anyone work a night shift and go to school?

[law3576]

I was just hired today at a local hospital. YEAH!!

I am required to do several rotating night shifts throughout the month from 7P-7A. I think most of them will be weekends but I may have to do one sometime during the month on a weekday. I have class from 8-noon usually so i think i could handle one day of this but I know I'll be dead tired when I get home.

Has anyone done this before and do you have any pointers?

I told her today I could work thursday-saturday nights. (any two of those for one week) and then maybe 2 8's during the week with one 12 during the weekend. The job is 48 hours per pay period.

Thanks for any advice!

[PrincessAnnie]

I work 10pm-8am at a half way house. I may look for hospital work. These are excellent hours for someone that is in school. Luckily there is about 4 hours a night where I can study,but the pay stinks.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I work the 7p-7a night shift in my ICU and I love my job :) I get to do and see the most amazing things! All under RN supervision of course.

I'm starting my senior year and I plan to just work a shift a week, probably Friday night into sat morning that way I can sleep on sat till noon and spend the rest of the weekend with my family. I'm still taking out student loans because I don't want to have to work more than a shift a week (to me it's not worth the time lost from my children and hubby so it's a personal decision).

I agree with the others, block out the light from your windows and I really love my sleep mask. I have kids at home that are 5 and 9 and yes they bother me when I'm trying to sleep but I make do. I usually sleep on the couch and they are allowed to watch movies, play games, read books, etc. I try to NOT work all night and go to school the same morning though! I've done it and it really sucks! I'm an excellent A/B student as well :)

And in the ICU, some nights there isn't much going on and you will have some time and then others are SO BUSY it's insane (of course that is what I like about it, you just never know). But really it is never so slow that I have had time to study, there are always at least q1h vitals to be done, neuro checks, etc to be done (basically constant assessment of the patients and even as a student you will be doing this and reporting changes you see to the RN).

[azor]

i guess working weekend nights as in starting may be friday -sunday will go a long way to help depending on your school schedules.Again,if you can study while at work,just a bit,i think it'll help also.Goodluck and congrats.

Azor

[trainer2070]

I work 5 8's a week from 2200 to 0630 then have class from 0700 to 1330 depending on which day it is. Since I have a set schedule, I try and schedule my labs on my days off. You just have to be organized and get real good at not wasting any free time.