night shift workers how much sleep do you really get?

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jun 10, 2009

I work nights and while I'm working, I'm lucky to get a good 5-6 hours' sleep between shifts. On my first night back to a 'normal' schedule it's a toss-up whether I am out cold at 2130 from being so tired (even after having slept during the day), or whether my body wants to stay up 'til 0400 that night. Bleh.

Midwest4me · Jun 10, 2009

I usually get 6 hours straight and then pick up another 2 hours late in the evening just prior to leaving for work. I seldom feel completely rested. I try hard to get a nap before going in to work because if nurses call in the next day, there is a good chance of being "mandated" to work another shift. I've been doing nights steadily now for over 3 years and STILL adjust. I am by nature a day shift person but there are very few day shift jobs available. I absolutely LOVE my 3 nights off a week when I can sleep 8-10 hours.

I have called in when I haven't obtained enough sleep; we are not required to give a reason for our sick calls. It's a safety issue if one doesn't have enough sleep...putting yourself and others at risk.

allnurses Guide · Jun 10, 2009

I've worked night shifts for so dang long that my body has learned to adjust to WHENEVER the heck my brain decides that it wants to sleep! Meaning, I can work 5 11-7 shifts a week, then on my nights off, I sleep. Period.

On the days and evenings before my first night of work, I only sleep about 2-3 hours and then go in to work. In the morning after that, I'm tired enough from not having enough sleep before going to work, that I have no difficulty sleeping.

In short, I have to get PLENTY of sleep or I can't function. Somehow, with two kids and a husband, I still manage!

I really can't tolerate any shift other than nights, and I can't afford not having the shift diff either!

tngranny · Jun 10, 2009

I love my night shift! Can't handle the drama of day shift. I've worked nights in LTC for 4 yrs. now. I bought some black out curtains for my bedroom, and they work great. I usually stay up on my nights off, do laundry, read allnurses,and our "Wally World" is open 24 hrs. a day. I usually go to bed around noon, and sleep until 7pm.

LPNHTNCM · Jun 10, 2009

I work a combo of 6a-4p and 7p-5 or 7a. On the days that I have to work nights into days I leave there at 5a and start my other job at 6a (desk). I work all day (phone/desk) leave at 4 and take a 2 hr nap before nights. Many times I take a nap on my day job lunch ---out in my car. I work 4 day shifts and 3-6 nights a week.

Tait, MSN, RN · Jun 10, 2009

I am a pretty standard sleeper unless I am really stressed, and that is generally more towards the first day. I ultimately do best with a three in a row schedule, however lately it has been more one on/one off/two on etc. I work 7p-7a and usually sleep from 9/930-1630.

My husband and I have recently began (actually today is the first day) working on some late night depression issues I have been having with actually being "lonely" at night after he goes to bed. So today I came home from work, slept from about 930-1330, and now will attempt to stay up until about 2100/2200 so I can go to bed around the time my hubby does. This way I hope to make my off days a little more normal, and my life feel a little more routine.

I have a feeling I will still wind up awake at 3am staring at a late night allnurses.com, but I think it all just come with practice! (And maybe a little Bendadryl if my body gets too argumentative!)

Tait

TeleNurse2010 · Jun 10, 2009

I work 7P-7A. The most I can sleep during the day after a shift is 4 hrs. I try to sleep longer, but my body just won't cooperate. I'm tired and groggy until the next day when I can sleep at night. For that reason I do not schedule 3 nights or more in a row. My max is 2 nights with a day or two off then another night shift and I'm off for the next few days. I made sure my boss understood that I absolutely cannot work more than 2 night shifts in a row due to my inability to sleep adequately.

cardiacmadeline, RN · Jun 10, 2009

I don't work night shift, but as a pm charge nurse, if someone calls me and tells me they aren't coming in for the night shift because they haven't slept due to sick kids or whatever, I don't get upset. I don't want somebody coming in and giving medications on no sleep. Just my thoughts.

LPNHTNCM · Jun 10, 2009

I don't work night shift, but as a pm charge nurse, if someone calls me and tells me they aren't coming in for the night shift because they haven't slept due to sick kids or whatever, I don't get upset. I don't want somebody coming in and giving medications on no sleep. Just my thoughts.

WOW! I have had many a charge nurse tell nights staff that it didnt matter that they hadn't slept. They were on the schedule and knew they needed to come in. Never have I seen that deference not given to a Day shifter. "ohhh I am sorry you were up all night with the sick kid, see you tomorrow hopefully"

jenniferhill1983 · Jun 10, 2009

I will be starting my LVN program soom, and was wondering how your spouses handle it when you are on night shifts? I am afraid to work nights, althought I am a night person, because I won't get to see my boyfriend as often. We currently do not live together, and he works the typical 8-5 office shift.

pers · Jun 10, 2009

I used to work days and even after a year I couldn't adjust to sleeping at night and being up and at work by 7 am. I don't think I ever slept more than 3 or 4 hours a night and many times I went to work without sleeping at all the night before. It was awful and I was so happy to move back to nights! I understand why day people struggle to work nights but I wish some of them would understand that it's just as difficult for some of us to switch to days!

I really need 4 hours of sleep to function well but 6 is ideal for me. If I go to work at 7p I try to go to bed no later than 10 so I'll be up by 5. I prefer my sleep to end closer to going to work so I stay up till at least 8 so I won't be up too early before work. If I go in at at 11 I try to stay up late enough that I'll wake up about 7 or 8 pm. I need less sleep when I work the 8 hour shifts though so I'll often get up earlier or stay up even later.

The night before I go to work I always make sure I stay up till at least 5 or 6 am so I can get plenty of rest before going in. It's not a big difference from my usual routine though as I usually stay up at night and it's rare that I'm ready for bed before 2 am. I've noticed I can go to bed earlier as I get older though! I used to struggle going to sleep before 3 or 4 am.

My s.o. works day hours but his schedule varies as he can work any number of hours from 7 am to 10 pm. When possible, I stay up late or get up early so we can spend time together but otherwise we spend time together on our days off. Every once in a while our paths won't cross on a particular day but we check in via phone and it's not a problem for us (no kids).

keckRN5666 · Jun 11, 2009

Ive been working nights and I pretty much don't sleep anymore...I nap (occasionally). My max time awake is 48 hours and my eyes start to play tricks on me right around 36 as well (and I slurr my words). I try to get 4-5 hours of sleep before a shift but usually end up with only 2-3 if i worked the night before. When I have off the night before a shift I try to go to sleep early and just sleep till 5pm so I'm also very good at putting my self in a coma when able.