NightShifter Problems

Nurses General Nursing

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Question for the working graveyard shift moms...how do you keep your home and schedule running smoothly juggling kiddos, hubbys, and yourself? Any tips on how to help transition to a night shifter schedule?

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When my kids were little I worked 3 12 hour shifts a week, and usually they were on the weekends, my preference, but managment really liked it. Therefore, my hubby was there during the day to watch the kids and I was able to sleep. Usually had an early dinner on Friday and then went to work. He cooked the rest of the weekends. Mondays were hard for me as I had to stay up until the kids took a nap, usually around 2:00 pm. It worked out for us, but we both had to make sacrifices. My hubby was able to pick up the slack. I would usually maintain a night shift schedule when I was off, so that way I could do laundry, cleaning etc. It was hard, but worth it!!

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I work 11-7 so I sleep while the kids are in school (till 3) then get up and do dinner, homework and evening activities. Occasionally I'll get up in the afternoon early if I have things to do and then take a longer nap in the evening.

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When I return to work I will have a 3 month old. I will be working parttime mainly nights and weekends

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

I work Thur/Fri/Sat night from 6pm to 6am. Then I work every other Wednesday night from 10pm to 6am. I have a 15 year old and a 7 year old. Sun, Mon, Tues and every other Wed are obviously easy to work around since I'm off. I don't go to sleep on Sunday morning when I get home from work and tend to do menial chores such as laundry. I might take a short nap in the morning while my daughter watches my youngest. I take the little one to school on my days off then come home and get my grocery shopping, cleaning and bill paying done. This is also when I get my running, swimming and cycling in...my days off (I am a marathoner and triathlete). I have a husband who takes care of dinner on the nights I work so that helps a lot! And he works 5am to 1pm Sun-Thur. So we trade off taking care of the kids on our respective days off. He leaves for work around 4:30am and I get home around 6:15am. My oldest leaves for the bus around 6:45 and then I get up my 7 year old, make breakfast and take him to school at 8am. Come home and am crashed out by 9am. I wake up around 2-3pm, spend time with the kids then it's off to work.

It gets tricky with the daughter's band concerts and the little one's football/wrestling. We do what we can and schedule things far in advance to see if we need childcare or help from my mother-in-law but for the most part, our schedule works pretty well. We are able to eat dinner together 3-4 nights a week and spend time as a family on Sunday afternoons and every day after school. I was working in an outpatient clinic for the past 5 years which had a "normal" schedule of Monday-Friday from 7:30 to 4:30pm. I loved it at first but by the last two years, really hated the limited time I seemed to have with my kids. A supervisory position opened up at the prison where my husband is a sergeant and came with a $30,000 pay raise. I jumped at the chance of a schedule that would not only work for the kids/family but also my training schedule for races. Working nights has taken some adjusting but I did it for the first 3-4 years in the nursing world and it didn't take long for my body to figure out what was going on. I don't plan on doing nights forever and am keeping my sights on the DON position that will most likely be opening up in the next 2-3 years but while I'm on nights and working fewer days per week, I will enjoy it.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I've worked 11-7 for years. I didn't have to deal with the family issues - just myself. I really can't help you with many of the other issues.

The one thing I do think NOC staff need is to be a 'good napper'. Some people can fall asleep at the drop of a dime (like my sister & Dad). I can't. I am not a napper - I need a designated time and my designated place (I love my bed). You've got one step up if you can nap.

From all my readings here on AN and those of my colleagues, I think coordinating your sleep/awake cycle will be the most critical thing NOC staff have to work in and acclimate to. Just my opinion. To me, that's the start of everything else - if you can get that squared away ...

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

I work every weekend (thurs/fri/sat overnights) 3 8s. I'm essentially a stay at home mom during the week then my husband takes over the weekend. My little one goes to one day of daycare. I sleep while my older is at school on Fridays and am up for his bus at 3:30. It works pretty well.

Since I don't go in til 11 I sleep like 9a-3 or 4p then get up and do dinner and bedtime then sleep a couple more hours before work.

I have a 2 and 5 year old.

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You all have such wonderful advice, it looks like sleep routine will have to be at the top of my list for priority on work nights and adjusting to making it sound solid sleep so I can still function as a mom before I head out for a 12 hour shift. Thanks for all of your wonderful replies! Happy nursing all of you amazing mommies!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Hey OP - Not all of us are Mommies!!!

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Sorry about that meant no disrespect to any nurse, it was just that my original post was mommy specific. I do however appreciate any advice. :nurse:

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

It really helps to schedule your days in a row so that you have that span of days off in a row. Makes real life much easier to handle.

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