How to handle working nights x3, days x2?

[puppyluvRN]

Hi all, I currently work 3 nights/week at a hospital and I do enjoy my job and love how challenging it is. My hospital has plenty of opportunities and incentives for picking up extra shifts and the pay is good; however, I have been looking for a part time (2x week) job at a med spa because I get 4 nights off and I was looking for a part time job where I can be more productive on my days off. I believe it is also a low stress, more fun environment, and a good variation to my hospital job. My question is how would one handle the constant change in sleep schedule? I would work straight 3 nights at the hospital, get a night or 2 off, and then go to the part time job. I don't have any problems staying up at night as I am naturally a night owl. I do get tired during the day on my days off. Thanks for your advice :)

[brownbook]

If you're reasonably young and reasonably healthy I don't see any problem. I worked 4 nights a week, ranged from work 2 off 2, work 4 off 3, and every variation. I always just slept maybe 2 hours in the morning my first day off, and went to an awake during the day sleep at night sleep schedule. I did it 17 years, it never bothered me. Seems like you'd be doing about the same?

[canigraduate]

Depends on how you handle going without sleep. I personally couldn't do that. I would be asleep the entire time I was at home, or an evil brain-eating zombie.