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Switching to the night shift

Last post 07-31-2009, 5:37 AM by jackcoal@juno.com. 1 replies.
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  •  07-25-2009, 2:43 AM

    Switching to the night shift

    In just a couple of weeks, I will be switching to a 7 on 7 off night shift chemistry position in my hospital lab.  Although I have filled in on this shift on rare occasions in the past, I am used to working the evening shift for shorter hours than this position requires.  Any advice on how to adjust to a new schedule that will require me to change my current sleep/work habits completely would be greatly appreciated.

     

  •  07-31-2009, 5:37 AM

    Re: Switching to the night shift

    Hi There Laboratorian Professional,

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    With that shift try and get some sleep before you come to work and immediately after getting home from work. If you feel tired while preparing for work arrive to work a few hours early, pull to the back of the parking lot, lock car doors, set cell phone alarm, recline seat back and get a quick nap. This little nap can make your day night or evening especially if it's rapid eye movement sleep (REM). Even if you have trouble falling to sleep get in the bed anyway and try to sleep. Sleep makes all the difference when you’re working that many hours. Usually reading in bed will help you fall asleep. Just a little rapid eye movement sleep can replenish us even if it's only for an hour or two. Scientist says that when we're sleep our eyes are moving about rapidly which signifies sleep. Rapid eye movement (REM) is the most significant sleep for humans. Personally I don't care for 12hr shifts. I just want to work 8hrs a day and 5 days per week. I don't want work to consume anymore than one fourth of my daily existence. Work should only be a small part of our lives, not consume our lives like we live at work. So, lay down as much as you can even if you can't fall asleep. Sometimes I lay down and can't fall to sleep right away, the next thing you know the TV is watching me and the book done fell out of my hand.


    Richard Covington