Another ? about working the 7p-7a shift

Slobgob · May 7, 2005

A long afternoon nap sounds like the best option... but how do you take a nap if you're just not tired in the afternoon?

My system involves staying up real late 3 am or so... then sleeping a good chunk from 3am - 1pm if I can manage it. I just can't take afternoon naps after i've been so rested for a number of days... so I make sure my last night of sleep is late. This also helps my body adjust to being up later at night...

Think of it this way...

Normal day off... sleep at 11pm

Last day off... sleep at 3-4am

First night of work... sleep at 8am

I think that makes the transition smoother... or atleast in theory.

RoxanRN · May 7, 2005

Think of it this way...
Normal day off... sleep at 11pm
Last day off... sleep at 3-4am
First night of work... sleep at 8am

My pattern is something like Slobgob's. However, I have to use Ambien to help me sleep (take a long time getting to sleep and wake up frequently - always have had problems). First normal day off, I take 5mg Ambien and sleep til around 1200-1400. I'll go to bed that night with 10mg Ambien at about 2200-2400. On subsequent 'normal' days off, I take 10mg and go to bed around 2100-2200. On the last day off, I'll sleep as late as I can and usually get a short nap in the afternoon. No matter what I've tried, I'm always a bit tired on that first night back.

GGodwinRN · May 7, 2005

If I have to take my daughter to school on the first day back, I get up around 6am and do all the kid stuff, then take a nap from 12pm to 3pm. If I don't have to take her to school, I just stay in bed and sleep in, usually til around 10am. Even if I wake up earlier I make myself stay in bed and just rest until around 10am. Then on my last day of working I will come home and take just a couple hour nap and then go to sleep that night at a normal time. Works pretty good for me.

babyktchr, BSN, RN · May 8, 2005

I'm trying to work this out, since this is the shift I'll be doing when i start work soon. So, the plan is to work 3 12's in a row. on the 3rd one, go home, sleep til lunch time, wake up and be back on normal schedule for days off. BUt, on day that I'd have to go to work at 7pm, first day back, how do I do that?
If I wake up at normal time, do i take a long afternoon nap? sleep late?
WHat haveyou guys done that has worked?

I must say that I am an avid lover of sleep...and get mighty cranky when I can't have my fill. My first night...I get up at 0700 and take 50mg benadryl...get the kid to school...then I am back to sleep from 9ish till maybe 1 (sometimes longer). This is of course sleeping all night long. I know, I know, it sounds extreme, but I am miserable if I don't get enough sleep before my first shift. It makes a difference to, at least to me, for the subsequent shifts. I take a wee bit of xanax to help me sleep during the day for the next nights. I have trouble staying asleep.

I try not to sleep my whole day away when I don't have to go back, but sometimes I just do.

Sounds extreme..but works for me.

GwenRN · May 8, 2005

I'm trying to work this out, since this is the shift I'll be doing when i start work soon. So, the plan is to work 3 12's in a row. on the 3rd one, go home, sleep til lunch time, wake up and be back on normal schedule for days off. BUt, on day that I'd have to go to work at 7pm, first day back, how do I do that?
If I wake up at normal time, do i take a long afternoon nap? sleep late?
WHat haveyou guys done that has worked?

I work 7p-7a and 7a-7p rotating shift. I also need to get my sleep 10-12hrs. I usually sleep the day of the night Iam scheduled from 08-14, but I must also use 50mg of Bendadryl or Unisom to get cont. rest. On my last noc. shift I try not to sleep @ all, consume large amt. of caffeine and try to stay up all day (my record is 36 hrs) so that I can sleep that noc and get back into the swing of things. Some things that help me to stay sleeping are to turn off the phone in my room, complete darkness, and a fan helps to drown out the noises of daytime life. Good luck.

*PICURN* · May 8, 2005

benadryl.....benadryl....benadryl.....

LYNNORA · May 8, 2005

I stay up as long as i can the night before i work(Thurs) - usually last until about 3am. Stay in bed all day Friday- maybe watch TV, eat. Go to work Fri, Sat and Sun nights. Sleep until 2pm on Monday. Any more than that and i don't sleep Monday night. I don't take drugs to help me sleep but may have a drink in the hot tub at HS. My one tip is not to get worried about sleeping, sleep when you are tired, be productive when you are awake. I try to do what my body tells me i need, not be awake or asleep just because the rest of the world is. Walmart is open 24hrs!

PJMommy · May 8, 2005

Do you have children? If so, that will make a difference in your "normal" day patterns. I can't stay up late on my days off because I have to get up at 6 AM with children.

First day back -- the night before, I go to sleep at 11 PM and get up at 5 AM so I'm tired enough to take a 2-3 hour nap before my first night back at work.

After last night of work, I actually sleep all day -- until 3 PM or so -- get up and then back to bed around 11 PM. I've tried getting up at noon and it just didn't work for me...I was worthless and exhausted the rest of the day.

Also, if you have to work 3-12s a week, you can also do what I do a lot -- schedule 3-12s for the end of the workweek and some at the beginning of the workweek. I often do 4 in a row, a night off to "catch up" on sleep, then 2 in a row. Usually that will give me a nice 5 to 7 day stretch off of work.

HONEYBEAR · May 8, 2005

I'm trying to work this out, since this is the shift I'll be doing when i start work soon. So, the plan is to work 3 12's in a row. on the 3rd one, go home, sleep til lunch time, wake up and be back on normal schedule for days off. BUt, on day that I'd have to go to work at 7pm, first day back, how do I do that?
If I wake up at normal time, do i take a long afternoon nap? sleep late?
WHat haveyou guys done that has worked?

Benadryl , ear plugs, DARKEN room, and turn volume off on the phone.......working nights for 3 years, love it.......7p-7a-Thur-sunday night.....Monday I only sleep until 3pm or I run around town in the morning, than I go home and sleep from 12noon until 5pm....spend the evening with the hubby, then sleep that night w/o any problems. On Thursday I will be in bed by 10 am and sleep until 5.30p to start my work week all over again. :rolleyes:

zambezi, BSN, RN · May 9, 2005

I agree with what is posted thus far...If you don't have to worry about kids/other family it is a little easier to get into a pattern....but you do what you have to.

My first night on, I usually sleep unitl 830 am or so...get up, work out, get some errands done, tap a nap from one to two o'clock to 5:00 get up, shower, eat then go to work at 6:30. I get home the next day around 730...eat breakfast, play online or read and go to bed somewhere between 8 and 9. I sleep until 5. When I switch back to a "normal" schedule sleeping nights, I come home from work at 730...try to be in bed by 8 and sleep unitl three or so. I usually use 1 tylenol pm to get me thru the night otherwise I am wide awake at 400 am...the next night i usually sleep ok. I usually use the tylenol pm on the days I switch (either days->nights or vice versa) but once I have made the switch I am ok. It is important for you to get the sleep you need so you can function.

I sleep in a whole different room during the day...darkened blinds, dark walls, fan for white noise...it works for me. It did take me about three months or so to feel ok with switching back and forth...if Idon't get enough sleep i just feel sick to my stomach/nauseous so I make sure that it is a priority unless it can't be avoided...

Franlpntorn · May 9, 2005

I'm trying to work this out, since this is the shift I'll be doing when i start work soon. So, the plan is to work 3 12's in a row. on the 3rd one, go home, sleep til lunch time, wake up and be back on normal schedule for days off. BUt, on day that I'd have to go to work at 7pm, first day back, how do I do that?
If I wake up at normal time, do i take a long afternoon nap? sleep late?
WHat haveyou guys done that has worked?

Congrad one more nurse to the fold.

Still up all night on my days off. Work 2 days and get 1 or 2 sometime 3 days off in a row then the 3rd day. on 1 day stay up late, on 2 days off sleep when I get home up by 2p, 3 days try and do 2 days in the daylight. When I go back I get to bed no latter then 5am and up by 2 or 3pm. Just had 2 days off the first day sleeep till 7p but did'nt get to bed before 11am. Not sure if I could do 3 days in a row. :stone If I was 30 years younger maybe just love my sleep.

Get room darking shades, and turn off the phone, get caller ID, just in case they try and call you in on your day off. I know when they call me- they have the number blocked. Affter a few weeks you'll know what works best for you.

Nights are not as bad as days. By the time I get to work their all most ready for bed, and the Doc's are few and far between.

--------------------------------------------------------

Life is a learning curve!!!!!!