Working Nights and Having a Life

mirandaaa · Jun 3, 2015

Having a life on nights, especially while only working three a week, is actually really easy. Just the same as working during the day; sometimes you're off and available and others you are working and unavailable.

I found the transition between working and being off to be easy because my first day off (after working overnight) was to just stay awake for the day so when nighttime came, I was ready to sleep all night. Of course, if your friends are night owls, then you can sleep during the day and go out with them later. It's not as bad as people make it out to be. I loved nights.

caliotter3 · Jun 3, 2015

Only three nights a week will make it a lot easier. Six or seven nightshifts each week make for no day life at all, except for trying to sleep and trying some more to sleep.

Annath · Jun 3, 2015

I've heard some people say that maintaining a day life on your days off while working nights on workdays can be really difficult.

I'm glad to hear that maybe it's not so bad.

I accepted the nights job because the differential is really good, and I need to build a savings.

Honestly, anything is better than my current job where I work outdoors every single Saturday and Sunday, in heat (or cold)!

Annath · Jun 4, 2015

Only three nights a week will make it a lot easier. Six or seven nightshifts each week make for no day life at all, except for trying to sleep and trying some more to sleep.

What job works 7 nights a week O_O

sjalv · Jun 5, 2015

The best advice I can give you is maintain your regular night shift sleeping schedule even on your days off. When you hear about people experiencing constant fatigue, headaches, drowsiness during shifts, unexplained weight gain, etc.. it more often than not be traced back to them constantly confusing their bodies by going back to a day schedule on days off then suddenly back to a night schedule on the days they work.

I will be working nights as a new grad as well, 7p-7a, and this is my plan. I'll sleep from 10am-5pm (7 hours of sleep) even on my days off. I recommend getting black out curtains for your room, getting a metal fan (not a box fan!) because it can block out even the most annoying neighbors/dogs, and sticking to it. Considering that schedule, if your friends work the typical 9-5, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to hang out with them. Also, with this schedule, you can still do dental/doctor appointments and go anywhere else that may have regular business hours, like the tag office or whatever.

But to reiterate a point you should really get, DO NOT SWITCH BACK AND FORTH! If you work night shift, you live night shift. Keep in mind I haven't actually worked night shift yet, this is just what I have read/heard from various people. Best of luck to us both!

nativenurse01 · Jun 5, 2015

Hello fellow night shifter. I am working on nights as well. It is difficult to have a social life and work but I find that I have a lot less health problems if I stick to one schedule. I used to have trouble with night shifts but I find that it's much easier to maintain with having my own place, turning my phone on silent, and letting friends and loved one's know that you are on a night schedule. I usually sleep from 8am to 3-4pm.

The night shift is great because it's a much more manageable pace because everyone is sleeping and you don't have so many specialists to wanting information from you. Also there is usually a night shift differential. I found that by taking a few days to get used to the night shift schedule made it so much more easier. Stay up as late as you can until you can manage to stay up until at least 7am.

When you are working stay hydrated and bring some healthy and filling snacks. Stop drinking caffeine past 2am.

mirandaaa · Jun 5, 2015

The best advice I can give you is maintain your regular night shift sleeping schedule even on your days off. When you hear about people experiencing constant fatigue, headaches, drowsiness during shifts, unexplained weight gain, etc.. it more often than not be traced back to them constantly confusing their bodies by going back to a day schedule on days off then suddenly back to a night schedule on the days they work.
But to reiterate a point you should really get, DO NOT SWITCH BACK AND FORTH! If you work night shift, you live night shift. Keep in mind I haven't actually worked night shift yet, this is just what I have read/heard from various people. Best of luck to us both!

I found this to be the opposite for me! I did way better switching back and forth than keeping the same sleep schedule.

My morning off, I would stay awake and then go to bed that night and sleep soundly and wake up the following morning.

The day before returning to work at night, I would wake up really early in the morning and take a nap around 2 until 6 and be fine.

But everyone is different! I'd say try a few different things before determining what will/won't work.

Mindylane · Jun 6, 2015

I work 3 12-hour shifts a week on nights. I honestly really don't have much of a life. But I love the atmosphere of nights, my coworkers on nights, the tasks, etc. It's hard, for sure... if your hospital has a flexible or self-scheduling policy, give yourself a few days off in a row to recover.

Unfortunately, that's just what you sign up for, especially as a new nurse :yes:

Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN · Jun 6, 2015

I also would like to add that some people are built for overnights and just rock it! Others seem to really be adverse to it (I'm one of them, I actually get depressed.)

Annath · Jun 7, 2015

They do offer self scheduling. Obviously not everyone can get Friday off for example, but they accommodate employee preferences wherever possible.

Shouldn't be too big an issue for me if my goal is having consecutive days off rather than specific days off.

How often is the schedule usually done in these cases? Weekly? Monthly?

Mindylane · Jun 7, 2015

They do offer self scheduling. Obviously not everyone can get Friday off for example, but they accommodate employee preferences wherever possible.
Shouldn't be too big an issue for me if my goal is having consecutive days off rather than specific days off.
How often is the schedule usually done in these cases? Weekly? Monthly?

We make 8 week schedules. There are certain requirements, like 2 Friday nights and 2 Saturday nights. I think we end up working 5 or 6 weekend shifts in each 8 week period (it rotates by last name to determine when you have to do that 6th shift). It's pretty weekend heavy, but you can at least schedule yourself to have a bunch of days off in a row during the week.