Midnight shift

Published

I was just offered a midnight shift rotation in LTC. Been a float for awhile now, but this would be a steady rotation. I've worked a couple of midnights here and there but never a complete steady rotation of nights and I wanted to hear from other nurses about what steady nights would be like and what kind of impact it had on your life. Did you like it? Did you feel like a zombie all the time? I am in my 20s and don't have to worry about kids or anything like that at this stage in my life (Going to give it another few years before I consider it). Any input on what nights is like in general, especially for a long period of time would be appreciated:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Night shift loved it worked 6:30p to 7:00a 3 on 3 off rotation. Your body will need time to adjust to eating and sleep habits. You will either love it or hate it. People seemed to be more layed back on nights. My sleeping habits would be 10:00am or so and wake about 4:00pm sometimes earlier. Like anything else you will just have to adjust and balance your working night life to your social life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Almost 6 years on night shift and love it. It does take a few weeks to a few months to adjust. I stay up late on my nights off 2-4am. I have kids, but I sleep while they are at school. Took awhile for family and friends to adjust, but they are good about it now. If I was working days, I still wouldn't be around until after 3pm. I still have evenings with everyone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

Personally, I love night shift, but I have always been a night owl. I agree with the above, that you will either love it or hate it and that people tend to be more laid back on night shift. Because of the skeleton staffing, there is more teamwork and multi-tasking.

Other things I enjoy about night shift is no administrators, no doctors and no regulatory powers-that-be to look over your shoulders & breathe down your neck.

I have a routine where I sleep from ~ 1pm-9pm, eat, get ready for work, leave ~10:30pm, off ~7:30am, then run errands, appts, whatever.

Give it a try!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi! I will be starting 7p to 7a soon (first nursing job period) and have kind of an odd question. What do you do about meals? Do you eat dinner when you get home at 730-8 am?? Breakfast at 6pm?? I don't get it! And I've definitely always been more of a night owl than morning person as well, MisMatch. I'm HOPING this means that nights will be good for me. I guess there's only one way to find out!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Night shift since 1987--2 years of 11-7, 7p-7a since. You can't know until you try it. I didn't do as well on the 8 hr shifts, only had 2 days off in a row every other weekend, and I wanted to be a little normal on those isolated days off, so kept myself feeling dragged out.

I work 3 12s, sometimes in a row, sometimes work 2, have 2 or 3 off. Ususally eat something when I come home (sometimes just have some coffee), am asleep by 9:30-10a. Get up around 3 or 4 and have supper with the family. Eat again at work somewhere between 1-3a.

I have a 6 and 10 yr old, and actually see them more now than if I worked 12 hr days. On days, I'd be gone before they woke up, and would get home between 8:30 and 9p (as they were getting ready for bed). Now, I'm working when they're sleeping, and sleeping when they're mostly in school. A very involved father helps immensely!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for all the input ladies and gentlemen. I think I will take it. Although the particular days of the week the nights are on are not ideal, I am a night person. I've worked many days and I feel like I'm completely wiped out at the end of the day and hate waking up early in the morning. Also I should be happy to be getting an additional job offer and trying to pay off student loans/expenses related to being a young poor couple!

As for eating. I have worked a few weeks of nights just not steady and I find I snacked a lot or ate as I was hungry. I would make sure I packed plenty of snacks when I was on the 12s and wouldn't eat much during the day. However I have spoken to many people who get bad heartburn when they eat on nights. I think your body just needs to adjust to a new circadian rhythm.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.
Hi! I will be starting 7p to 7a soon (first nursing job period) and have kind of an odd question. What do you do about meals? Do you eat dinner when you get home at 730-8 am?? Breakfast at 6pm?? I don't get it! And I've definitely always been more of a night owl than morning person as well, MisMatch. I'm HOPING this means that nights will be good for me. I guess there's only one way to find out!

Another thing I like about night shift is there are fewer "rules" to follow (not that I follow the "rules"). Meals are whatever I am in the mood to eat. When I get up at 9pm, sometimes I eat a bowl of cereal, tonight I ate chicken salad. Tomorrow am, I might pick up a sub on the way home or cook some eggs once I get home. For my 3am meal break, I usually pack snacks, a salad or meal shake. I don't cook much; kids are grown and I'm single again so I'm taking a break on that.

Make up your own routine for meals, just eat healthy and get sufficient sleep.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

I echo what MisMatch says plus I turn my cell phone off (no matter how many times I asked people not to call/text, they do anyway) and use a sleep mask. Getting on a schedule was important for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Dizzy, I've definitely decided my phone will be set on silent when I'm trying to sleep. My friends and family are the same way. I'll ask a thousand times, but it doesn't matter! haha

As far as "rules" for eating...that makes sense. I don't know why I am stressing over it when it shouldn't matter to anyone but myself what I am eating! lol Thanks, Mn and Mismatch!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion