Anyone here work night shift-past or present? Need advice pls.

GLDLPN · Sep 8, 2004

I find that at work, even during the night shift (I work 7pm-7am) there is something to be done all night long, and staying awake is not a problem. I am having some sleep difficulties right now ~ not sleeping well at night on my nights off, and that is kind of frustrating. I read about how working the night shift is stressful to the body, but I wonder is the stress of that any worse than the stress of dealing with some of these impossible family members who are more in abundance during the day time hours. I'd rather deal with the stress on the body of the night shift than dealing with some of these totally impossible, rude people.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 8, 2004

My worst problem with night shift was sleeping during the day. There has been lots of good advice in this thread, and there's very little I can add to it. My main point is sleep! Sleep when you're off and don't let ANYTHING interfere.

When I was younger, I used to be able to sleep without any problem. Now, in my peri-menopausal years, I find it very difficult to sleep regardless of time of day or night. Benadryl works for me, but it wears off after four hours. The solution to that is to take one at bedtime, and take another when you wake up to go to the bathroom. Hubby claims it leaves him hung over, but I haven't found that.

My other secret to night shift is Ambien. When I first started back on nights with this new job, even the Benedryl wasn't helping. I'd get 45 minutes of sleep then wake up and not be able to go back to sleep. Finally went to my doctor and asked for some help. Ambien works great, although it is habit-forming, so I can only use it twice a week. Nevertheless, those two good days or nights of sleep was so much more than what I HAD been getting, I consider it a miracle!

I turn off my phones and turn down the volume on the answering machine. If there's a real emergency, I'm sure the police will break my door down. Otherwise, it can wait until I wake up! I also have black-out shades for the bedroom, and a noisy fan for white noise. The fan works so well that a former boyfriend moved out of my house (on Christmas Eve!) while I was sleeping, and it didn't wake me! And if I'm working a stretch of nights, I stay up all night on my days off as well. It's a little strange, being up all night -- but I read all the posts here on AllNurses, catch up on reading, letters and email, take long baths and just generally enjoy myself. It's almost decadent!

Good luck on your night shifts, and let us know how you do.

cabbage patch rn · Sep 8, 2004

I work nights 7p-7a. I don't actually care for the shift but here's how I cope. I catch a nap prior to working my shift, usually between 3-4 hours, however long my kids will let me I agree that the junk food makes you feel crappy, fruit is the best especially in combination with yogurt. I'm not a coffee drinker but find myself having to have at least one cup around 4-5:00 am, this is when I really hit a slump. Unless we have a delivery early in the am, there isn't that much to do until right before shift change so we have to busy ourselves to stay awake. We bring books, magazines, sometimes surf the internet, whatever it takes to stay awake! Power naps can be very effective, you are supposed to get breaks you know...10-15 minutes can really refresh you and carry you through the rest of the night. I usually try to eat breakfast before I leave the hospital, say around 6:00 am, cereal most of the time. That way I'm not going home, eating breakfast and going directly to bed...this practice caused me to have ulcerative esophagitis several years ago. That way I don't have to go to bed with hunger pains. Also, if I skip breakfast all together, then I am sure to wake with an enormous headache, guaranteed. Nutrition is key. When I do get home, I turn the ringer off on the phone and make sure my blinds are closed. I usually have no problem going right to sleep because I'm so exhausted. In my opinion, working nights is great, it's the feeling you have the next day that sucks. I never feel rested, even when I was 20 something it was hard.

Good luck with your job and hopefully that daytime position will come open soon.

boulergirl, CNA · Sep 8, 2004

For me, I've found that staying up until noon or 1 PM and sleeping until about 9:30 helps. I also make sure to have coffee and creamer on hand in the fridge so I can set up the coffeemaker quickly once I'm up. (My parents gave me one of those coffeemakers that makes one cup at a time--great for making a cup before dashing out the door!) As soon as I get shift report, I start a pot of coffee--doesn't mean I'll drink it all, but it's there. Can you tell I thrive on coffee?? :rotfl: Anyway, there's one drawback: it dries you up. So make sure to drink water or juice to rehydrate from time to time.

One more thing: Propping up your feet occasionally is fine so they don't swell, but don't do it too much. Sitting will make you SLEEPYYYYY. Keep on your feet.

HTH! (Hope this helps!)

Mister Chris, MSN, NP · Sep 8, 2004

I'm working my first night shift tonight and I have no idea how I'm going to do it! I'm a "day" person and I tried staying up last night but barely made it to 12:30. I'm usually in bed about 10:30 at night and can count on one hand the number of times I've worken up past 9am. I have to work 7p-7a three days this week.
I'm worried that I won't be able to stay awake during the shift and that I won't be able to sleep when I get home. My friends took No-Doze in nursing school to stay awake-Is that stuff safe? Can anyone give me any advice or tips on how to deal?

Great thread starter - back in January! Yes I am a bit late to answer. So how did you go?

I have been on nights nearly four years so have established a great routine. Home by about 07.30am - breakfast - e-mail, post, phone calls, then washing, shopping etc. etc. light Lunch by 12.30 to 1.00pm. Not to forget my vitamins and plenty of fluids, then to bed at the latest 2.00pm. Alarm on for 9.00pm, up and shower, good meal - pre-prepared, fluids and then to work.

Sounds easy. It took a while to work - about 2 months! No sedation or alcohol. But always enjoy nights off - out walking, clubbing, and drinking and eating socially.

Difference in the money you earn can be a benefit, but the best parts are 1. the small ammount of administration and their staff. 2. Clients/patients who cannot sleep can tell you a lot more about themselves and how they realy feel. That is when you get time, and you do get a bit more time to spend with them. 3. Of course - Better pay than day shift. On the down side you do miss out a bit of social life and you do missout on a lot of the procedures that only go on during the day.

Night shift short term you can cope probably fairly well. Long term you have to come to terms with your change of life pattern or you will have to fight it all the way! Night shift long term is not for everyone.

At least I get to have a few words to say on this web site on nights! :wink2: Good luck all you night nurses. :nurse:

Mister Chris.

ManEnough · Sep 8, 2004

I'm going to be switching to nights soon as well and want to thank everyone for all this great advice.

One question.. where do you buy these blackout shades everyone keeps talking about?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 8, 2004

JC Penney's has them. I had to have mine custom made as I have an octagonal-shaped window in the bedroom.

KacyLynnRN · Sep 8, 2004

Jetta,

I am a 'day shift' person too, but I did work nights (7p-7:30a) my first year out of nursing school. My advice is: don't drink too much caffeine before midnight (save it for when you are really tired, otherwise you will become tolerant to it and it won't help you much), drink OJ or snack if you are REALLY tired (watch it! food helps wake you up but I gained 30 lbs. while working night shift) and if possible on your lunch break, try to get a small walk in, or some type of exercise. It will really help wake you up. Some people took naps on their lunch breaks, but I could never do that. I just ended up feeling worse after I woke up, like I was in a fog the rest of my shift. Also, make your sleeping room at home as dark as possible to get the best sleep you can when you get home. Good luck!

Kacy

P_RN, ADN, RN · Sep 9, 2004

One thing that works for me is to help someone else. Double team your patients for rounds. That way you can catch a wet bed for a patient and have help to turn etc. Offer to restock as someone said, but keep busy.

ManEnough · Sep 9, 2004

Thanks Ruby.. I'm off to JC Penny. :)

Karen_tn_37211 · Sep 9, 2004

Like some of you I considered myself a day shift person. Never was able to stay up late at night. I started night shift work about a month ago. Instead of trying to adjust THE NIGHT prior to beginning work....I started trying to adjust 4-5 days before. I gradually increased the amount of time I stayed up each night and the amount of time I slept during the day. This seemed to work for me. I had no trouble staying awake my first night.

I have sky lights that shine right into my bedroom. They are too far up (high ceilings) so I'm not able to use any black out shades. I use the slumber mask that you can buy at Walmart for $3-$4. That works fine for me.

nursemeow · Sep 9, 2004

You are a night person or you are not. I think deep inside we all know what group we are under.... Me, I've always been a night person... that's all!!! GOOD LUCK!!!