Night Shift: What are your sleep patterns?

Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

Hey GoLytely, I am a 3 12 nite shifter.

1.) I like it much better than 5 8's. Not even for the amount of shifts, but I ALWAYS feel like I am going into work at the end of my day when I have to start at 11. Not so much with 7pm. Everyone is still up when I leave, so I dont feel the fatigue I guess. you do have more time off with 3 12s too. Lately I have been working 2 in a row and off for 3. I am ready to be back by that time. Also, I get lots of things done during the week.

2.) I have 2 kids, 4 and 9. They both go to school; the little one a half day. I am home in time in the am to help them with breakfast and get them off to school, then I will go to bed. If the hubby's working, the little one goes to the sitter (via the bus at 1230ish) and then I get up at 3 to fetch the big one from school. 0845-1500 for sleep. If the hubby is home, I wake up naturally around 1600. the little one used to nap with me in the afternoons when she was smaller. Ive never slept better.

3.) I dont cut myself short on sleep if I am working a few in a row. I wouldnt get up at 0200 before my shift to have breakfast with a friend, same applies for nites. It takes awhile to get used to the shift, and extra caffeine helps, so does a walk if you are sleepy.

You will get accustomed! I hope you arent on nites too long! ~Ivanna

evilolive, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

Well, I don't know if I will be of much help, as I work 11-7 and not 7p-7a....

But, I did do 7a-7p clinicals for a few months... I would do 2 shifts a week, usually Sun/Mon. I would work, be exhausted, come home, eat, and immediately go to sleep around 8:30am. I'd wake up at 5-5:30, get ready, and commute to work. I had no life doing nights, and I wouldn't plan on doing anything "extra" on those days.

I like doing 11p-7a, I only work 4 days a week though. I am FT with these hours, and the money is good enough for now. I need that 3rd day off though, because my 1st day off is generally dedicated to sleep. I'm still trying to form a "Saturday habit" after 10 months of working!

Wishing you the best!

Euphrosyne7, MSN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

Hi there:

I find that after working a 7p-7a shift, if I go to bed almost immediately after getting home, sleep for about 5 hours, get up then go to bed at the usual time, the next day, I am "flipped back" to a regular schedule. However, it also helps if I do at least 2 shift at a time so I can be on a pm schedule for two days and then revert back to a normal schedule. If I have to keep flipping during the week, I end up having a terrible time of it. I would suggest getting some earplugs and make your room as dark as possible. I also have a machine in my bedroom that has the sound of crickets. This is soothing to me and filters out other noises. Good luck........once you get used to it, you should be alright.

lisaksemt, ADN, BSN · Mar 12, 2009

I try to go to bed right after work at sleep for at least 4-5 hours.

I used to work 3 12's and that's fine if you can work 3 in a row, then have several days off. One off one on is incredibly difficult to do. But after 3 12's, i go to bed the last morning, sleep till 2 or 3 and hang with the family till they go to bed. I can then usually sleep at least part of the night. I've pretty well adjusted to taking 2 naps through the day on weekends when my kids want me around. I still get four hours sleep, just not all four in a row. Right now, i'm working 2 8's and 2 12's a week. I like my days off too much to go to straight 8's.

htrn · Mar 12, 2009

I work 11-7 during the week and 3p-3a (or the opposite) on my weekends. I'm very selfish and protective of my sleep. When I'm working 11-7 I like to be in bed by 0900 but I'm not always so lucky. I sleep atleast 6 hours a day and like to try to lay down for an hour in the evening after dinner. When I'm working the 3p-3a shift I end up so wound up when I get home I don't get to sleep until 5:30 or 6am and then manage to get up just in time to go back to work. I like the 0300-1500 shift better as I at least get to relax with the family and go to be at a half-way normal time (8pm).

I've worked night shift for many years and really do like it much better than any other shift. Just make sure you don't get one night shift scheduled in isolation - that is a nightmare!! You will find your own rhythm and tricks to help you rest during the day. Try and stay away from the meds as long as you can - I can't sleep without them anymore - at all - and it really sucks.

Good luck!

flygirl43 · Mar 12, 2009

Night shifts ruin my life!!!!!! I have been on disability for acute insomnia several times (I do 12's) I find immovane (7.5mg) to be a great saviour in my life, although I hate taking it. I just started on 2x 0700-1900 followed by 2x 1900-0700 with 5 off. Still have to do 4 pick up shifts for my pension every year, but I'm starting to feel human. Just feel like "junk" for the first 2 off, but I have a life the other 3. Good luck. Did I mention 7.5 mg Immovane PO @ hs???????

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

When my kids were little before they started school working nights were really hard I had to get a babysitter at night for them and I had to watch them in daylight. It was really tough. when they started school I got to sleep more and had a roommate to watch them at night. I had to work days when they were teens cuz I just couldn't trust them. Most of my career I worked nights, I loved it. 12 hours shifts were a godsend to me. 4 days off and just worked 3 days. I have been retired since 2005 and I still have a lot of problems sleeping at night. I still do all my housework in the middle of the night. I make all of my appointments before 1000 am, or after 400pm. It all depends on your circadian life. I just like working at night better.

SteffersRN87, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

I used to work steady night shift. I would work Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues (12's) on my weekend to work. I would then be off until the following Mon. I felt that clumping days together worked out fairly well. When I would do 4 night stretches, I would be exhausted the 4th night. As far as sleeping, I learned that if I ate breakfast before I left work (around 6), I was good to go for bed. Which, if you want to maximize your sleep time, I highly recommend. Have your husband do activities with your son if he is going to be at home. Strive for at least 6 hours of sleep. And, I would always eat to keep awake. Snack on healthy foods with some protein!

jujube · Mar 12, 2009

Wow, kudos to all you night-shift folks! I used to work day shift but I will most likely end up working night shift in the future. I am thinking of trying melatonin if I end up with a night-shift. I already drink 2-3 cups of coffee/day. I tried working night-shift a few times at my old job and it was like my cognitive responses were reduced to the point where I had to have things repeated to me 2 times by other night-shift staff before it could even register in my mind. :yawn:Thank goodness there were no code blue or assaultive pts during those few night-shifts but I have great admiration for you 'night owls'! Keep up the good work and stay safe!

buddiage · Mar 12, 2009

I work 3 12's in a row.

The night before my 3, I go to bed at a decent time and wake up earlyish, then take a nap later on (2hrs is perfect if you can get it).

If I get out of there in the morning at a decent enough time, I come home and spend about 30 minutes "decompressing," unless it has been terrible, then straight to bed. I take 50 of benedryl. to keep me asleep. the goal is to get up at 5pm, not 3pm (although I can still make it through the night). On my last night, I come home, go to bed, get up at 12:30 (somewhat foggy sometimes), and then go to bed at 9pm that night.

Benedryl or dramamine help. I've never done dramamine to keep me asleep, but I believe it is also non-habit forming.

I just also say, that I work Fri Sat, Sun because my husband is home on the weekends, and can take care of our daughter and I don't have to worry about it.

LPN_e2010 · Aug 25, 2010

I'm starting 3 12's - 7pm - 7am tonight, and will definitely benefit from all of your input. Thank you AGAIN. I love this site and this forum.