Night shift

[sister s]

I did my first night shift 2 days ago, and I'm only just getting over it ! I feel jet lagged. I slept a couple of hours prior to my shift, and slept for about 4 hours directly after my shift. Does anyone have any tips on what works for them? I need to get throught 2 consecutive night shifts a month. Thanks for any help

[Kymmi]

I guess I've been doing nights for so long that Im well adjusted because I feel great however the few times that I've gone to work for some OT and decided to work days I felt absolutely awful!!!

I stay on a night schedule though for the most part....I like to go out at night and sing karaoke so I usually stay out till 2am on my nights off and then go home and watch a movie or something. If Im off for a few nights in a row then I plan to go to sleep around 4 or 5 am and if I have any appointments then I plan to get up around 1 pm and do them otherwise I usually schedule any appointments I can for right after work in the morning.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

My mother taped aluminum foil over the windows of her bedroom which pretty much blocks out ALL light. When the door to her room was closed she put a towel on the floor to mask out any light coming under the door. Her room was pitch black even when it was daytime. You couldn't see your hand in front of your face! She turned the ringer off on the phone and god help anyone who made noise or woke her up!

[deeDawntee, RN]

I don't know what to tell you because just doing it two days a month, you are never really going to establish a routine that your body will get used to. Sounds like you are going to have to set yourself to tolerate those nights as best you can. I would suggest that you dedicate the day between your nights of work as a total day of sleep and rest. Arrange your life so you have nothing to worry about or attend to except rest and relaxation. Sometimes people get really stressed out because they try to force themselves to sleep and end up just getting more tired because of it. You may want to try benadryl or melatonin, but I would be careful at first because if you aren't used to those over the counter medications, they can leave you feeling hung over and again much worse. I probably wouldn't use much caffeine the first night you work, it may keep you from sleeping during the day, but the second night, I think I would definitely depend on some caffeine to keep yourself alert.

Good luck to you! This is one of those "hazings" that many nurses have had to endure. You will survive. Know that it will probably take you at least 2 days afterwards to recover.

:zzzzz:sleep::yawn::chuckle