tesla323

Hi! While I am not actually a nurse (though I aspire to be one), I also work the overnight shift and have been doing so for 4 years. This is what I have discovered.... First, it was hard at the beginning and very difficult enotionally for me until I stopped fighting it and embraced the schedule. I can't tell you how many times I would stare at the ceiling, tired but not sleepy, angry at what I was missing out on. Once I stopped being upset about it and really accepted and embraced the differences, it got a lot easier. Now, I have done both on my days off; I have tried sleeping during the day on my days off, and I have 'flipped' my sleep schedule on my days off (which is what I do now), and here is what I have found... If you maintain your normal sleep schedule on your days off and sleep during the day, it is way easier on your body and better for your mental and physical health, but you miss out on so much. Basically what I would do is get up around 6-630pm, spend time with my wife and baby son until he and then she went to bed, and then I would sit up all night playing videogames. That was very relaxing to me and really felt like a day off. Then, when I went back to work two days later, I felt rested and didn't have to worry about flipping my schedule. Now what I do is make myself stay up all day as soon as I get home, crash hard that night, and then wake up around 8 or 9m the next morning. The night before I have to go to work I stay up as late as possible, sleep in late, and then go to work and try to make it through. It's very hard on your body, I'll be honest; I'm 24 and that first day is just a blur. Going 24 hours without sleep is pretty much a weekly thing for me, but it does mean I get to spend time doing stuff with my family. You can try taking a nap that first day, maybe one or two hours, and that might help some. Hope that helps! Hang in there!

Nope, I've never done any classes, but I'm less worried about the prereqs than the other stuff. I did find a college west of DFW called Weatherford College, and they seem to be big on flexible schedules. This is a sample from their catalog: Four-Day Weeks with classes on Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday• Night Classes that meet once a week (twice for lab and math classes) Monday-Thursday• Friday Courses• Saturday Courses• Online Courses delivered via the Internet• Hybrid Courses delivered via the Internet with a limited number of face-to-face class meetings• Two-Way Video Courses• Mini Semesters in December and May• Accelerated Courses which allow students to complete two courselevels in the same dicipline in one long semester Do you think this might be my best option?

I live in the DFW area. I'm not totally committed to doing it online only, just whatever is going to fit with my schedule.

That's encouraging, thanks! I'm hoping I luck out, because my work schedule is a set schedule that can't change unless I call in. If I get a manager that is okay with me leaving early, I should be okay. Are there night clinicals? It would be easier to work with if I can do a combination of morning and night clinicals. Also, are clinicals a 12-hour shift or are they shorter?

We have a six month-old, but my wife stays home with him and takes care of him, so really all I have to worry about right now is work, sleep, and helping her out when I can. I realize the school means I will have like zero free time, but I'm hoping I can do this now because I know the schooling will be less disruptive to my family NOW as opposed to when my son is four or five years old.

I work 46hrs a week, basically 10p-7a Friday thru Tuesday

Hi all, So, I am preparing to enter the nursing field and begin the process of getting my ADN. Does anyone have any advice or ideas on the best way to do this while working a full-time overnight job? I was hoping to be able to most of the school online, and just go in for clinicals one or two days a week; or, barring that, I'm hoping I can find a community college who will be flexible with my work schedule. Has anyone done this or know of any online nursing degree programs? Thanks! Also: I dunno if this his helps, but I would be looking for schooling in the North Texas area. Thanks!