If you work nights, what are your days off like?

SapphireJulzRN · May 28, 2015

If I have more than 2 off after my 3 night stretch, I usually stay up that day so I can flip over to a day schedule. Otherwise, if it's just 1 or 2 nights off, I stick to my night schedule.

Night shift is hard on the body, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Been on nights (1900-0730) for over 12 years now and love it.

All the cool kids work the night shift!

Keepin' em alive until 07:35!! :)

weirdscience · May 28, 2015

I don't rotate, which means I have to do all my exercising at the gym. On a high energy week, I get there on 3 of 4 "off" nights. On a low energy week, maybe once.

On off days, I awaken between 1600-1930, and go to bed between 0800-1000. I average 8-10 hours of sleep/day, whereas on days I can function with 5-6 hours.

I can get up at noon or later if I have to make an appointment or training, but I usually need a 2-3 hour nap on these days. I can sometimes fall asleep at night (usually between midnight and 2 am), but will invariably awaken by 0300 and be wide awake through 0800.

The only way I can rotate back is by staying up all night and the following day, and I'm not willing to do that on a weekly basis. I usually go camping when I vacation, and this is the only time I rotate back, with the help of the sun.

Edited to say: only sleep aid I take is melatonin, to wind down and fall asleep fast if I have to work that night.

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · May 28, 2015

On my first day off I'll sleep during the day like normal, then take some sleeping meds to get to sleep that night. Then I'm on a day schedule until I'm back on nights, and prior to that first night I nap during the afternoon. Its tough but its been working for me so far.

JLV5646 · May 28, 2015

I work 3- 12hour nights per week and nights suck!!! My sleep schedule is putting a toll on me emotionally and physically. Because I am tired all of the time, I sleep all of the time. This has been making me so lazy and depressed. I am not motivated to do anything anymore. I think im getting too much sleep, but i do try to stay up like a normal human being on my days off.

PghRN15 · May 28, 2015

Same here.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · May 28, 2015

I work 5p-5a and that 2 hours really does make a difference. Nights off i go to bed around 1 and wake up at 9. Gives me a full day and its not wasted. I also am lucky and have long stretches off so I can switch with ease.

esipbisn · May 28, 2015

I work 8pm-8am, I go straight to the gym for 2/3 hrs. Go to sleep around 1pm and then get up around 4/5pm and do what I have to do till I go back to work.

On my days off I just go back to a normal schedule as much as I can minus the gym

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · May 28, 2015

I don't change my schedule. I work 3 8hr shifts a week.

So for instance today...I got home at 8am..ate something, shower and went to bed around 830am. Got up around 1:30pm or so. Around 830p I'll put something boring on the TV and fall asleep for an hour or so, get up shower and go in.

I'll get home tomorrow around the same time (Friday), do the same thing..eat, shower, bed. Get up and do my thing. I'm off tomorrow night. I'll stay up tomorrow night until I'm tired, go to bed, sleep and get up when my eyes open in the morning. Usually around 6am or so. I'll go about my day Saturday as usual. I'm off Saturday night so I'll do the same thing as Friday..go to bed when i'm tired, wake up Sunday when my eyes open. sunday night I'm on, so I'll do the nap at 830ish thing and go to work.

I've always been one who stays up late and gets up early. I rarely if ever get more than 5-6 hrs sleep. Have always been that way even as a kid. Late to bed, early to rise is how I have always functioned.

ahmon · May 28, 2015

night shifter here. I try to stay on night shift on nights off. If I have errands to run, I try to do them after a shower. Grocery shopping is a breeze with no wait in lines. Sleep day time, wake up late afternoon/early eve. On nights I hit the gym, I try to take a quick power nap before hitting the 24 Hour Fitness at 2am. Again, no wait time for a machine. Go home, wind down and sleep

kitti419 · May 29, 2015

I've been on nights now almost 5 years total. I do my best to have "normal" hours when I am off. That said, I am often cranky, easily confused, and forgetful. I am a single parent. I sleep with one eye open during the day and my phone next to my ear incase my kids need to reach me. My mom keeps them when I go to work and gets them to school. I exercise almost daily when I wake up in the afternoon. I tend to skip workouts more easily on off days. I generally can't sleep during the day, even when I've worked the night before, without a sleep aid like benadryl or melatonin. I like nights, but it's a day shift world. When I'm off, I come home, take a small nap, then wake up and get things done so I'm pretty exhausted at normal bedtime. I usually get my second wind around 11pm. If I don't get in bed by 11PM then I'm generally stuck awake getting crap done at all hours of the night, which screws me up the next day but I am pretty used to my functional, sleep-deprived life!

Wolf at the Door, BSN · May 29, 2015

When I did nights I was able to transition without meds or lack of sleep. I would get up early 8am on my days off with no alarm. Sleep at about 12-1am. Lucky me I guess.

thenightnurse456 · May 29, 2015

I work a rotational roster, a combination of nights and days. When I work 3 nights in a row I have a small nap before my first night. Sleep the whole next day before my next shift.

After my 3 are finished I wake myself up at midday so I can transition back to normal hours.

I used to drink lots of coffee and junk food on nights but it made me feel so gross and lethargic. So now it's green smoothies and healthy snacks with green tea. I exercise before my shifts. Wakes me up!