first night shift

AprilRNhere · Jul 29, 2007

Wake up EARLY the day you have the night shift. That way you'll be tired enough to take a nap before going in to work. Bring your favorite source of caffiene lol, and something to snack on. Do not dress too warm. (if your facility is cool...leave your jacket at home) Keep busy. Good luck!

lol..or you could always read the thread of nursing ghost stories before leaving for work! https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/whats-your-best-nursing-ghost-story-108202-42.html

edisongirl25 · Aug 1, 2007

I was hired for night shift all the time.....after orientation. The hospital where I work has a "residency" unit for new grads. You stay there until they feel you are ready to go to the floor you were hired for. Well since I am supposed to be nights, I got switched to nights there in the last couple of weeks. Now, I go back to days for a couple of weeks on the PEDS floor, my homebase. I have to say that I was NOT prepared for nights. I am used to the hustle and bustle of days and I have never been more bored in my entire life. It is ok until about 10p....then it's dead until after 5am. I was praying for a beeping IV pump! I hope that peds will be a little busier at night. Nights is best for me b/c of my kids and it's $5/hr more.

Pbelle · Aug 6, 2007

I work D/N 12s and HATE working nights. The drive home is horrible - the last time I worked two night shifts in a row I nearly fell asleep behind the wheel on the way home (20 mile drive). Nights are so boring, I like the work during the day better. I've spoken with my NM about changing shifts, but there's nothing available now. I'm only 6 months into this, and already looking for another job. :uhoh3:

cuddlesmom · Aug 6, 2007

I have worked night shifts since around 1992. I love it. There are less chiefs around. My advice to you is not to eat a huge meal before your first shift. I remember the first time I worked night shift my father had a bar-b-que and I ate a really big steak. I was so nervous and feeling odd because of being up at night, I got sick and had to go home. It tasted a lot better going down. Some facilities are really cold at night and some are hot, so be prepared. Usually your first night is busy for you because you are gettin orientated to everything it will be over before you know it. Good luck and let us know how it went. :lol2:

VTBabyNurse · Aug 6, 2007

I have been working nights for a year and so here is what I do to get myself on and off the night shift schedule.

The day I have to start my first night, I wake up early, try not to go run a lot of errands, just relax at home and then I take a nap in the afternoon for as long as I can.

The first night on is usually the toughest, but drink some soda or coffee to keep you going. If you are busy, you will do better than if you aren't. My floor is pretty busy so it may be easier for some than others.

Then I sleep from 8am to 4pm. I found that a solid 8 hours is helpful before going back. I wear a mask to keep out the sunlight.

After I get off after my last night, I go home and sleep until about 1pm. Then I get up, drink coffee, and do things around the house. That way I can go to bed at normal hours that night. But usually I feel not quite myself until a day or so later.

Good luck. Let us know how it went!

edisongirl25 · Aug 8, 2007

I pretty much follow that same idea, but I still feel like I lose a day. When you work in the daytime, you go home after your last day, sleep that night and go on with your life the next day, but when you work nights, after the last one, you go home, sleep (a lot if it's all 3 in a row) and then when you get up, it's late afternoon and the days almost over, then it's night time and you have to wait til the next day to do anything.

jlouden_rn · Aug 10, 2007

I have been working 12-hour nights since July 2nd and I'm not too thrilled about it (I can't get the hang of sleeping during the day and being awake all night). Next month I start a day shift w/ night relief position and so far it looks like I'll be doing 6 day shifts and 6 night shifts next month. Like somebody else stated, get up early when you have to work that night so you're tired enough to sleep at least a few hours in the afternoon (I typically sleep from 12-4:30ish when I have to leave at 6:15p). When I do 2-3 nights in a row, I'll try to hold off until 10a and sleep until 4p (which usually works wonderfully for me). On my nights off, I usually have no problem sleeping at a "normal" time with my husband and I can function close to a normal level during the day. I'm doing my first day shift in over a month this Sunday (I'm just finishing a night shift now, so I'll have off until then), so I guess I'll see how I manage.

As for tips while you're at work during the night, I have a few snacks and an energy drink (I'm currently working on my SoBe Essential Energy drink) that I try to space out throughout the shift. On my way home in the morning, I talk to my husband on the phone for a while, then I turn up the music on the radio (and sing along!) to help keep me awake and alert (especially since I have to travel on the interstate to get home).

Good luck!

doe9181 · Sep 20, 2007

My first time working a night shift, I went home in the morning and felt like I had a fever. I was shaky and had the chills. I took my temp and it was normal. I guess my body just wasn't used to staying up overnight. I am now used to it and I love it. To stay up I usually take Excedrin becuase it has caffiene in it. I don't drink coffee. I'm not really a fan unless it's flavored.

lilcajunnurse · Sep 20, 2007

I have been working nights for 13 years now and I love it. I often hear ppl say they dislike nights b/c it is slow and boring, well I don't know where they work but we have interesting nights. I work in a small hospital and med/surg is down the hall from ER and we go help during codes and traumas.

I generally work 4 (12-hour) shifts in a row with 3 days off inbetween. The first day is always the hardest. So wake early and take a nap an hour or 2 before you go in. Also, coffee and energy drinks work well. Never eat large, filling meals (they tend to wear you down faster) so bring some snacks and a sandwich.

You will never get used to sleeping days and working nights but it does get easier. The best thing is all the chiefs work days and indians at night. Also remember that your first day off is usually wasted, so take a nap, enjoy the day and hit the sack early (and you will be fresh the next am.