12 Hour Night Shift

[AsylaRN]

Hello Everyone!
I am new to this site, but I did post in the Community Introductions forum. I am a new grad who was recently hired in the local hospital ED. I have been working 12 hour day shift 7a-7p for 3 months and now they are switching me to nights for 3 months. Tonight is my first night as 7p-7a and was wondering if anyone had any experience with this and advice when it comes to a sleep schedule. I have tried to prepare myself for the last few nights by staying up as late as I could and sleeping in as late as I possible. Not sure if this is the right way to go, sleep all day and up all night even on my days off? Anyway, if anyone has any advice/suggestions, it would be helpful.
Thanks in advance,
~Mandy
P.S. In case it matters, I work 12 hours/day or night in this case, 3 times per week.

[scotttyna]

Hello and Welcome to the forum,
There is no particular solution all you can do is to sleep in day time. This is the only solution to this problem. Don't worry slowly you will be habitual to this.

[amygarside]

I think that each person would have a different way on how to handle this kind of situation. However, one of the things I used to do before is to catch some minutes to nap if it is break time.

[MedRepNurse]

Seems like you can never get enough sleep.

[shahidsaif]

seems good sound thanks.

[pronurse45]

Hi Mandy!!allow your body clock to adjust..it will be hard at first as your body is still trying to adapt, but you'll get used to it for sure!Good luck

[tolgahanozkan]

Hi Mandy !! I'm Tolgahan and from Turkey. Nice too meet you . Good luck .

[Blue-Sky]

Try to nap a few hours before your 1st nite shift... then hopefully you will be so tired in the am , sleeping won't be an issue... make sure bedroom is dark, turn off phone, etc.

[CriticalWear]

Hi Mandy,

I know exactly what you mean. It can be very difficult to get your mind and body ready to adjust to working the night shift. A few days before my schedule changed, I just started staying up later and later every night AND made sure to have plenty to do in the middle of the night to keep me from falling asleep. After a few nights of this, and sleeping during the day, your body will start adjusting. Once you make it through the first week or two, you should be good to go.

Best Regards,

Kimberly
CriticalWear.com

[amygarside]

Hi Mandy,

I know exactly what you mean. It can be very difficult to get your mind and body ready to adjust to working the night shift. A few days before my schedule changed, I just started staying up later and later every night AND made sure to have plenty to do in the middle of the night to keep me from falling asleep. After a few nights of this, and sleeping during the day, your body will start adjusting. Once you make it through the first week or two, you should be good to go.

Best Regards,

Kimberly
CriticalWear.com

This is a good sound advice. Thanks for sharing!

[horizonambulance]

Working 12-hour night shift, it’s a big struggle to find time to exercise. Scheduling a fitness program is as much important. The factors, such as poor eating habits, interrupted circadian rhythms and hormones level and disrupted digestive system, can yield to weight gain.