RNs who LOVE nights, read me - page 3

there are numerous threads on this -- have you tried searching for them?

you're going to have to find what works for you. i stay up late the night before my first night shift and sleep until at least noon -- there's something magic for me about that 12n time frame. if i wake up at 11:59, i try to go back to sleep. my dh gets up at the usual time of 6 or 7am, then goes back to bed at 1 pm and takes a sleeping pill so he naps for at least four hours.

i come home from work and find dh waiting for me -- usually -- with a happy puppy and an offer of breakfast. so if he's home, i'll force myself to stay up and chat for a bit. if not, i go straight to bed. working 12 hour shifts with a commute that varies from 30 to 60 minutes, i don't usually get 8 hours of sleep. i get as much as i can. have to get up at least half an hour early to feed and walk the dog unless dh is home.

night meal break is whatever leftovers dh and dear nephew haven't already scrounged out of the refrigerator. if they've already beat me to it, i do subway.

i sleep with an industrial fan on the "high" setting. white noise that blocks out most (everything except the puppy howling) noise. years ago, an old boyfriend moved into my house while i was sleeping with that fan, and when he moved out a year later, i didn't hear that, either.

telephone ringer in the bedroom is turned off, and cellphone is on airplane mode. if my mother has an emergency while i'm sleeping, i'm just going to be out of touch until i wake up. of course mom is in a nursing home, so it's not as if i'm the only one who can deal. so far, my mental telepathy works great -- every time a family member has had an emergency, i get an odd feeling and wake up and check my messages. i have black-out curtains -- aluminum foil over the bedroom windows works better, but our homeowner's association forbids it. something about it looking like a grow-room. and the neighbors all know not to ring my doorbell, which makes the puppy howl, which is the only sound i can't seem to sleep through.

good luck!

i've worked nights for the past 3 years. i tend to stay on a night time schedule unless i have a lot of off days in a row. it's 4:30am, this is my third night off, and i'm watching tv and catching up on stuff like it's 6pm lol i usually work 2-3 nights in a row. i get home around 8, shower, and watch some tv for an hour or so. my goal is to be asleep by 10am (i have a scrip for ambien for emergencies but rarely use it) and i don't wake up till 5 at the earliest. i use a fan, sleep mask during the summer, and ocean sounds phone app. knocks me right out. naps are the devil! like the pp, they only make me more tired. i usually eat something little (bagel or bowl of cereal) before leaving for work. my break time depends on when my pt assignment will allow it. i always try for 2ish. on nights when it seems like i'll never get a break, i wolf down a fiber one bar - they're filling and they keep my blood sugar even till i can eat an actual meal. i'm diabetic so i always pack snacks i can eat in 30 seconds, just in case.

i work 12s, but when i pick up an ot shift it's usually 8 hours. same plan, only i get a few hours before work to do stuff. there's no single method that works for everyone, but i do recommend buying a liter water bottle. drink one every night. keeping hydrated will make you feel so much better. if you don't believe me, wait a month into working nights, then add in extra hydration lol you'll thank me!

psa: patients do not just sleep soundly on nights, leaving you with nothing to do but homework and online shopping. i've gotten my butt kicked on nights as much as days. don't believe the myth!

there are numerous threads on this -- have you tried searching for them?

you're going to have to find what works for you. i stay up late the night before my first night shift and sleep until at least noon -- there's something magic for me about that 12n time frame. if i wake up at 11:59, i try to go back to sleep. my dh gets up at the usual time of 6 or 7am, then goes back to bed at 1 pm and takes a sleeping pill so he naps for at least four hours.

i come home from work and find dh waiting for me -- usually -- with a happy puppy and an offer of breakfast. so if he's home, i'll force myself to stay up and chat for a bit. if not, i go straight to bed. working 12 hour shifts with a commute that varies from 30 to 60 minutes, i don't usually get 8 hours of sleep. i get as much as i can. have to get up at least half an hour early to feed and walk the dog unless dh is home.

night meal break is whatever leftovers dh and dear nephew haven't already scrounged out of the refrigerator. if they've already beat me to it, i do subway.

i sleep with an industrial fan on the "high" setting. white noise that blocks out most (everything except the puppy howling) noise. years ago, an old boyfriend moved into my house while i was sleeping with that fan, and when he moved out a year later, i didn't hear that, either.

telephone ringer in the bedroom is turned off, and cellphone is on airplane mode. if my mother has an emergency while i'm sleeping, i'm just going to be out of touch until i wake up. of course mom is in a nursing home, so it's not as if i'm the only one who can deal. so far, my mental telepathy works great -- every time a family member has had an emergency, i get an odd feeling and wake up and check my messages. i have black-out curtains -- aluminum foil over the bedroom windows works better, but our homeowner's association forbids it. something about it looking like a grow-room. and the neighbors all know not to ring my doorbell, which makes the puppy howl, which is the only sound i can't seem to sleep through.

good luck!

So....tonight is my first night on nights. I am excited. I have worked days for 12 weeks (i am a new grad) and now I am switching to nights permanently. I have a lot of anxiety about the messing up of my sleep schedule. Any advice? We work 3, 12 hour shifts a week......and I am aiming to do my 3, 12hour shifts in a row......so here are my questions.

Do you take a nap during the day before you go in for your first night on?

Or do you sleep in late in the AM on your first day you go in?

Do you come home after work and go straight to bed?

Do you try to get a full 8 hours sleep?

What works for you?

Do you eat a full meal during your night meal break?

Any advice will help. Please don't tell me that nothing worked.....although it may be true.

Hi everyone,I am graduating this May and I am probably going to work nights because of course I will be a new grad.....we get the worst shifts sometimes . Why is that some of you love nights, what do you guys recommend for new grads? day shift, evening shift, nightshift and why? Please help (: hugs