Tips for staying alert during night shifts

[Jklinsky]

I am going to be precepting a few night shifts as I finish up my last semester in my RN program, I have experienced a couple night shifts during my previous clinicals and I always got pretty tired and mentally foggy around 3am, does anyone have any tips on staying awake and alert, besides coffee?

[Devon Rex, ADN, BSN]

Hello!

I work night shifts. Before my first night shift of the week: I take a power nap of 3-4 hours , wake up 2 hours prior to my shift , take a shower, then drive to work. I don't drink my coffee until around midnight, which is usually when I'm able to sit down to do my charting. It keeps me awake the rest of the shift.

If I don't take that nap, I get sleepy around 3am... just like you said, even if I drink coffee.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Nap when you can before work. When at work and get groggy...get up take a walk. I used to brush my teeth, fluff, wash my face and take a quick walk.

[Jklinsky]

Thank you!

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

I work night shifts. Before my first night shift of the week: I take a power nap of 3-4 hours...

Exactly what I do too! I'm a sleeper so even if I got 8+ hours of sleep the night before, my body just loves to sleep so I am in bed for nap for nightshift right at 2pm. I know it's bad, but I drink a Monster energy drink every shift (don't worry, I only drink them when I work and only one each which is 3 times a week) whereas coffee doesn't do much. If I'm feeling groggy before going to work, I'll get espresso from Starbucks. But yes, I remember my first several shifts and even to this day 3am-4am is the crappy hour at work and it'll happen even if you are used to night shift haha. I had a coworker that took his break at that time and would walk around outside to wake himself up from the cold and exercise.