Rotating Shifts

been there,done it · Nov 25, 2014

There is no plan. Rotating shifts will depend on YOUR ability to shift your circadian rhythms.

Some people can do it, most cannot.

I feel changing from night shift to day shift in a 2 week period is not only impossible, but unsafe for the caregivers health.

Best of luck, let us know how it's going.

Red Kryptonite · Nov 25, 2014

I feel changing from night shift to day shift in a 2 week period is not only impossible, but unsafe for the caregivers health.

I'm a night shifter and I completely agree. I'm good at handling my own circadian rhythm violation, but I couldn't do that. I think it's unethical for employers to even have such schedules.

loriangel14, RN · Nov 25, 2014

I work both days and nights in one week due to my pick ups. It all depends on your ability to adapt.I have learned to switch back and forth a couple of days apart.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2014

I am trying to find a resource to help me plan my sleep schedule for when I rotate shifts. Does anybody know where I can find a resource for helping me plan this?

As someone who worked rotating shifts for three years, there's no way to plan a sleep schedule for it. I worked three to four weeks of day shifts (5am to 5pm) then switched to three or four weeks of night shifts from 5pm to 5am. Rinse and repeat until infinity, or until I resigned.

I would have three days off before making my adjustment to days or nights. When making the switch from days to nights, I would simply stay up until 4am to get acclimated to staying up all night.

When making the switch from nights to days, I would end my last night shift at 5:30am, go home, immediately take a short nap of three to four hours, awaken by 11:00am, and keep myself busy all day with exercise, housework, or something not sedentary. I would fall asleep at about 9:00pm, sleep all night and wake up at 5:00am.

Rotating shifts are horribly bad for one's health. I would willingly work rotating shifts again only if I was at immediate risk of becoming homeless.

Fiona59 · Nov 27, 2014

Rotating shifts are a way of life for Canadian nurses who hold permanent lines. There are very, very few permanent straight shift lines.

It all depends on how the employer draws up the rotation and how well you get along with your co-workers to swap shifts around.

I don't think our illness and death rates are any higher than American nurses.

NurseKateC · Nov 30, 2014

I know that rotating shifts won't be good for my health. I've already been planning ways I am going to take care of myself (sleep, exercise, nutrition). I guess I was just wondering how people transitioned with sleep from day to night. What I am reading though, it really will just depend on me and what works best for me to feel as well rested as I can be.