Help! need tips for adjusting to night shift

[Newnurse]

I'm a new grad whom recently -4 weeks-started a position on a med-surg floor on the 11-7am shift. I love the unit routine and the most of the people I work with (I orientated on days, and find nights more friendly to learning and co-workers more supportive of eachother and inexperienced new grads) The problem is; I always feel tired, even when I get 6 or 7 hrs sleep after work. I sleep from about 9:30am to 4pm (when my kids get home from school)I sometimes get in a short nap before leaving for work.I have been grumpy and mean with my family because I always feel sleep deprived, even though I am not, technically. I never slept more than 7 hours a night when working day jobs, and it was fine. I would love to hear from other night nurses who have had this problem and overcame it. I really would like to succeed on this shift, but I don't want to ruin my home life to do it--Help!

[tay08]

You said you've worked all kind of jobs. What's the best jobs you ever did

[Angelrina,CCRN]

Just want to thank those who posted tips for all your help. I am a new grad and will be starting on nights after I complete orientation. I'm so nervous about it but I find all the tips here to be very helpful. Thanks so much! The hospital I will be working for has a year and a half waiting list for days so I will be on nights for a while and really hope I can make the best of it.