I'm returning to bedside nursing after nearly 9 years in another field. I'll be working night shift in the ER as part of a fellowship program that includes extra training to help me get back in the game -- it's a great opportunity. I did 7-7 or 11-11 when I was a nurse before, so this is my first time doing full-time nights. Ultimately, I will do my best to schedule my shifts in consecutive blocks, but for the first 12 weeks, I'm on my preceptor's schedule. I just got a copy of it today, and it has me a little worried because the shifts are scattered over the week. Aka, I work Thursday night, then Saturday night, then the following Tuesday night, etc. How do I handle sleep on those in-between days? I have three kids (1st, 3rd, and 6th grade), and my husband can get them to school in the morning, but I need to get them from school at 2:45pm every day, and then be available for the afterschool roller coaster of piano lessons and gymnastics class blah blah blah. Husband has committed to being home by 6pm from his job on the nights I work. I figure I'll sleep from 8-2 or so, then go on kid duty. But do I go to bed at a normal time that night if I'm not working? I can't take a nap the following afternoon just before my shift because I have the kids. Even if I hired a babysitter, the house would be loud and chaotic with the kids running around, so it's not like I'd be able to sleep. I'm just concerned about staying sharp and doing my best work when I'll have been up for 24 hours and then need to drive home. Help me survive this huge transition 😬   submitted by   /u/Odd_Big_7647 [link]   [comments]