night nurses- sleep schedules?

FLmomof5 · May 2, 2012

I always worked 3 days in a row. The day of the first night shift, I would take a nap at 3 pm and get up at 5 pm. I would sleep from 9 - 3 during the next 2 days. The day after the 3rd day, I would often sleep until 6 pm. Funny thing is that I would have no trouble going to sleep at 11 pm that night. Would then have 3 "days" to do whatever.

Rinse and repeat.

diana2520 · May 2, 2012

Thank you for posting this, i also just got my first job today...it will 7pm-7am om med-surg floor..so i will try the suggested schedule about..thanks

Good Morning, Gil · May 2, 2012

I don't work 3 nights in a row all of the time (every other week, though). However, I will say...you may not adjust well...ever. I have been working nights now for a year and a half, and I still haven't really adjusted, but am making do. I do fine when I'm there working (not tired or anything), but I find it hard to keep a day shift schedule on days off. I'm usually tired most of the time (and I'm a high energy type of person). I once slept for 22 hours on a day off. Felt refreshed when I woke up lol.

So....just don't be disappointed if you never really adjust. Hope for the best, though. I'm trying to find ways to make it work. Keeping a consistent schedule (like going to bed at 2 am and waking up at 10 am on days off, but that's easier said than done. Some nights I'm just plain tired by 10 at night, but then I'll wake up at 3 am wide awake regardless of how sleep deprived I am. Why? Because night shift messes with you lol.

Good luck! I do find that exercise helps. You really have to make both that and sleep a priority. Getting out in the sun helps (even if you wake up at 3 PM, and keep a night shift schedule on days off, go outside right away, and then do your housework, etc).

Nursetastic · May 2, 2012

I always worked 3 days in a row. The day of the first night shift, I would take a nap at 3 pm and get up at 5 pm. I would sleep from 9 - 3 during the next 2 days. The day after the 3rd day, I would often sleep until 6 pm. Funny thing is that I would have no trouble going to sleep at 11 pm that night. Would then have 3 "days" to do whatever.
Rinse and repeat.

This is exactly what I do. When I wake up on my first day/night off I've had enough sleep to enjoy dinner with the family before going back to bed. I also use Benadryl PRN. Melatonin never worked for me and I don't sleep long enough to justify Lunesta or Ambien. I've been at it for over 2.5 years and it's still working for me.