Any overnight nurses?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2010

The facilities around here staff 8-hour night shifts from 10pm to 6am. The 12-hour shifts are from 6pm to 6:30am or 7pm to 7:30am.

If I work a 10-6am shift, I'll go to sleep at around 2pm and awaken at 8:30 or 9pm. I like to sleep up until right before the shift begins because I'm fully awake and alert during the course of the entire night. I'm also wakeful enough to take care of personal business and run errands during daylight hours.

MisMatch, LPN · Oct 21, 2010

I usually go to bed between 12-1 PM and get up between 8-9 PM. It helps that it's just me and my dog - who is use to my schedule, since that is all she's ever known.

LadyAscheRN · Oct 21, 2010

I admit, I'm the opposite when I work nights. Last night job was 11p - 7a, so after my 90 min commute home (grrrrr) I would sack out about 9 am and get up in time to get my daughter off the bus at 4p, then stay up for the remainder of the day. That's just me - I have type2 diabetes, so I had to play around with what my body was happiest with and that is what seemed to work. Once you find your groove, you'll be fine.

heavenlynurse · Oct 21, 2010

I work 7p-7a, and sleep from 9-5. If I were working at 11p I'd sleep from 1-9p. Sleeping close to the time you have to work does help you stay alert.

GoECU · Oct 21, 2010

I go to sleep around 8am and wake up between 3 and 4pm. I have to have my schedule this way so I'll be able to spend time with my family in the evening before I go into work at 10p. :yawn:

IndiKast · Oct 21, 2010

I do 10-6a Mon Tue 10-7a Thu and 11-7 Fri and Sat. In general I tend to go hit my favorite breakfast place on the way home "Einsteins" where there's a great walking path just behind it. It's just a quick little 15min walk but by the time I get home I'm ready to go to bed. So, in response to your question, I get up about 6:30p to enjoy a little family time and I'm in bed by 8 or 9am at the latest depending on errands needing to be done. (no children in the house)

Good luck and be aware that some people don't adjust well to night shifts so be kind and drink lots of water at first!

JStollRN · Oct 21, 2010

I work from 10:45 pm to 7:15 am and I usually go to bed between 10:30-11:00 am and wake up at 7:30 pm every night...that way I can have a few hours with my husband before I leave for work again.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Oct 21, 2010

I used to go to sleep around 1:30pm-2pm and get up around 8:30pm-9pm for an 11pm-7am shift. It worked out well. I did errands during daylight and it is easy to make appointments then. I made it a PRIORITY to be home by noon, though, so that I wasn't late for my lunch and bedtime. :coollook: Don't let other people mess with your sleep. If they ask you to do something during your sleep hours, say to them that is like asking them to do something at 2-3am. GUARD your sleep.

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 21, 2010

I go to sleep around 8am and wake up between 3 and 4pm. I have to have my schedule this way so I'll be able to spend time with my family in the evening before I go into work at 10p.

This is what I do. On the rare occasions I worked at 11p instead of 7p, I might try to get in a 1-hour nap at around 7 or 8pm, but that usually doesn't work and doesn't make me feel any more rested, so I would just stay up, then leave for work as my husband was settling into bed.

copperkali · Oct 21, 2010

I usually sleep from 9am to 1 or 2 in the afternoon. I can't sleep any longer than that I have a hard time sleeping during the night let alone the day...It sucks.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Oct 22, 2010

I worked 10pm to 8am, went to bed by 9am, and set my alarm for 3:30 pm. I'm lucky enough to live near a 24-hour supermarket, but I usually did errands after 5pm.

I'm a night owl, I'm now working days, and I miss the night shift.