NWR- night shift workers

I work 4 12hr shifts a week 7p-7a. I too have a very hard time falling asleep at night but during the day I sleep great. Maybe because I'm so tired I don't know. It'll take a few weeks for your body to adjust, routine helps. If you're able to get all your shifts in row that helps with routine. Eating healthy and exercising helps with the fatigue as well!

Everybody is really different. I have worked overnights, both full time and part time, in every one of my jobs for the last 10 years. What I learned works best for me is to workout after work, so I stay up for longer. I sleep really well for a long time if I do that. FH, on the other hand, splits up his sleep during the day. The first few weeks are going to suck. There's no getting around it, but really, it's trial and error and now, I can force myself to sleep for six hours starting at 3pm. Like Susan said, take it easy at first until you figure out what works for you. Congrats on the new job!

Honestly, it's like jet lag, you have to power through. the beginning will be rough, but it will get better with time.

try to do your normal "morning" routine to force yourself into the new schedule. shower, coffee, eggs for breakfast....etc.

Unfortunately, I'm not a night shift worker so I don't have any advice. I am in school to become an RN, and I worry about adjusting to night shift, which I'm sure I'll start out on. Good luck to you.

I work swing shifts, 2 weeks days, 2 weeks nights. I honestly never get acclimated to one schedule or the other. Lots of.my co workers take zzquil, i find it easier to come straight home and go to bed rather than wait it out

When I first started I worked 3 12hr shifts 7p-7a a week. I would stay up late the night before and sleep during the day until about 230/3pm and then I was good to go in at 7p. On days off if I got home from work around 8am I needed a minimal 5 hrs or I wasn't functioning. So if I had something going on it was better for me to just stay up and not sleep at all than only get 2 or 3 hours of sleep.

I did night shift for 1.5years before I was able to switch to days. I HATE waking up early. But I also HATED working night shift in Friday's but off the weekend and it felt like I didn't get a full weekend. Especially in the summers.

I had to weigh the higher pay, free parking on nights vs a more normal everyday person schedule with less pay plus paying for parking.

Tips: get melatonin to help you sleep during the day and block ALL LIGHT in your bedroom to mimic night. No phone light, no clock light, no cable box light. Believe me, it'll all bother you. Get black out curtains for the windows.

H and I at the time I was on night shift didn't live together and mostly just saw each other on evenings when he was done work so it didn't really effect us. Other than my shitty I'm always tired mood.

I worked night shift a couple of years ago. For me, it got worst as time went by. Not better. Haha. Basically I would come home, do whatever I needed/wanted to do, and then go to bed so I wasn't sleeping the whole day away. On my days off, I would basically reverse my sleeping schedule to a normal schedule so I could spend time with family and then nap my way through the day before work that night. Eventually I began to burn out, though. Really, I think it was the job. Not the hours. I hated that job.

Black out curtains for sure. I worked 7p-7a for a few years. I'd try to group shifts together and the last day I'd only sleep a few hours then get back to a regular schedule though there will be nights your just awake for hours in bed. It's a tough adjustment but after getting a few shifts under your belt you will figure out what's best for you. I'd get home and get to bed and then wake up and do a few things around the house or go to the gym then go to work. Some people liked to do everything in the morning and then sleep in until they had to get up for their shift .

Thank you so much everyone!! I didn't even think about staying up after work, then sleeping until my next shift.

Wish me luck! And props to everyone who's been doing this for years.

I used to work 11pm-7am and found the best way was to stay up as much of the night before as posdoble (Wednesday in your case) then sleep as much as possible the next morning/day.

@mrs flax congrats on nursing school!!! It's really tough, but will be so worth it!

I worked night shift at a hospital as a desk clerk in the PICU. I had the same fears! The time really flys by but relax. Take a nap before your shift starts and then go home and sleep. When you wake up do a few things and try to take a nap before your next shift. Your body will get used to it. Also coffee is your best friend

I am the walking dead. Lol I work 630pm-7am Sun/Mon/Tues and 630pm-3am every other Wed.....keeping busy helps stay awake. On my "friday" shift I basically just take a "longish nap" so the rest of the week I can be on regular Day hours with my FH and daughter...then Sat night I stay up late as I can to get "back on schedule " for work. I agree you'll need black out curtains/shades. And yes there are 2 ways of doing this: either do what you need/want and go to bed at a later time so you sleep until time to get ready for work, or be crazy like me and go straight to bed, then wake up earlier so you spend time with family at the end of their day.

It isn't easy, particularly the way I do it....but I feel like if I just kept the night shift hours all week long I would never properly utilize my days off or spend time with my family! I've been doing this for nearly 3 years now....its super helpful for taking vacations/Dr appointments etc. Lol

You'll never fully get used to it. When I worked nights I was always a little tired. But I'm a night owl. So it was easier for me.

I work 7p-730a. You're never going to feel rested, always hungover. So just realized that now. I stay awake all day my first night back then nap 1-2 hours before going in. When I get home in the morning I eat a snack and take unisom. I wear an eye mask. I typically sleep until 2 or 3 pm. Repeat.

Benadryl.

Helps me each time I switch from nights to days in the Emergency Room.

I'm a RN also and I rotate. When I'm on nights I do sleep all night the night before, I wake up early, and then I nap from like 1-5p (I work 7-7s). The first night is always my hardest.

Invest in black out curtains and ear plugs. Some people like white noise machines. Some of my coworkers up their vitamins for night shift (B,D). Some take melatonin to sleep all day.

When you're coming off your stretch, set an alarm for 5-6 hours after falling asleep. Make plans and stay up so that you get your day sleep schedule back on track asap.

Does your unit have on call rooms? My unit encourages naps on night shift during breaks. We had a nurse about 2 years ago crash on her way home... she left behind her husband and her 3 kids all under 5 years old.

Take your exhaustion seriously. Don't drive if you can't do so safely.

Good luck!!!

I work 3-4 12 hour night shifts per week (7p-7a) and yes, it's a tough adjustment. I would definitely suggest some black out curtains and trying to make yourself go to sleep shortly after you get home. Then at least you can be awake in the evening before you go in. Your body will eventually adjust to the schedule and hopefully you won't feel so exhausted all the time. Night shift is hard but good luck to you!

I worked night shift as a new RN and I used to tie a bandana around my eyes like a sleep mask. I also bought room darkening shades and tried to make my whole house as dark as possible to make if feel more like night time. Also try clustering your shifts. I would work 4 or 5 12 hr shifts in a row to get a good cluster of days off, so you can at least feel semi-human. Good luck! & if it makes you feel any better about working the off shift, the shift differential is great! I've been on day shift two years now and I STILL miss the extra money I made on nights.

@jennifer I got a job in a skilled nursing facility and so far I haven't seen a single nurse take any breaks and they stay OT for at least a hour because so busy. I'm nervous. There's no on call room. But I'm one to take a break, because I need them.

Good call on the not driving. Last night (last day on evening orientation) I was driving home at 1am..and I struggled doing that.

Thank you!!