If you’ve made a decision to shift your career and transition into becoming a pharmacy technician, chances are you are currently unsure how to go about it.
This is because becoming a pharmacy technician requires you to learn fundamentals (pharmacology, anatomy, and more) and get hands-on training, which might be easier said than done when you are working a full-time job, a night shift on top of that.
Luckily, you don’t have to quit your job just to train, as there are many pharmacy tech schools online that offer structured sessions at different times of the day.
With that said, even with online pharmacy technician courses, it can be challenging, but with strategic planning, discipline, and a deep understanding of your own energy cycles, it is very much possible.
Addressing Challenges Faced by Night Shift Learners
Working nights presents a unique set of obstacles for academic pursuits:
- Opposite Schedules: Your “day” often begins when others are winding down, and chances are you’d be already burned out for the live morning sessions.
- Fatigue: Since you’re sleeping during the day, your circadian rhythms are imbalanced, which means while you are sleeping, your body isn’t resting, leading to chronic fatigue. When you combine this fatigue with the habit of learning medical terminology, chances are you won’t be able to learn much.
- Distractions: Yes, online learning is challenging at times; however, your study time will most likely coincide with your friends’ and family’s free time, causing a lot of distractions within your own home.
How to Overcome These Challenges (Solutions)
While these challenges are real and cannot be ignored, they can be dealt with. Here’s how you can balance learning with a graveyard shift:
Adjust Your Sleep Schedule
Without proper rest, you can just forget about learning anything. So, before even attending your first session, you should do the following to master your sleep schedule:
Define Your Sleep Block: According to Harvard, you need at least 7-9 hours of sleep, which includes 2-3 REM sleep cycles. So, start by identifying your ideal sleep window and pace your sleep strategically so that when you wake up, you can attend 1 hour of session with a fresh mind.
Create a Dedicated Sleep Space: If you haven’t already, it’s time to invest in blackout curtains, earplugs, and even a “Do Not Disturb” sign. Make your bedroom a dark, quiet, cool, and as safe as possible from daytime distractions.
Pre-Shift Naps: If your evening class runs close to your shift start, a power nap (20-30 minutes) before class or a longer restorative nap after class but before your shift can make a huge difference.
NOTE: If you aren’t to fall asleep at a specific time, then chances are that is NOT your ideal sleep window. Don’t try to force yourself to sleep, instead schedule your sessions according to your sleep cycle.
Strategic Scheduling
Before enrolling in any pharmacy tech training program, you should have a word with the admissions officer and get the exact timing for live sessions.
Now, most programs offer either morning or evening sessions. Here’s how you can schedule according to your desired session:
- Morning Option (e.g., 9 AM – 12 PM): This means you’ll likely need to go straight from work to class, or get a few hours of sleep, wake up, attend class, then sleep more. This requires excellent post-shift discipline.
- Evening Option (e.g., 6 PM – 9 PM): This might require you to wake up earlier than usual on class days to attend before your shift, or cut into your crucial pre-shift rest.
Communication with Your Employer
Now, this is where having a good connection with your employer can really pay off, as your employer can be your greatest ally or your biggest hurdle.
While you’ll be learning during the sessions, revision is also important. So, talk to your manager and be completely honest, explain why you’re pursuing further education. Ask your employer or a senior if your shifts could be adjusted slightly on class days, like leaving 1 hour early OR if you can study during the shift itself.
Build a Support System
You don’t have to do all of this alone, and honestly, it is not even realistic to say you can do it alone.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that you tell your loved ones that you’ll be focusing on upskilling and might be less available. Moreover, this way you can also expect a little more privacy during your sessions and undisturbed sleep.
On the other hand, if you are struggling with a particular topic, you can always reach out to your teacher, or you can even form a study group with your classmates. The latter is also a great way to understand the subject from different perspectives.
Endnote
Balancing online pharmacy technician courses with a night shift job is not for the faint of heart, but the reward is immense: a new career, enhanced financial stability, and the profound satisfaction of achieving a significant personal goal. With proper scheduling, mastering your sleep, and building a support system, you can definitely gain essential knowledge and be on your way to becoming a certified pharmacy technician.