alternatives to caffeine for night shift?

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Hey awesome nurses! I'm still a student and this is not an issue for me YET but I'm curious about how people make it through night shift if they can't have caffeine...I have a mitral valve prolapse that goes CRAZY spastic whenever I consume caffeine (and really any kind of stimulant) and the fluttering in my chest and light headedness is just not worth the extra dose of "energy" that caffeine can provide. I know that staying well hydrated helps people stay sharp when they're tired and eating (not junk) every little while can be helpful...My body is SO committed to my circadian rhythm, like at 10pm my eye lids start getting heavy and it's futile to try to hang on and stay awake and then by 7am (sometimes 8 on weekends when I "sleep in" haha) I am WIDE awake. I am so scared that as a new grad the only positions available to me will be nights and I will be so drowsy that I make significant mistakes (or less seriously, that I won't provide the best most sincere pt care that I can). So, any suggestions for alternatives to caffeine? Thanks so much, you guys are awesome. :nurse:

Specializes in ER, Trauma.

During nursing school I dispatched ambulances on weekends, 7P to 7A. I noticed my rhythm was to always start drooping between 0300 to sunrise. Other dispatchers reported the exact same pattern. I started saving all my computer entry stuff and other predictable tasks, and jump into them around 0230AM. Kept me busy and alert until sunrise.

Funny thing about sunrise. I was in a room inside a room with no outside view or clue about weather or anything else, but could always tell when it was sunrise because I'd suddenly get and great sense of well being and alertness. Sneak outside and sure enough, the sun was just splitting the horizon. (And I've never been a morning person. I firmly believe in waking up right at the crack of 11AM).

Try watching your own rhythms and maybe you can save charting, stocking, booby trapping the managers office, plotting revenge against the doctors, as something to keep you alert then. Good luck and a long happy career.

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mmm cdiff, hahaha like that name:D

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Eating is important. I eat a good evening meal around 530pm, then lunch around 12-1am, then I have a light meal before going to bed (usually have a bowl of cereal). Besure the first two meals have plenty of protien. Melatonin really helps me stay asleep during the day. First night is usually the hardest but if you sleep well the next day things get better. Also drink water all night.

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During my preceptorship I did nights and when I got tired I would do laps in the halls, or go to the stair well and run up and down them a couple times.

After awhile you really just get used to it. Nights are not near as bad as they seem (or at least they wern't for me)

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Lemon in water. Lots of ice water helps. Try a spicy herbal tea without caffeine..it can perk you up. Lol or even a little hot sauce in warm water.Maybe even bring an ipod with you and during break or when you feel very sleepy, play your fav couple of songs. Also avoid eating tryptophan-containing stuff like milk or turkey burgers...they'll make you sleepy.

I find that I'd fall asleep more when I drank too much coffee...maybe it's from the caffeine making me pee a lot...dehydratired-->tired! I've read somewhere that drinking a lot of dark liquids (memory not working now...polyphenols?) In coffee, black tea, etc can induce temporary anemia..not sure if that's "junk science" or not

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http://www.advocare.com/09041249 Check out "SPARK" also, SLAM comes in delicious flavors! !000 times better tasting than 5 hour or any of the other energy drinks. Full of vitamins and healthy for you. Since we're all nurses, check out the Sci-Med board, and look up the doctors behind the products!!! I used these for clinicals, before tests and working late. (I went to my local community college and banged out my RN pre-reqs while I was in nursing school for my LPN license, while working and taking care of the family, so I needed energy and focus!)
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Specializes in geriatrics.

Get at least 7 hours of sleep during the day. Many people stay up during the day and work at night. You're burning the candle at both ends doing that. The energy shots are good once in a while.

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i work night shift & i dont do caffeine much cause it makes me have trouble sleeping when i go home to bed! i also get massive HA from caffeine, get jittery & nauseated. I keep a pretty tight sleep schedule so I usually do alright but I stay hydrated, i carry hot herbal tea in a reusable lidded coffee mug and when that's gone i refill with ice water and drink ice water all night with lunch and snacks. i'm a total night owl so when i used to work days i had trouble going to bed on time to get enough sleep cause i like to be up at night!! I think i got it from my Oma she goes to bed at 0400 and gets up around noon, she's done that for 30+ years..:lol2:

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