How long did it take your body to adjust working 3rd shift?

emttonurse · May 2, 2012

I'm wondering the same thing. It works better for my class schedule, but I barely knew when to eat/sleep on second shift. If anyone has any suggestions on how to cope on third, I'm all ears!

Skayda · May 2, 2012

Which shift is that? I arrive at work on Friday at 8pm and go to bed then I work on Saturday from 8am til 8pm (then sleep there but wake for alarms, etc) then Sunday 8m til 8pm (sleep there) then off at 8am Monday so I'm kind of foggy on the shift thing, like what hours are 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Are they the morning, afternoon and evening shifts? I love my job but I'm also so glad I only have to work two days a week and get five full days off in a row! Which will really help once I start my classes! :)

nursetabitha · May 2, 2012

1st shift is approx. 6:00am - 2;00pm, 2nd is approx. 2:00pm - 10:00pm, and 3rd shift is the night shift. Give or take an hour or two depending on the facility. I just got a second shift job which is fine for me. I'm not a morning person.

mindyfromcali · May 3, 2012

I've worked all shifts. I've worked 8 hour and 12 hour. For 8 hour starting at 11pm and ending at 7am, i would usually sleep for a few hours after getting home from work at 8am. Then I'd wake up at 12 or 1 be awake til about 3, then sleep til about 8 or 9. I wouldn't eat during the day except maybe a snack during my midday awake time. Nighttime I would eat a big meal for dinner right before work, and then a smaller one during my "dinner" break. The trick is to find what works for you. It took me a week or two to get used to the schedule. Try to make sure you have a quiet dark place to sleep.