I know, I know.... another night shift thread....

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ER, Pediatric Transplant, PICU.

So, I've been on nights 3 weeks now. And staying up, sleeping in the day... So far so good.

But my memory seriously sucks at work. Way worse than when I work days.

I sleep well (usually ab 6 hrs), try to stay hydrated... I just forget so easily and have to write everything down!!

Advice, fellow night shifters?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry.

Drink more coffee, please.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

No, I just wanted to say, I'm jealous!

I wish I had my nights back!!!

I have to work 5 days a week now from 9:30a-6:00p and I hate it!

I am such a night owl..that's why I up now:)

I did work nights for many years, I think you are not quite used to it yet. It does take time. Try to keep your blood glucose up too, that may be associated with the memory thing, too.

One of the things that really worked for me was keeping myself on a semi night schedule all of the time...I didn't flip back and forth...I would work 3 12/h in a row and then on the other nights I would stay up late but maybe not all night...and I would sleep in the daytime but again maybe not all day..but again, since I am part owl and part vampire-it worked out for me great.

I think it takes a few months to "set your bio clock", if you try to flip back and forth, you may not be able to flip at all, but GOOD LUCK...I just LOVED my nights...I did them for 14 years....:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

I've been on permanent nights for 10 months and I like it. I don't have kids, so it isn't a problem for me to get sleep. From your post, it seems like maybe you aren't getting enough sleep. 6 hours isn't really adequate. Sure, I can function on 6, but I am at my best with 8 to 8.5 hours.

When I'm working nights, I usually go to bed at 0930 and get up at 1715...so that's 7.5 hours. I also sometimes take a melatonin capsule before I want to sleep.

Hope that helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

I have been on midnights for over 3 years and I'm finally going back to afternoons - hallelujah!!!!!

6 hours of sleep is NOT adequate. Stop drinking coffee a few hours before your shift ends, keep a sleep and meal schedule. I had to keep my phone shut off to avoid being woken up during the day. I also moved to an apt where the doorbell is disconnected which was helpful. My sleep schedule is sacred. Eat healthy, do exercise later in the day. And give yourself some time to adjust.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

That's the key. If I need some caffeine at work, I might have an energy shot at midnight. If you consume caffeine too late in your shift, you won't sleep. The phone is off until after I get up. Nothing is more important than my sleep. On my nights off, I keep the same schedule pretty much. I usually won't go to sleep earlier than 0300 am, which is why I'm on AN now....;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Pediatric Transplant, PICU.

Thanks guys!!

Yeah, I know 6 hrs isn't really excellent, but I have an hr commute and my shift ends up being an even 13 hours after report. So I usually get home about 915, asleep by 10, wake at 4-430.

I'm in the process of moving closer. Just really struggling with keeping my brain happy in the meantime.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Also keep the same schedule on your days off. It sucks, but you will feel better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg/Neuro/Oncology floor nursing..

When I worked nights I had the same issue as the OP, I was completely forgetful and pretty much dead on my feet for the first month or two working nights. After a couple of months though I got used to it and I absolutely loved it. I worked nights for about a year then switched back to mornings. I actually like nights a lot better for me because on my unit it was a lot quieter(a good percentage of patients would be asleep). Don't get me wrong, I love taking care of patients but during the day shift it's much more hectic, chaotic and we are short handed, especially on the neurology/neurosurgery unit(a lot of people post neurosurgery or with serious head injuries are on the unit so they are put on PCAS/IV narcotics or sleeping pills which would definitely help them sleep during the night hence the unit being quiet, but don't get me wrong the unit had it's nights where it was chaotic and we were shorthanded on nurses too).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I write EVERYTHING down on my cheat sheet, doesn't matter what shift I work.

I put important/urgent stuff IN RED; I put my med's in GREEN; my diabetic patients are written in a capital D and circled so I know re their insulin and BSLs in RED, unimportant notes are written in black. My handover notes are written in BLUE.

Write everything down and you won't go wrong.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Days or nights, doesn't matter. My memory always sucks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Days or nights, doesn't matter. My memory always sucks!

My thoughts exactly... :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment