Advice for the Overnight Shift...

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Specializes in NICU.

Hey everyone! I just accepted a job as a new RN on an overnight shift, 3 12s/week. I was just wondering if anyone had advice on how they adapted their sleeping schedules, eating etc... and how they felt doing it?? I'm new to this time schedule and any advice, thoughts, opinions are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

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Try to do your nights together, I get home at 8am go right to sleep get up at 3:30 go to the gym and then to work at 7pm. I switched from dayshift and thought it would be difficult but I love it. I eat better and it's less stress.

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Specializes in NICU.

Thanks so much!! I'll definitely try that out.

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

Now see I don't like doing three 12's in a row. I like to do 1 or 2 and then off for one or two. I am asleep around 10-ish and I get up at 4:30 to shower, make dinner and leave at 6:15. In the beginning I had to be a night owl on my days off but now I can make the switch back and forth without a problem, so on my days off I am up by day and sleep by night. I've got kids, so I don't want to spend the day sleeping away and it works just fine for me. Yes, you're going to feel really tired for several months into it but I prefer night shift because you have to deal with less stuff - family, constant comings/goings of doctors and pt's to tests, etc.

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Specializes in BSc, ASN- RN, MBA.

I am starting to work night shift as well. I wonder if using something like melatonin would work to help me sleep or if it more to regulate night/day cycles and might hurt.

I need to put room darkening shades on my windows to block light and sound so if anyone has advice there- please let me know!

I also have a neighbor that plays loud music during the day and I was going to let them know I was working nights but also get something like a tapestry to help block the sound. I hope this will work, night shift is pretty good $ and I sure need it!

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Congratulations on your new position! If you're at all a night owl, I predict you're going to love night shift!

Like a previous poster, I prefer to work my three shifts in a row, primarily because it allows me to live like a "normal" person the other days. ;-) Another benefit to three in a row is that you really get to know your patients, their histories, their meds, their routine, etc. If you work one off, one on, etc., you could have a completely different patient load each night...lots of research to really get to know your patients. You'll find what you prefer on your floor.

On my first night in, I'll try my best to get in a 2-3 hour nap; usually from 2 or 3 until 5 p.m. Then I get up, shower, and am out of the house by 6-6:15. I come home and go right to bed (truly important for me if I have to go back that night) after a quick shower and two OTC CVS "Sleep aids." LOL. I only take them on the days when I have to go back that night. If I'm off that night, I don't. But if I don't get a good day's sleep on the nights I work back to back, it really is a struggle. I'm usually in bed by 8:30-9 a.m. With the help of my "sleepers," I tend to wake up once somewhere between noon and 3. I let the dogs out, etc., then go right back to bed until my alarm goes off at 5 p.m. Then I get up and do it all over again, minus the shower, because I took one when I got home. :-) Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. On my last night, I'll come home and follow the same routine, minus the sleepers. When I wake up around noon or 1 for everyone's potty break, I just stay up so I don't lose the whole day.

Honestly, doing this, I get more sleep than I did on day shift. Think about it. Who comes home from day shift and is in bed by 8:30-9 p.m.? I NEVER was. I'd stay up until 11 or 12 with my family. And I'd still have to be up by 5 a.m., so I actually got LESS sleep. But then, I'm a night owl, and going to bed at 9 p.m. is just nearly impossible for me.

Also, you might want to get a blindfold thing. I have room-darkening shades, but light sneaks around the edges of them. I need to get some lined drapes or something, I guess. And you might even consider some small foam earplugs to help drown out the noisy neighbor. By all means, let the neighbor know your situation, but don't always count on him/her to remember your work schedule. :-) Maybe look for a quieter place? ;-) And don't forget to turn the ringers off your cell phone and land line!!!! Unless you're a single parent with kids in school and need to be available for emergency phone calls -- everyone else can leave a message!

Good luck, and let us know how you adapt to life "on the dark side!"

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