Night Shift?!?!

ngbaseball · Aug 3, 2008

Got to love the peace of 7p=7a...haha

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Aug 3, 2008

Kim, there are several threads about this already posted. Try doing a search and see what you find.

cutehumor · Aug 3, 2008

I worked night shift for 2.5years. You will hear from dayshift that nights are easy. so they duitifully leave unfinished stuff for you to complete when you come in. gotta love it :banghead: In termns of your homelife, It will be hectic. My wife is in school, so I got to see her alot when I was off. however, if he works 8-5. you work 7pm-7am. it's going to be problematic. We had someone work 2 months on nights before getting a day job at a clinic, she was a new grad. she citied not being able to see her boyfriend or hang out with friends.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Aug 3, 2008

3 12's a week still leaves 4 days when you're not working.

amberfnp · Aug 3, 2008

I'm not sure that I have any advice for you, but I just started my first night shift job last week.

After the last shift, I napped until noon and have been on a normal day schedule for my 4 days off, sleeping in a little. I try to stay up late (like 12-2am) to split the difference on those days so I'm not back at square one before the next run.

However, if I get the nights I need to coordinate with my custody schedule, I'll have 2 nights on then, off 1 or 2 then back again. No 3 nights in row.

My husband is in the fire department and works 10 24 hour shifts/month. So hopefully we will see each other during daytime hours and nights off.

Good luck!

pitbullkcm · Aug 3, 2008

I guess I'll do a search. I just hear so many horror stories about people putting on a lot of weight and not being able to function along with the rest of the world. With the 4 days that I do have off...should I maintain the "night shift" sleep schedule...because it's not like those 4 days are going to be consecutive? I should have been more specific with my question, but thanks anyways everyone.

cutehumor · Aug 4, 2008

that's the thing. you can't work nights unless you try to keep a consistent sleep schedule. on your days off, try to stay awake until 2-3am, so you can sleep until noon. if you don't, you maybe in trouble. There have been many times, I was so sleepy driving home. I almost fell asleep at the wheel on the interstate. not good!

patwil73 · Aug 4, 2008

You don't have to let night shift ruin your social life - but you do have to manage the schedule. I currently work 6 12's in a row - that works best for me as I then can spend the next 8 with my family. However, you can also try a Thu/Fri off thru Mon, Tue/Wed off thru Fri, Sat/Sun. This gives you 2 days at a stretch working then 3, 2, and 3 days off at a time. However, this also doesn't give a complete weekend off which can impact those with "regular" jobs.

Depending on your fiancee's schedule - you might spend time in the morning or when you wake up on your working days for a bit - but he has to know that the day is your sleeping time and to keep it quiet. Nothing is worse than working night shift after being woken up constantly through out the day.

Hope this helps

Pat

pitbullkcm · Aug 4, 2008

Thanks so much patwil73 and cutehumor...that helps so much! I'll let you guys know how my first night went lol...

sugarwahine10 · Aug 4, 2008

Hi,

I work the 7pm-7am shift 3 nights a week & it is really hard to get use to. I just went to my dr and he told me that if you work the night shift & try to get up early on your days off & try to keep a regular "day" schedule that it is much harder on your body than if you just keep to your night shift schedule, even on your days off. He stated that people that work nights & try to alternate like that end up getting sick more often, etc. So, while you are on nights try to keep to that schedule as much as possible. I'm up right now at 11am since I had to take my doggie to the vet, but I'm very tired. (I'll be taking a siesta in a little bit) Don't get me wrong, I love working nights--the people I work with are great, more laid back--the patients don't really seem to sleep that much at night, but you don't have six million doctors walking off with the patients' charts all the time either. I will have a year done working as a nurse in October. :wink2: Anyways, good luck!

MB37 · Aug 4, 2008

I've worked nights my whole life, although I haven't yet as nurse (don't graduate until next week). My advice is what's already been suggested, and I'd like to stress how important it is. You'll be miserable if you try to flip flop between a night job and a "normal" schedule (if normal to you means up at 0700 and to bed at 2100). You don't necessarily have to stay up until 0800 on your off days, but you definitely want to be up past midnight and sleep until noonish, at least. If you do the 6 on/8 off type of schedule you may be able to play with it a little more, but if you only have 2-3 days off in a row you'll waste most of that trying to change your sleep-wake cycle. If your SO works 8-5 or 7-3 it'll be tougher on you than if he/she works 10-6 or 11-7. Mine works 11-7, so day shifts are almost as tough on us as nights. When I have to get up before 0600, I have to go to bed within a couple hours of him getting home from work. He sits up for 4 more hours with the TV, and our whole existence is trying not to wake each other up. If I work nights, I can sleep while he's at work and it's actually easier on us.