How do you relax after a shift?

Nurses Stress 101

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Specializes in General Surgery.

I've developed a glass of wine ritual. If I don't have to go back the next day I take the time to make a hot bubble bath and light candles and incense.

A glass of Moscato relaxes me and makes me nice and sleepy. 😴

Can you manage with a glass of wine on the night before you work? Or do you stay totally dry until you know you'll be off?

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Since I work nights, I just go straight to bed, lol. Sometimes read for a while to shut the brain down. I only drink if I know I won't be working, so if I have a night shift coming up, no alcohol at all that day (even on holidays).

More from paranoia than anything, but I wouldn't drink daily or routinely, just because I don't want a habit to become something more. Shoot, I didn't even take my narcotics daily for more than a couple of months after major surgery and chemo, and rarely more than one in a day despite the "q4prn" orders. Didn't like the feeling or the side effects.

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Specializes in General Surgery.

When I noticed I started having one glass at least 3 to 4 times a week I got a little paranoid myself. I think it is how you drink and your intentions. I like the way my moscato compliments my pastry, I'll usually have a small pastry about as many times a week as I have a glass of Moscato which is about 3 to 4 times in a 7 day week. If I've had a really rough shift and I'm tired I don't even eat much less drink ... straight to bed lol.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Unless it's a hot summer day, I drink only on the weekend when I'm off. I don't sleep well with alcohol. Hitting the gym and taking a walk works for me.

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Specializes in General Surgery.
Unless it's a hot summer day, I drink only on the weekend when I'm off. I don't sleep well with alcohol. Hitting the gym and taking a walk works for me.

Yeah. I guess it's the body's reaction that'll determine what works for them. I sleep well and wake up well rested from the peaceful sleep. One glass makes me just drowsy enough. If not my mind will reel all night. My doctor (very holistic and open minded and European-Mediterranean) told me I could keep my one glass of moscato or he could give me pills for the mild insomnia). My candles and wine works great so far and snuggling with my puppy!

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I go straight to bed too (night shifter), but when I worked evenings, I had a harder time winding down. A glass of wine or a beer is relaxing, but it can also prevent deeper stages of sleep (REM, I think) if you drink more than that. Unfortunately, I'd always have to eat something, or my brain would keep me awake trying to convince me I was hungry. So I made a bed time snack my 'third' meal of the day, and most of the time tried to keep it light. Once I had cereal or some toast and peanut butter, BONK, I was out.

I don't drink alcohol at all thanks to being able to drink almost anybody under the table in my youth and still appear somewhat sober, and with all the alcoholic uncles I have, I just avoid, the way I could drink has to be a major sign of having the alcoholism gene :( So if I can't settle down after a busy shift, I have a little bottle of generic OTC sleepy pills, doxyalamine HCL (related to Benadryl but doesn't give me morning grogs).

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I have a long drive home (about 45 min), so I listen to music that fits my mood for the day and by the time I get home, I have left the workday behind.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I am a 12-hour night shifter whose shifts end at 7:00am. I wind down by taking a shower, eating a small breakfast, and browsing the Allnurses.com forums until I am sufficiently sleepy enough to go to bed. :)

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Some good metal on the headphones (uBuds, I think they are called, technically? I can jog with them and I like that. They never fall out. $30 at Wal-mart) and weight-training.

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I'd just like to say I LOVE Moscato! My fave is Umberto Fiore Moscato D'Asti!

I don't drink all that often tho, especially not right when I get home since I have kids who are expecting supper and homework help. I don't get to relax until after supper is done, then it's a cherry coke or my favorite ice cream and my kindle or DVR'd shows.

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

If I'm not doing homework, I hop on FB, and play Bejeweled Blitz for awhile. I work the pm shift so by the time I get home, my household is asleep.

If it's a bad night, I have a glass of Tippy Cow, read my Nook, then get to bed.

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NyQuil

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