Night shift!

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I am starting my new extern job this weekend on Sunday night. Can anyone give me any tips on how to survive my first day on my new job and first time pulling night shift? I am sure my nervousness will keep me awake for the first day, but you can never be sure! Anything I should do the day before? Eat dinner before? Snacks? Thanks guys.

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Coffee will be your friend. I worked nights for a couple of years and the first month was horrible. Try making sure you get a lot of sleep during the day and bring caffeine with you. It takes some adjusting but after I had worked it a couple of months it was easy to stay up all night. Also I bought black curtains for my room to keep the light out during the day.

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Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

I'm assuming a 12hr shift? Generally what I do is that I wake up a bit earlier than usual. I'll do my thing throughout the day but I'll squeeze in a 2-3 hr nap right before work. For me, that nap is key for helping me throughout the night. If your job allows you enough breaks where you can nap, I advise you not to nap. Napping during a GY shift only makes you (at least me) more grouchy, slouchy, and tired when you wake up. Don't eat anything greasy or heavy for your meal shift. Find ways to keep your mind busy when your not actually working. You know, on your phone, laptop, listen to music. And caffeine!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stay away from energy drinks, I try to but 3 nights in a row makes it hard to not want to pick them up.

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I too just started an overnight job and so far this is what works for me. I work Friday and Saturday nights. Thursday night I purposely get less sleep so I can take a 2 hour power nap right before my shift. At midnight I have a 10 calorie Rockstar energy drink and a small snack such as carrots and peanut butter crackers. When I get home, I resit the urge to eat a big breakfast (because if you worked during the daytime, you wouldn't have a big meal right before bed) and I sleep for 5-6 hours. I get up, and do what I need to do. Again, I will power nap 2 hours before work and do it all over again.

Someone told me once that the key to overnights is to eat your meals based on your schedule NOT what the clock says. So eat your breakfast when you wake up at 1pm, lunch about 4pm and dinner at 8 or 9pm.

Good luck

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

This is my last week on nights!! I do better when I sleep the same time each day or as close to it as possible. Also no coffee after 3am! Blackout curtains are a must! The first couple of shifts you are going to be tired, after three weeks you should be in a routine. For me keeping the same routine was the only way I survived. Hopefully you will be excited enough to stay awake the first night. Good Luck!!!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Blackout curtains

White Noise in the bedroom

NO phone in the bedroom

and

SUNGLASSES on the ride home (sunlight hitting the retina supresses melatonin secretion and keeps you from falling asleep)

'Grazing' as opposed to a full meal on shift

No caffeine after 3am

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I agree with a PP- coffee, coffee, and more coffee. :geek: And as the post above mine says, blackout curtains are a great idea, and keeping your cell phone on silent (or turning off the volume on your house phone) is best as well.

I've only been working nights for the last year and it took a long time for me to adjust. I keep snacks in my locker at work in case I need something to boost my sugar (I'm hypoglycemic), and I eat lunch on my break at 4a. I still come home in the morning and eat breakfast though. I eat something around this time of day (12:30-1p) before going to sleep. I make sure to be in bed no later than 3:30-4p because I wake up around 10:30p to be at work for my shift at 11p.

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Thank you all very much for such great tips! I will definitely be using all of them. I am going to try and wake up pretty early on Saturday and do my normal plan and come back around 3 and take a nap. I am glad you all advised no caffeine after 3 am. I wouldn't have ever thought about that. Thanks so much!

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3 hour nap before your shift...or if you can't fall asleep rest quietly in bed. Coffee before you go to work. Light meal during. Blackout curtains (or towels over windows, they work great!!).

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Specializes in Operating Room.
Blackout curtains (or towels over windows, they work great!!).

Glad I'm not the only one who has (and still uses) towels and/or blankets thrown over my curtains! :roflmao:

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

so do I.....LOL

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