night workers- how do you keep a normal routine/life?

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Hello

I am contemplating taking a night position on a unit where I think I could learn alot. The position unfortunately is at night 7p-7a. How do those of you who work nights, and are not necessarily night owls, maintain some semblance of normalcy? When do you exercise? How do you handle sleeping on the nights you don't work? Do you still stay up all night? :idea:

Pharmaceuticals are amazing. Benedryl or even cough syrup are my BFF. I normally take something the days I'm working - I generally speaking don't have an issue when I am off.

When you work 12 hour shifts, day or night, you aren't going to be doing much the rest of the day. So I try to maintain "normal" life on the other days... The last day off, I normally stay up the rest of the day or get maybe an hour or two nap. I'm usually ready for bed then around 6p, but at least I sleep well.

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exercise after working 12 hours and commuting for 2? no way, jose. i'm dead tired when i get off. i guess it depends on where you work, but i get enough exercise AT work. seriously, i think if you eat healthy and run around as much as i do at work - skipping the gym won't matter. eating healthy is the key phrase - there is so much junk food around at night (and i'm sure on days also).

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exercise after working 12 hours and commuting for 2? no way, jose. i'm dead tired when i get off. i guess it depends on where you work, but i get enough exercise AT work. seriously, i think if you eat healthy and run around as much as i do at work - skipping the gym won't matter. eating healthy is the key phrase - there is so much junk food around at night (and i'm sure on days also).

Pain of discipline ounces, pain of regret weighs tons. It will be hard at first after constant practise, it becomes a habit.

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Specializes in operative.

There's a chance for night workers to exchange their schedule from night to day workers. So chances to live normal is there.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I also keep PRN prescriptions for Lunesta and Nuvigil which I take only when I really need to fall asleep at a given time or when I can tell that I'm going to have a tough time through the night.

I don't use them regularly but when I need 'em, they're very helpful.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Like some of you, I prefer nights, and I sleep better during the day. I always felt worse on day shift, not awake for at least 3 hrs into my shift.. I sometimes take melatonin and I wear ear plugs. On my days off. I usually go to bed at 1 or 2 anyway. And I exercise on my days off, although I get plenty at work chasing after residents, lol.

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Specializes in LTC.

I work 6 PM- 630 AM and so on my first day back I get up at a normal time and then try to take a 2-3 hour nap before work. When I get off (I drive 30 min which is my wind down time) I sleep from around 730-4p then get up and see my daughter for a little, get ready for work and then hit the road. My last night on I try to be up by 1 or 2 (unless I have something planned, then I get up earlier) and then go to bed at a decent time. I work 3 on, 4 off, so I find it pretty easy to maintain a good sleeping schedule (at night) on my days off. Sometimes I just can't sleep at night. My daughter isn't in school yet, so she doesn't have to go to bed early. She's been sick so lately (the last week or so)she's been staying up late and getting up late, so that's what I've been doing as well. My fiance is a night owl as well, so if I choose to stay up late I'm not lonely, we keep each other company! And I just do things in the evening if I'm too tired in the morning, which regardless if I'm up or not is usually the case!

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Good luck to you! Lots of good advice here. Plenty of us find that, while life can be different on nights, we wouldn't trade it for anything. Let us know what you decide.

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I am still adjusting to doing rotating nights and evenings.

This thread has some great posts. Thanks all!

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Specializes in Periop, ER.

Thanks everyone. I have applied for several ICU positions in my hospital. The nurse recruiter has contacted me and there are a few good options open. He did want to make certain that I knew these were night positions- I am not sure whether many people don't read the full description, or he wanted to make certain I was indeed up for the challenge. One of the positions is in surgical/transplant ICU which I think will be a great learning experience. Since I don't have school aged kids, I think it could work just fine. Thanks everyone for the advice.:yeah:

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