Hi everyone! I am a new grad RN starting my residency next month on a tele floor — I will be working FT nights 7pm-7am. I’m kinda nervous and scared that it will be hard for me to adjust, and I literally have no idea what to expect.
If you work nights (or have ever worked nights), what did you do to adjust? What are your off days like? What are your meals/eating schedules like? What is your skincare like? (I have a day and nighttime skincare routine—I’m wondering if I should flip them once I start working nights.)
Also, is it best to work 3 consecutive night shifts? Or is it better to spread the shifts out throughout the week?
Any advice or tips help! I plan on getting black out curtains and I already have a fan to block out noise.
I worked nights for 3 years. What worked for me was to try to take a long nap before going to work on my first night. That seemed to help in getting prepared for that first night. Afterwards, I would come home, shower and crash. I would make sure all the curtains were closed, phones were turned off, and earplugs were in! After my last night I would take a long nap and then could enjoy part of the first day off. I was also able to switch back to normal hours on days off so I felt pretty fortunate. As far as eating, I would stick to dinner before I went to work, and at work I packed a few light snacks. When off in the morning I would eat a light breakfast before going to sleep and then a small lunch when I woke up in the afternoon. Good luck on working nights, I hope it works well for you! I would definitely try to do all the nightsl together so that you can get it over with!
Congrats on the gig! I started out in a new grad orientation program too, and we started out on nights. I have always been very sensitive to sleep, and my psychologist strongly advised me to not go on night shift, but it really wasn't a choice. So I went into it with a positive attitude and pretended I could be a night person.
I've had a hard time. I do all the tricks -- blackout curtains, the original Dohm white noise machine (go big or go Dohm), essential oil diffuser, eyemask, etc. Sleeping between shifts isn't a huge issue now. In the beginning I would have so much adrenaline from shifts getting home that I couldn't turn my brain off -- give that a few weeks and I was tired enough to let that go, lol
I've never been the sleepy type on the job, I'm the opposite -- engaged and high-alert (sometimes to a fault -- fine line between alert and anxious). The big problem for me is my days off. I've read all Googlable advice on this: Set an alarm if you nap - GET UP no matter what - and switch yourself back to a daytime schedule. (Or stay nocturnal all week - which I tried once and was so dreary I never did it again, but it may work for some)
So, I finish the three shifts consecutive (I prefer that, btw - continuity with pt care and with report is wonderful) and the fourth day is the day to switch back. I will nap for a couple hours, wake up to the alarm and feel like the crankiest human on the planet & like I haven't rested at all, or I'll "listen to my body" (fine line there, again) and next thing I know it's dark (AM or PM? who knows!) I have several missed calls from concerned friends & fam, and I haven't hydrated in 16-18 hours. My mood may be lighter, but my body feels like it's been hit my a truck. I think only graveyard shifters who have experienced this crash can relate to that feeling.
I've also never dealt with nausea before and have discovered I cannot eat on nights. (Coming from a big snacker who loves food, this sucks) So I will try to have a healthy meal when I get home or before work, and then bring a smoothie or something my stomach can handle during the shift. I've lost 14 lbs since starting night shift and not in a good way. I've added iron, Vitamin D supplements, and Miralax to my daily routine (don't even get me started on the change in BM habits... my GI tract doesn't know what the hell is going on)
My mental health has taken a hit for sure. I have managed my depression pretty well for almost a decade now with a combination of therapy and SSRIs, but having that baseline history of depression added to chronic sleep debt (and sometimes forgetting to take my med because I was so strung out at first w/ what day/time it was) I have had... rough weeks. Two days particularly come to mind when I felt truly bottomed out. Waking up crying, feeling worthless, the whole lot. Thankfully I have been in that spot before, and even knew as it was happening -- "this is chemical, you're exhausted, this is temporary" Still lousy, though.
All that said, I know this is not forever. Nights are not for me long-term. The pay is nice, but I'd rather get paid less and feel like a functioning human on my days off.
One hack that has helped, I carpool with a coworker on our days that we are scheduled together, and we play goofy songs (Spice Girls, etc) on the drive and sing like fools, it helps my mood so much on those days coming into the shift. Or if I drive solo, I'll sing my heart out to Aretha Franklin or something equally over the top. Whatever works!
Keep us posted how you're doing. Wanted to share from the perspective of someone who is on nights but not thriving, but I know I'll get through it.
Thank you so so so so much for your input. I appreciate your honesty. Not everyone talks about the negative effects of night shift so thank you for that. Very great advice.
OMG @pebblebeach your post is so scary! I will be starting nights, too soon. I have actually worked night shift before as a caregiver so I’m not naive to this struggle, but it wasn’t full time. It was just a night or two a week, but was tough while I was in nursing school as I was switching back and forth nights to days almost daily. I have to get off work sometimes and drive to lecture, lol.
Thanks for starting the thread, OP, maybe you and I can keep in touch as we start this journey and support each other. One thing I’m super worried about is remembering to take my thyroid pill daily and making sure I haven’t eaten anything for 3 hours prior, which may be tough on night shift. I think there will be lots of trial and error for us newbies! Thank you Ruby for sharing the other thread, too.
Yes, most definitely! Let's keep in touch and support one another. When do you start nights? I start April 15th.
over 30+ years on nights....i personally prefer 7 on 7 off. Not as exhausting. After finish week, sleep til no later than 1100, stay up rest of day, go to bed at normal time and my body has made the change for my week of normal people living.
Not going to lie, sometime those week of work gets darned long, but knowing you have a week off, every other week, does it for me.
OMG!! 7 on!? I'm not sure I can do that, haha. Maybe one day. Thanks for sharing your schedule.
Put a note on your front door stating "Do Not Disturb Between 8 and 5" or whatever time you decide. It is amazing how many times during the day someone is ringing the doorbell, especially before elections, start of school (fundraisers), etc.
I worked nights for 3 years. What worked for me was to try to take a long nap before going to work on my first night. That seemed to help in getting prepared for that first night. Afterwards, I would come home, shower and crash. I would make sure all the curtains were closed, phones were turned off, and earplugs were in! After my last night I would take a long nap and then could enjoy part of the first day off. I was also able to switch back to normal hours on days off so I felt pretty fortunate. As far as eating, I would stick to dinner before I went to work, and at work I packed a few light snacks. When off in the morning I would eat a light breakfast before going to sleep and then a small lunch when I woke up in the afternoon. Good luck on working nights, I hope it works well for you! I would definitely try to do all the nightsl together so that you can get it over with!
I won’t bevstarting nights until I get through most of my critical care orientation and preceptorship, so it’s going to be like 4 or 5 months away.
Ohhh okay. I start my residency (like orientation and stuff) on April 15th, and I’m not sure when I’ll officially be on the floor or if my preceptor is nights or days. So idk when I’ll be starting nights either LOL. Keep me updated!
Oh I am soooo glad I found this thread! I will start nights April 22nd. I worked overnight shifts a million years ago (midnight to 8am) and it was fine but now I am definitely a morning person.
I am kinda in between lol I dont think I am a morning person, but I dont think I can stay up late till like 7am. I can stay up till like 2-3am no problem, but past 3am all of sudden all my energy just dropssss. So it's kinda hard. Why cant all nurses just work 9am-5pm and that would be ideal and impossible lol
I’ve been working nights for the last 10 years. Everything is more relaxed at night. The people, the pts (other than neuro....those pts NEVER relax...LOL), no doctors or managers to hassle you, no meetings or rounds to deal with, no PT/OT to annoy you, etc. all the procedures happen on days so, you might actually prefer all the activity on days depending on your personality. However, nights is when the codes usually happen. Also, all the cool kids work nights ?. I hate working day shift. There is good and bad. Try it out. If you don’t like it, u can always go back to days.
amusedRN750
15 Posts
I worked nights for 3 years. What worked for me was to try to take a long nap before going to work on my first night. That seemed to help in getting prepared for that first night. Afterwards, I would come home, shower and crash. I would make sure all the curtains were closed, phones were turned off, and earplugs were in! After my last night I would take a long nap and then could enjoy part of the first day off. I was also able to switch back to normal hours on days off so I felt pretty fortunate. As far as eating, I would stick to dinner before I went to work, and at work I packed a few light snacks. When off in the morning I would eat a light breakfast before going to sleep and then a small lunch when I woke up in the afternoon. Good luck on working nights, I hope it works well for you! I would definitely try to do all the nightsl together so that you can get it over with!