondering if anyone had any tips on adjusting, how to go about heading into my first day, and if it's possible to sleep normally on days off. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

NorthernRose · Jun 19, 2005

I've worked nights for 15 years best suggestion I have is turn the phone off!!! There are people (my mom) who will call, even though they know you worked all night and say "I didn't wake you up did I?" Good luck with the job : )