Need advice on working an overnight position

[NTT05]

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Hi everyone,

It has been a while for me to be on this forum. I came back to seek for an advice on my job. I have been a retail pharmacist for almost 3 years. Sadly, my store hours got cut and I have to float 2-3 days a week between 30-60miles from my home. I have been always looking for better opportunities during these 3 years but most of my applications got turned down. Recently, a long term care pharmacy had offered me an interview with an overnight shift 7 days on 7 days off. I have not done night shift before so i am very afraid if I could do it. However, I really want it because it would give me more experiences, especially in clinical works. And hopefully, i could move to morning shift later or apply to a day time position in hospital...At least my resume would look better than just having retail experiences.
My family do not support for my decision applying for this overnight position. They said that although my retail is stressful and i have to drive far, it is still better than working night shift and my health could be affected. Anyway, I cannot get it straight with my decision...Of course working night shift is a not a great idea, but it will give a way out of working for retail only...
Please give me advice and your experiences of working night shift, especially when you have a family. I would be very appreciated!!!

 

[Robbin]

Well, it depends upon your physical strength. But yes night shifts are pretty difficult in the starting days but once you adapt it to your habit it would be no longer difficult.

 

[confettiflyer]

You basically have to discipline yourself with sleep/sleep hygiene, diet (no heavy/greasy foods overnight, etc...), and take care of yourself during your off week (flip back to days correctly, get massages, get errands/vacations/etc... done and not just schlepp around the house).

Family has to be supportive in not waking you up during sleep unless the house is on fire, running the house while you’re on your on-week, etc... basically leave you alone and not expect you to do much.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[lane one]

Myself and others have given some good advice in various threads. You should be able to find them with the search function. P.S. you should definitely take the position. Experience is vital to surviving this job market.

 

[knight on horse]

Learn from the Alaskan experience on how to handle daylight sleep. Hopefully you are aware that as you near the poles, the seasonal variation in daylight progressively becomes ever more extreme, ultimately resulting in the sun never setting in summertime and the sun never rising in winter

Lighting must be managed in order to avoid the serious consequences of the overnight. Your brain and body must believe it is night when you are sleeping.

If the health question is settled, then consider that now, there may be advantages to your hours. If you are near a big city (Sodom and Gomorrah, I know), you can go clubbing all night on your days off.

It may even be possible to wake up in the afternoon, go out and enjoy the real day, hit on pretty girls, and then have a nice meal at dinnertime.

But investigate these things; right now these are mere hypotheticals - it could be that those clubs are underwhelming, you need to sleep later than afternoon, etc

 

[SELDANE]

Hi everyone,

It has been a while for me to be on this forum. I came back to seek for an advice on my job. I have been a retail pharmacist for almost 3 years. Sadly, my store hours got cut and I have to float 2-3 days a week between 30-60miles from my home. I have been always looking for better opportunities during these 3 years but most of my applications got turned down. Recently, a long term care pharmacy had offered me an interview with an overnight shift 7 days on 7 days off. I have not done night shift before so i am very afraid if I could do it. However, I really want it because it would give me more experiences, especially in clinical works. And hopefully, i could move to morning shift later or apply to a day time position in hospital...At least my resume would look better than just having retail experiences.
My family do not support for my decision applying for this overnight position. They said that although my retail is stressful and i have to drive far, it is still better than working night shift and my health could be affected. Anyway, I cannot get it straight with my decision...Of course working night shift is a not a great idea, but it will give a way out of working for retail only...
Please give me advice and your experiences of working night shift, especially when you have a family. I would be very appreciated!!!

Working a night shift 7 on 7 off with a family is very doable. As for support from your family, well the only person that should matter (in my opinion) is you significant other. The rest can have their own opinion. Over time you will develop a sleep routine that works for you and your family. Call it sleep hygiene or self discipline in any case it will be what you make it. As long as your significant other appreciates your sleep time and commitment to your shift (i.e.., your partner working the counter shift) you should be fine.