It seems as though many of my co-workers, friends and ppl from this site have a hard time adjusting to nocs. I consider myself lucky b/c I have been doing just fine, and it hasn't messed up my internal clock at all.
I work from 6p-6a for two nights in a row. Then I am off for 48 hours, and work one more after that.
When I get off from work I go right to bed, and end up sleeping until noon. I then get up and do a few things, and take the dog for a walk. I then go to bed again at around 2ish and wake up again at around 5 to go to work.
On the nights that I am off, I follow that same schedule, but then after I wake up at Five pm, I usually stay up until 11 pm, then hit the sack nd end up sleeping all night thru. No sleeping aids needed anytime.
So far, I am not having a problem with it, then again, I haven't been doing it for very long.
I think the appeal of night shift is the same that led me to working in the E.D. You have greater autonomy in both situations. I personally like having less hand-shaking, back-patting administration around to slow me down. Besides all the REALLY freaky folks don't come out until the sun goes down...keeps my job interesting!
You do what a lot of people do. But breaking up sleep like that into a series of naps eventually did me in after 13 years. I need long periods of uninterrupted sleep at my old age. LOL
You do what a lot of people do. But breaking up sleep like that into a series of naps eventually did me in after 13 years. I need long periods of uninterrupted sleep at my old age. LOL
This is really a good point. You don't acheive the same amount of REM sleep with mulitple naps as you do with longer sleep sessions. I know on the days when I get, say 3 2-hour naps (so 6 hours of sleep) I don't feel nearly as rested as I do on a day when I get even 4-5 hours of straight sleep. It really does make a difference.
Of course, if there are family committments and stuff, then you can't help it. But if you have the opportunity, really really try and get that sleep in all at one time, and don't break it up into separate naps.
This is really a good point. You don't acheive the same amount of REM sleep with mulitple naps as you do with longer sleep sessions. I know on the days when I get, say 3 2-hour naps (so 6 hours of sleep) I don't feel nearly as rested as I do on a day when I get even 4-5 hours of straight sleep. It really does make a difference.
Of course, if there are family committments and stuff, then you can't help it. But if you have the opportunity, really really try and get that sleep in all at one time, and don't break it up into separate naps.
I used to love noc's and the naps didn't seem to bother me, as long as I had a cup of coffee when I woke up. For the last couple of years though I started to live in a fog, especially if I had things to do, and my blood pressure creeped up and I had to get off of noc's. (Now I have dogs that don't like for me to sleep the night through, but it's still better than a series of naps.)
I used to love noc's and the naps didn't seem to bother me, as long as I had a cup of coffee when I woke up. For the last couple of years though I started to live in a fog, especially if I had things to do, and my blood pressure creeped up and I had to get off of noc's. (Now I have dogs that don't like for me to sleep the night through, but it's still better than a series of naps.)
Does working nights actually have an effect on blood pressure? I have mild hypertension and find this very interesting.
I hope to never come off nights. I'm such a night owl by nature, I love being up all night! Plus, the money is great, and it's so nice not having the craziness that day shift has to deal with. Now that I'm married, it's kind of hard because even on my nights off, I don't usually feel like going to bed at a normal time. My poor husband is lonely! I might switch to days for maybe a month here and there, if management lets me, just to see how it feels. But I really hope I hate it as much as I think I will, because I think the biggest thing is the money. $3.50 an hour more really makes a difference in your paycheck!
I agree with all you noc shift lovers. I enjoy staying up and while I'm tired in the morning, I usually don't have that difficult of time falling asleep. Some nights are absolutely crazy busy and others are more slow but the night crew I work with have great senses of humor.
I just started a job a couple of months ago and I work three 12 hour night shifts a week. I have always enjoyed nights, the pace, the closeness of the staff, and most of the time, lack of management around. This CAN be a good thing!
I have worked every shift, and used to do 8 hour nights when I was first married, but that didn't work very well. Now that my kids are older it is easier. I used to be a salaried 8-4 before my present job, and now I feel like I am on vacation! I love it!
RN30241
9 Posts
I think the appeal of night shift is the same that led me to working in the E.D. You have greater autonomy in both situations. I personally like having less hand-shaking, back-patting administration around to slow me down. Besides all the REALLY freaky folks don't come out until the sun goes down...keeps my job interesting!