Night shift & social life

Nurses New Nurse

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My shift will be 11PM-7:30AM with every other weekend...eek! Any suggestions/techniques that any have you applied to your lifestyle to maintain your social life? I do not plan on having any kids or having a family anytime soon, and I like being out with my friends, most of them are regular 9-5'ers. I'm sure that some of you out there have/are in this situation. Thank you very much.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

If you're talking about meeting friends for dinner, drinks, movies, etc. ...

1) You have every other weekend off.

2) If you have no children you can very likely arrange your sleep around your work schedule - sleeping during the day & awakening at 5-6pm ... whatever works for you. Even on nights when you're working, you could still squeeze in some social time before work (just no ETOH ...).

I work both days & nights, am married, & have a child. I have no sleep "schedule" -- I simply sleep when it's feasible. I am awake for almost 24 continuous hours on a fairly routine basis. And I do manage to see friends & family - not often, but we make the most of it.

Good luck to you. :)

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Specializes in LTC.

Get home, crawl into bed by 9am, then you'll be up by 5 with 8 hours of sleep, and you can go out with your friends after they're done with work.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Working full-time I had no life on nights. Working part-time isn't so bad.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I worked 'real night shifts' at a factory for 3 years, from 5 pm to 5 am. I had no social life and was never overly interested in having one to begin with. Night shifts were enjoyable because I have always been a night person; in addition, no members of management were present to breathe down my neck.

Since I love graveyard shifts so dearly, I will attempt to ensure that my next job will offer night shifts. :)

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You can keep your options open for a daytime position. You probably wont get one where you are currently but keep looking if that is what you really want. Dont leave your current job until you find what you want if that is what you want. In the meantime, maybe a night or so out the week you can see your friends before work. You'll adjust, give yourself some time.

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I am usually sleeping while my friends are working. Its great because I get together with them and I am refreshed and ready to go and they are exhausted from a days work. By the way, I work 12 hour shifts and only three or four per week (full time plus an extra for the money. . .lol). I am a night shift junkie. . .

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