Sleep for night shift?

CryssieD · Feb 16, 2015

I've worked night shift for a number of years, but I'm not sure what you mean by "sleep schedule." Do you mean at home? I've found it hard to come home and go right to bed--I'm usually too keyed up, so I stay up for a couple of hours and catch up on housework or something, then go to sleep for 6 or 7 hours if I can. I'm single and have no kids, so this is easy for me. People with kids often sleep until the kids come home, watch them for a few hours, then try to get a nap later when the spouse/significant other comes home.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 24, 2015

I'm starting a 7p-7a schedule. What are some sleep schedule options? This is my first nursing job. Thanks:)

You sleep when you're not at work. 7P to 7A is just the opposite of 7A to 7P. If you worked 7A-7P, you'd go home, watch TV and have dinner, then go to bed around 8:30 or 9, get up at 5 and go to work. So I go home, eat breakfast and talk to my husband, go to bed around 8:30 or 9 . . . .

There are plenty of threads on night shift. Do a search and you can read all night.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2015

I work 12-hour night shifts from 6pm to 6:30am and sleep from 9:00am to 4:45pm. I'll typically eat a small breakfast and take a warm shower before going to bed.

Farawyn · Feb 24, 2015

I used to sleep from 9-5, especially if I worked 2 in a row. Just know that on those days will be down for the count and do not schedule anything. Things will come up, anyway, but try not to. On the 3rd day, my day "off" I would force myself to get up by about 1 in the afternoon.

My sleep schedule was all messed up. I was not good on nights, although I did it for 4 years. At work I was fine. It was the rest of my life that was ugh. I've worked with nurses who have been on nights for 30 years, and they love it. You won't know until you get there.

Congrats on the new job!