NOC shift-how do you arrange your sleep?

[supernova004]

I'm thinking about switching to 12 hour nights from 7p-7a. My question is how do you sleep when you work nights?---I've never worked a night shift before ever.

1. How/when do you sleep when you work nights?

2. How much sleep should I get to stay awake all night?

3. Do you stay up all night on your days off? I've heard not to flip flop back and forth on sleeping schedules. I was thinking about scheduling three nights in a row then four days off--I don't want to stay awake at night the four days in a row I am off. Is it hard to switch gears?

[RNLifesaver]

I worked nights for years and miss it dearly!! I don't think it matters WHEN you sleep, as long as you try for some consistency. I worked 7p-7a and slept when I got home. (Unless I was off the next night, then I would stay up and go to sleep at around 7-8pm. It is an adjustment though! Good luck with it!!

[25(2)+2]

i have been working nocs for 6 years now. sleeping patterns are the one thing i really hate about it. i usually get home between 8 and 8:30 lye down around 9:00-9:30 and wake up around 12:30- 1:30 stay up anywhere from 5-7 pm and stay in bed till 10 and then get up and ready for work. I went on prn this summer and for the first time in 6 years i really felt well rested. i am back on full time now. on my days off there are times i go to bed at 9pm and wake up at 9 or 10 am. sometimes i wish i never went back to full time.