Caffeine and shifts

Nurses Stress 101

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Specializes in Peds.

I will be soon working 12 hour shifts about 3 times a week (in about 2 days). I am normally an upbeat, hyper type of person but I do enjoy caffeine and I was wondering what were peoples' experiences with caffeine and long shifts. Did it help or just hinder your performance in the long run? Like did it make you crash, etc if you didn't refuel every so often?

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The sugar that went with my choice for caffeine, soda, started helping me gain tons of weight and pushing me more and more towards a diagnosis of diabetes. I became symptomatic. I could, and can, put away soda, as if it were going out of style. Eventually, my habit did affect how I felt. I could feel when I was over caffeinated. It took a major effort to bring myself down from that addiction to sugar and caffeine. The sugar in the drinks did not help my dental condition either. I would not recommend more than one or at the most two sodas in a 12 hour shift. Don't down every soda in the store's aisle. I can assure you, you won't like how you feel. And yes, I did get the highs and lows from the drinks that did not set well with my plans for the day, whether they were to sleep or do things before sleeping. Reached the point where insomnia became a problem. Just don't let caffeine become a habit. And stay away from those flavored coffees. They are just as bad as soda, and more expensive. Info from my experiences.

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

I need the caffiene. Plain and simple. But...pop had the effect the above poster stated. Too much sugar..and too much weight gain. I slowly converted over to cofee with limited amount of creamer in it.

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Specializes in Peds.

Luckily I hate soda and most sweet things. I haven't had a soda since I was about 5 years old. Just black coffee for me! Only bad thing with that is though is the staining sometimes.

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Specializes in icu,ccu, er, corrections.

I work 12 hour night shifts, four days a week, and I drink coffee from the moment I wake up until I get off work and it doesn't affect my sleeping.....I usually sleep six hours during the day, eight if I am sleeping at night. I absolutely love my coffee, but also drink iced tea, no soda.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I'm working 8-hour days and I know I'm addicted to coffee, plalin and simple. But I do feel more awake and focused, so it helps me. When I worked 12-hour shifts it was the same. Usually coffee ever four hours got me over any sluggishness.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i absolutely have to have my coffee, but i get it with skim milk and splenda instead of cream and sugar. same caffeine, not all the calories! just dont get yourself hooked on mountain dew...

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Specializes in LTC, subacute CNA.

I don't like coffee, and try to stay away from lots of soda. But I work Baylor night shifts so I need something to keep me going. I take NoDoze (caffeine pill), but I only need half of one to get me through the night. I've also tried those 5- hour energy drinks, and they work, too. I don't like to overdo it on the caffeine. Sometimes a big glass of water is all I need to wake up.

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

I work 16-hour weekend double shifts, and diet colas are integral to my days at work. I will become sluggish and drowsy if I don't pop open a Diet Coke Zero every 4 hours.

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my black coffee, sustains me.

if i don't have it, i will withdraw.

but no more tonics or sweetened drinks for me.

i've been drinking a lot of flavored waters when i'm home.

but to function, i depend on my coffee.

my dtr works at starbucks, and brings home 1 lb/week.

leslie

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Ironically, I couldn't stand coffee until I started working as a nurse......I can even drink the stuff while driving home from work and go straight to sleep! Several Tim Horton's restaurant workers in my area know exactly what I want when I pull up! As someone in one of their commercials stated, "you don't even want to see me until I've had my first cup!" Coffee is just about the only thing that keeps my coworkers and I from falling asleep on our long shifts! It gives me the extra kick in the butt to get my job done! I will admit though, that I have had dreaded palpitations from drinking too much of it:o.

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Specializes in NICU.

I too am lost without my coffee...I drink it black mostly but a little ffmilk/sugar substitute from time to time to change it up. I totally quit for a while and found myself struggling with being sluggish and tired to the point that I just threw up my hands and said forget it....give me some coffee. I do definitely feel a difference if I overdo it with the caffeine...heart palpitations and nervousness. I try to keep it to 3-4 cups, spread out during a 12 hr shift and I don't drink any after about 5-6pm to avoid messing up sleep time. So, yeah I am a caffeine addict but there are much worse things I am thinking.

They come out with new research on caffeine all the time and most of it says that a little coffee is good for you...actually has antioxidants and health benefits....too much is not good. All things in moderation:)

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