My sleeping pattern is messed up...

[succinate]

I'm only a student but have decided to post in this section since you have more experiences with night shifts than I do.

It's challenging for me to keep up with the workload and commuting (15 miles away), and luckily I have two days off, so I can catch up on some sleep and homework. But last term, I did really mess up my sleep pattern so I ended up sleeping at 3 a.m and wake up at 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus everyday. That has finally gotten back to me this term, and now I go to bed at 4 a.m. after finishing homework and wake up at 3:00 p.m. on weekends and 9:30 a.m. on weekdays (my classes start at 1:30 p.m.).

Any tips on restoring my sleep pattern to normal?

[pinkiepieRN]

What is your school/work schedule like? When do you have to be awake, alert and functional? Three hours of sleep is never enough. It sounds like you're working yourself into the ground and catching up on weekends. I don't believe in a sleep reserve or making up for lost sleep. I work nights, so I'm up at 3-4pm on work days and in bed by 8-9am. Having a routine is key for me.

[SunnyVet14]

I was able to function on nights for a little under a year on a med-surg unit about 30 miles from home and a parent of a toddler at the time. I averaged about 5 hrs/24 hrs of sleep with occasional help of Benadryl. Loved the work & learned so much but eventually needed day shift and work closer to home.

I can say there was NO restoring my sleep pattern until a job change was made. I lived a double life of inadequate sleep on work nights and oversleep on days off despite routine because I wasn't able to overcome my body! If at all possible you may want to reduce days per week worked to put school higher on the priority list. Good luck.