I hate the days of rotating shifts, I have been on straight midnights for almost 5 years now and love it. I go back to rotating shifts in January and dread it for the same problem your having. I would struggle to sleep when rotating schedules. Someone told me that Melatonin works but I haven't tried it yet.

"Circadian rhythm disorders"

"Exogenous melatonin taken in the evening is, together with light therapy upon awakening, the standard treatment for delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) and non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome. It appears to have some use against other circadian rhythm sleep disorders as well, such as jet lag and the problems of people who work rotating or night shifts. Melatonin reduces sleep onset latency to a greater extent in people with DSPS than in people with insomnia."

There's a whole bunch of fancy words that from a link that hurt my head due to lack of sleep hope that gives some insight, if not welcome to my sleepless world

I know what you mean. I'm a deputy sheriff and rotate from nights to days every three months. currently on night shift rotation for the moment. Work either 8am to 8pm or 8pm to 8am. been doing this for awhile now.

A few of the things that help me sleep are:
1. no coffee, soda, or food 4 hours before I go to bed. (water only before bed)
2. sunglasses are my bestfriend for the drive home.
3. black out curtains are my second bestfriend.
4. keeping the same sleep schedule off duty and on duty.
5. bath and bodyworks sleep lavender vanilla sleep pillow mist.
6. relaxation routine. this helps me decompress and clear all the stress from work away. it's different for every person but mine is first thing out of my uniform, shower, one episode of law and order, tv off and bed/ sleep. usually keeping the same routine after work helps for me... don't know if it will help you...
&. melatonin as zyle stated is really helpful for rotating shift workers.

best luck sleeping.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview