New to night shift

beast master RN · Sep 30, 2011

cocaine sandwiches?? ......

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Sep 30, 2011

I've answered this question in multiple other threads, try a search and you will get a lot of info. Biggest tip, blackout curtains, really, I really mean it, it changed my life (and earplugs).

hudsont2207 · Sep 30, 2011

I use to work nights (did so for 4 years), however, not at a hospital. But I really do recommend blackout curtains, or at least a blindfold until you can get them. I agree, ear plugs are a must as well! I always used my phone as an alarm so I put it on vibrate as well so if I couldn't hear it I would at least feel it. Try and get yourself in a routine, try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time. Hope this helps!

jesskidding, LPN · Sep 30, 2011

It took me about 3 months to get into the night shift routine and feel good. It was hard those first three months, but now I can't see myself working days anymore. Night nurses and the environment is so different from the day shift. The night shift fits my personality much better.

I use blackout curtain and keep a fan running for noise. I also set the alarm on my phone. My phone has a setting to just use the alarm and all calls are silenced. I have found I am more of a night owl now that I am working nights, even on my days off.

Also, taking a shower and having a few minutes to wind down when you get home help too. I usually don't sleep much at all the day of my first night shift. I just sleep the next day when I get home. That gives me more time with my family since I work weekends and my husband and children are not at work or school.

I did hear that you might gain weight when working nights, but the opposite has been true for me. I have lost about 15 lbs! YAY!

Hope you like it and you will eventually get used to it. Just take care of yourself!

tachybradyRN · Sep 30, 2011

at my mom's house where i used to live, i had blackout curtains and slept in the basement bedroom, where it was always cool and quiet. never had trouble sleeping. now, i live in a very sunny apartment with my very annoying cat. i have two fans for background noise (one is a tower fan at the foot of my bed, and one is a smaller fan i actually sleep with next to my head). the latest development (i've been living in this apt for two months now, and not sleeping well at all) is the sleep mask i bought the other day at bed bath and beyond. my landlord doesn't want me taking down the blinds/putting up blackout curtains at this apt and since in like 6-8 months my boyfriend and i are getting another place (together! woohoo!), i am not going to invest the energy into it. hopefully the sleep mask should help. i also occasionally take melatonin if i need it in the morning as soon as i get home.. makes me fairly sleepy within an hour as long as i don't use it multiple days in a row.

you'll manage, it's tough to get used to but i vastly prefer nights over the flow of days. plus, i'm a little less social than the day shift nurses and i can keep to myself a bit more on nights. it's worth the sacrifice.

Carefreeliving · Sep 30, 2011

Let's see.... here's what I do on night shift. I bought blackout curtains from IKEA for $20 and ear plugs from wal-mart for $4. That about sums it up. I also live in an apartment that is filled with school age children who like to run around and scream -_- You will find a routine that works for you.

CCFCP · Sep 30, 2011

I also blacked out the windows in my bedroom and earplugs were a must.. you dont realize how many children and dogs are on your block till youre trying to sleep all day. I also make sure to stop drinking anything with caffeine about 3 hours before the end of shift so that its not keeping me awake when I get home. I ended up retaining the same sleep schedule even on my days off which helped tons! Its very hard to switch back and forth from days to nights on a weekly basis. Melatonin before bed helped me for a little while but ultimately I ended up getting a script for ambien which I dont recommend.. that should be a last resort. Oh and before you spend money on new curtains, try a sleep mask if you can tolerate having something on your face while you sleep. I did that for a while and it worked as well.

Circejane · Sep 30, 2011

I personally can't stand a sleep mask or earplugs, and struggled for the first month or two on nights. Our house has a finished basement, and we set up another bedroom down there (we had the extra bed already). Since then, I sleep MUCH better. It's so much quieter and darker. Blackout curtains upstairs do help, but I would still hear the doorbell, neighbors with their snowmobiles, etc.

Like someone else mentioned, I stick to the night schedule even on my nights off. Trying to switch back and forth, I have found, just doesn't work, and you end up perpetually tired.

In summer I used a fan for white noise, which helped a lot. Now I use a White Noise app for my iPod, which is hooked up to a little portable speaker/player thingy that I've had forever. I usually have it set on Thunderstorm, but you can program all kinds of different noises. It helps tremendously.

I also use the Sunrise Alarm Clock from BioBrite:

http://www.biobrite.com/products.php?category_id=1&PHPSESSID=94e3113236be75671dab2aef7d934d1a

I'm on my third one in twelve years--two were broken in moves, unfortunately. Otherwise they last forever, and it makes falling asleep and waking up SO much easier. I first started using it when I had to get up before dawn for work, many years ago. Now it makes the night schedule much more organic.

One last tip: Make your bed super-comfy, and your bedroom into a sanctuary. Helps a lot. My BF liked the basement bedroom so much, he started sleeping there at night! :)

aikz · Oct 2, 2011

Thanks guys for the replies. I appreciate it! :up:

What's a typical 7p-7a shift like for you guys? When is the busiest time? And what hours is usually the slowest?

cbcle · Oct 2, 2011

I love sleeping during the day on a rainy day. Bliss!

Music in My Heart · Oct 2, 2011

My approach is:

1) Foil over the windows... the body is simply hardwired to wake up to light

2) 34 dB ear plugs... the highest attenuation I can find on the commercial market.

3) Ambien and Provigil, each of which I use very sparingly, but as needed to ensure I get the sleep I need and can stay awake if I'm very weary. I hardly ever take the Provigil and the Ambien is half-dose fewer than 25% of days.

4) In my case, I flip days-to-nights-to-days in order to maximize time with the family (that is, I live in the day and work in the night... but only one of the two in a 24-hr period). My first night generally closes out 24 hours awake. My last night ends with about 6 hours of day sleep and then another 8-10 of night sleep which brings me back to a day schedule.

You just find what works for you.