8 hour noc shifts

Midwest4me · Apr 7, 2008

i have accepted a position as charge nurse on the 1030pm-7am shift. i am curious, for those of you who work this shift, how do you like it? how many days a week do you work and do you feel like you are working all the time. no, i really don't like nights but i like my 3 nights off; i work 4 10-hr noc shifts with sat, sun and mon nocs off. yes, sometimes i do feel like i work all the time---especially those nights when i work a pm shift right before the night shift or a night shift and then a day shift immediatly afterwards.
i am little nervous about working nights. i am afraid i will feel like i dont have a life (not that i do, but i like to pretend):wink2:
i will be making a 30 minute drive each way to this new job. if any of you also commute, how do you feel about the commute? yes, i commute but it's only about 15 mins each way so i don't mind it.
i know i am asking alot of questions, but any input would be fabulous:).
thanks,
nd_mom

my comments are in red above. good luck with the new job!

handyrn · Apr 8, 2008

I also work night shift, although I work 12s. I have a 30 minute commute each way and I like it. It gives me a chance to go from home mode to work mode and vice versa on the way home. Also, the end of the shift is usually busy for night shift as there are usually blood sugars, people to get up, early morning meds, etc. The drive helps me to wind down after having to go a million miles a minute.

grandee3 · Apr 8, 2008

I have been doing 7p-7a for almost 8 yrs, I really suprised myself when I tried it and liked it so much. I remember working days and wondering how the noc people deal with the shifts and then I took the chance.

I will never do streight days anymore.

If you decipline yourself to go home and go directly to bed before doing anything else, it may work for you. For me, as long as I do not try to do other things when I have to go back to work that night, I really handle it well. I work with people that make Dr, Dentist appts etc, when they get off in the morning and have to go back to work at 7p. They always complain about being tired.

When I get home in the morning, and off that night, I still go to sleep right away and get up around 2 or 3 and have the rest of the day and evening. Hope this helps.

Good luck! :yeah:

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2008

I worked full time 8 hour nights as a facility charge for many years. I loved it. It was critical for me to go to sleep immediately when I got home. That way, I could get up and have an evening with my husband before work. On my nights off, I kept to the schedule. I figured out how to do almost everything at night except mow the lawn.

I left that job only because of a disability. My job now (community health) has a long commute but I use that to mentally relax. I really miss working nights. People who love it really love it.

bethin · Apr 8, 2008

I have accepted a position as charge nurse on the 1030pm-7am shift. I am curious, for those of you who work this shift, how do you like it? How many days a week do you work and do you feel like you are working all the time.
I did days and nights for many years and just this week I'm starting 7p-7a. I love night shift. I do 3 12 hour shifts. My schedule is pretty set so I know what I work week to week. There's not as many cliques on nights - no management, SW, etc. People have to work together because the shift is not staffed as well as days (at least in my experience).
I will be making a 30 minute drive each way to this new job. If any of you also commute, how do you feel about the commute?
I have a 45 min commute each way and I don't mind it. I don't find in the am that I'm too tired to drive. The drive home is a great stress relief.
Someone mentioned going to bed as soon as you get home. I do the opposite. I treat my night shift job as my day shift job. If you worked 7-3, do you go home to bed at 4p? Probably not. So in the morning is when I do my grocery shopping but I try real hard to schedule dr's appts. on days off. You could sit in an office for 3 hours and be losing that sleep. Do what works for you.
Good luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2008

I briefly worked the 10pm to 6am shift on a 4 days on and 2 days off schedule.

It was refreshing to be able to do my job without being bothered by demanding family members, unrealistic managers, and the daytime workplace cliques. However, I resigned due to the workload of 70 patients with multiple feeding tubes and time-consuming tracheostomies.

Little Panda RN, ASN, RN · Apr 23, 2008

I have worked three nights so far and I am wiped!!! I am so emotional that I cant even stand myself. How long does it take to adjust?

I feel like I have no life. I feel like I just sleep and work. I do not like this so far. How do the rest of you do it?

CrispyRN · Apr 23, 2008

I worked 8 hour nights many years ago and NEVER got use to it! However, I was new, young and my lifestyle didn't really match up at that time. Please be careful driving home! I ran my car off the road twice because I was always so tired! Luckily it was just into the grassy shoulder, but it could have been really bad.

Good luck! I'm sure you will do fine!

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2008

I like three 12s nocs, but not five 8s. It's just too much.

I'll never do five 8s again.