How to manage life on night shift?

hayleyh31 · May 31, 2016

It sucks getting used to it, but now I can't imagine working days. I usually try to work 3 or 4 in a row in order to let myself get back to a normal schedule. This summer is kind of messy with my kids home on break all summer, so I'm working a lot of split up days. On my first shift, I either sleep in or take a nap before work for 2-3 hours. I sleep from 8:30-2:45 when I have to return. My plan for the summer is to sleep in, work my shift, then stay up the next day with an afternoon nap. It sucks, but it's do-able

DiscGolfNurse, BSN · May 31, 2016

My commute is about 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. The wonderful thing about nights is that you are usually against traffic, meaning you travel the opposite direction of morning and evening traffic heading to and from work, although this is not always the case. I personally am never so exhausted after a shift that I fall asleep at the wheel. Some of my coworkers complain of that problem but I noticed these people are people with children and other responsibilities that take up their sleeping time during the days before a shift. You could always take a little power nap in your car before driving home? I heard gum, blasting the AC, eating sunflower seeds, or cranking up the tunes help to keep you awake in the mornings.

As far as balancing life, it doesn't really pose problems for me. I have come off of a shift and gone hiking all day before (slept like a rock that night! haha) or I go home and take a nap and by that time friends and family are usually done with work so I can spend time with them in the evening.

I hope this helps!

Maevish, ASN, RN · May 31, 2016

I have accepted a position on night shift at a hospital pending my state boards. So for those of you who work nights, how do toy manage life? For example, the place I will be working is a 50 minute drive away. My wife is requesting a transfer with her job but cannot be moved until next fall. I'm just concerned about falling asleep at the wheel driving back home.
I read some tips and someone said spend money for a motel, but I can't justify paying 1,000$ a month for a hotel stay - and check in is not until 3 pm (average cost is 75$/night + 16% tax)
Also, how do you manage any social life...spending time with family and friends?

It's not too hard once you find what works for you and stay in that schedule as much as possible. If you have kids, obviously it's harder, but I've known parents with small children who work alternating days and nights (12 hour shifts) and I don't know how they do it without going postal :dead:

What I do is try to stay on my "vampire" schedule as much as possible if I have anything less than 3 days off in a row, I just tweak it a bit on the days I'm not working.

For example, when I'm working (and if I haven't stayed on my schedule) the first night is always rough unless I'm doing a juice cleanse that's heavy on the dark greens. That is, for the first day I try to stay up until 4-6 a.m. the night before and then napping for a couple hours in the afternoon before I go into work. On the days I work, I come home, have to wind down, then go to sleep ASAP until 3-4 p.m.

If I have a day or two off in between shifts I still stay up most of the night (usually until about 4-6 a.m. and just do a long nap when I get tired. Repeat PRN :cheeky:

If I have 4-5 days off in a row and I'm going home to see my family or have plans with friends I'll tweak my hours a bit, but depending on when things are planned. It's been proven that it's not night shift that hurts your body, but the swapping back and forth between days and nights that does the real, lasting harm.

Over the past couple years I've never worked somewhere closer than 50 minutes away so I have been/still am in your shoes (for two contracts, I was driving 2.5 hours each way to work in the Bay Area--effing traffic!--and then working 12+ hours in a crazy ICU, then driving home). There were awful months where my whole work "day" was driving, working, trying to sleep ASAP and doing the whole thing over again.

I did a hotel a couple of times, but you're right, even at a cheaper place, it was rarely worth it. However, it was SO nice being able to go right to my room and just chill rather than driving all that way home when I was beat.

Also, invest in something (be it a podcast--there are SO many good ones like EMCrit or Serial--or new music) that you focus on instead of just being tired. What helps with that is, when you're listening to whatever it is, turn it down low so you have to strain a bit to hear what is being talked about, if it's a podcast or a book reading. It helps keep you sharper than if you were to blast it.

Making sure I still eat properly (which is however you feel and function the best), exercise/yoga, and staying away from caffeine unless it's an absolute last resort helps me to be able to sleep better as well. If I ever drink caffeine, which is rare, I try to stay semi healthy and don't drink RedBull or Monster drinks (which I used to have 3-4 of a night back in the day) helps me sleep better as well.

I hope I was able to help, even a little bit, and good luck! It's possible (I'm a night owl anyway and have never done ONLY day shift for longer than just under a month so that helps me), but it takes some planning and working around certain things. The main thing to remember is to try to stay near the same schedule when you're not working (especially at first, when you're trying things out and seeing what works for you sleep, workout, and time wise). That's what helped me the absolute most!

Good luck and welcome to the dark side:greyalien:

xo

P.S. Good god, this was long! Sorry lol

jjmm RN,BSN · May 31, 2016

Although I work days now, when I was on nights I had issues with falling asleep on the way home and my commute was just 30 minutes. The only thing that helped me was eating. I would save a granola bar, a piece of fruit or even doritos and eat them slowly while driving. As far as the social life thing I don't really have advice. Not trying to be negative, but the night shift wrecked me personally, although I had coworkers that thrived with it, tried days and hated it and went back to nights! Good luck!

Larry2016 · May 31, 2016

Thanks everyone.

Ok I have no problem actually falling asleep. My wife thinks I was a cat in my former life. I can be easily awakened, but I can fall asleep on command.

I suggested to my wife that I just live like a vampire like some said and she got mad lol. No kids but 2 cats and a dog who think they are kids. I mean, there are ways to still have a life if you are always awake from 5 pm to 9 am...and on days off sleep in until 6 or 7 pm :)

Thank you for suggestions

DeeAngel · May 31, 2016

I don't know how they schedule at your work but I used to work Sat/Sun/Mon as a trade off for getting my 3 days in a row every week with a dependable schedule that never varied except for voluntarily switching shifts with someone. It will be hard in some ways but it is soooo much easier if you can always work your 3 then be off 4. I could not work night shift without doing it this way. Other than that, black out shades in the bedroom, turn the phone off and use a white noise machine. If the doorbell comes to be bothersome, disconnect it.

Tashbun · Jun 3, 2016

Try and always get more sleep the day before you start your first night shift. Try and pack a lunch because the only thing open is gonna be crap and it'll take a toll on your and your body. If you drink coffee hide your creamer (once someone knows you have some, everyone will know). For the drive home I have coworkers who brush their teeth before they leave or chew gum on the way home.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 3, 2016

Try and pack a lunch because the only thing open is gonna be crap and it'll take a toll on your and your body.

This totally depends on the facility. Our cafeteria opens from 2100-0100 for the night shift.

Larry2016 · Jun 4, 2016

This totally depends on the facility. Our cafeteria opens from 2100-0100 for the night shift.

Nice but that doesn't help if your break is at 230 or 3 am :)

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 4, 2016

Nice but that doesn't help if your break is at 230 or 3 am :)

Our unit is really good at making sure everyone has a chance to run down before 0100 if they didn't bring a lunch. Even if you don't get to eat it right away, you have a chance to get your food and bring it to the break room, at least.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2016

I would beware the drinking coffee before the drive as that can mess up your day sleep.

I did rotating nights for a while. I hated them, but I powered through. I made my room literally pitch black. I had two fans (one on each side of my bed) I would take sleep med and turn the AC to 65. I was asleep by 0900. And....no matter what I did..I would wake up around noon...and that was it. I looked and felt like death. Some people manage it better. I have no kids..no nothing waking me up...and yet...noon...I was awake.

WheresMyPen · Jun 5, 2016

It is very hard in the beginning and I prefer 12 hr shifts so I have more days off to have a life.. It works for some people and others prefer 8 hrs. If I have only one day off I sleep in and I do not change my sleep pattern. If I have a few days off in a row I will change my pattern to spend time with others during the day. I get plenty of rest and if I cant I take Otc sleep aids to help (Benadryl usually helps). But I try not to take any Benadryl unless I really need it. I drink a lot of water and coffee. Helps keep me awake but replenishes the dehydrating affects of the coffee. I still have yet to eat better. I've lost weight, but others say the gained weight. Guess it depends on the person. It will be an adjustment but it's do-able! I sometimes take two four hour naps instead of straight 8 hours. There are ways to make it work. Goodluck!!