Working evening (3-11) shift - what do you do with your day?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'll be starting a 13-week contract on 2nd shift in about a week's time and it's been a while since I've worked 3-11. I know I could sleep in all day, but what do YOU do with your day-time while working evenings?

I guess I don't get the staying up until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.

Working until 11 seems like a normal bedtime . . If I didn't work that shift, I'd still watch some primetime shows, watch the local news and in bed by 11:30 p.m.

I only live a mile from work so I could be home in a jiffy, jump in the shower, have a glass of milk and read for a bit and go to sleep by midnight. Which is what I usually do - I was up until midnight reading last night and woke up at 0545.

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Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.

One reason i love 3-11 is that i can do whole day's worth of home and family things before going to work. Up by 8, and between then and 2 pm departure time, i get lots done. Day shift....get nothing done once i get home....too tired.

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I come home from work, read the mail, shower and right to bed. I initially had small children at home who got up early by 7a. As they got older I had to get them off to school so same routine. Now they are out of the house I still get up early. Work out at the gym around 8:30, then run errands, sometimes lunch with a friend, or chores. Then get ready and leave for work by 2:20. I love swing shift. I love the free morning time. I only worked part time so I was only away from the family 2 evenings a week. When my kids were school age I worked in their classrooms each week and got to chaperone field trips. I felt like I had the best of both worlds, a fulfilling career and nearly a stay at home mom.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

steph,

for me, coming home and trying to sleep right after would have been like coming home about 6 pm, eating while

watching the evening news at 6:30, and immediately heading to bed. it just didn't work.

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steph,

for me, coming home and trying to sleep right after would have been like coming home about 6 pm, eating while

watching the evening news at 6:30, and immediately heading to bed. it just didn't work.

for me, 12 hour shifts kicked my butt so i'd try to go to bed asap.

but 3 to 11 . .. might mean something different so i can see your point.

to me i'm running from 3 to 11 anyway - to finish up at work, to pick up my son, to get him to sports practice or 4-h, to make dinner, to clean up after dinner, to do laundry and fold it while watching some tv. i'm ready to hit the hay by midnight at the latest.

except when that insomnia monster hits me. hate him. :no:

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