Double Shifts: Your tips and tricks for getting through it

Nurses General Nursing

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We all hate 'em but I've never known a nurse who hasn't been talked into working extra at least once in her career.

What ONE THING do you recommend to get through it alive?

I have a few tricks. I have 2 jobs one is my 40hr a week job the other is agency work.

with my 40hr job if they need me to work and i dont really want to but have to I say can I work adjust meaning Ill work the next 8hrs for a shift off. Typically I will do if for my Friday off so I get 3 days off. PLus they dont have to pay overtime and its a win/win situation. But when I am in the middle of the shift. I keep busy. I avoid looking at the clock, thinking oh crude 15hrs and 45mins to go. (that just sets you up for a long day) halfway point I make an attempt to have a good meal. I go freshen up brush my hair/teeth, wash my face. Put my feet up for 10 mins even helps. (sometimes is a negative too) I really think it is all about being positive and not thinking about the hours. I am in a different boat than some. I am married but have no children. SO I am not really losing precious time with my family. When you are a parent ... thats a whole other ball game.

Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

I agree with thecommuter--excellent advice. Make sure your meals and snacks are high in protein--no Butterfingers and junk. Drink LOTS of water. Get a good nights rest the night before. If you're doing them frequently (like I was), I'd suggest an immune booster--garlic, Airborne, echinacea, etc. because it can ravage your immune system.

I did not work through the Baylor plan (I was agency and worked 32-64 hours a week by doing doubles).

If you're doing it once in a while...well, then I don't honestly think it's too rough. Keep thinking of the extra money you'll have, and STOP LOOKING AT THE CLOCK! As for caffeine, I nurse a 12oz cup over 6 hours during my rough spot.

Good luck!

Between three shifts, meetings, and training, I once worked a 48 hour shift. Believe me, I tried to get out of it but with no luck. I was so tired!:smilecoffeeIlovecof

My advice is drink lots of coffee, go outside every once and awhile, keep moving, and if the hospital has a shower use it. A cold shower will do a person wonders! Oh, if you are completely wiped take a nap or have someone else drive you home.

I still don't remember how I drove home after that shift. Dangerous and stupid, definitely.

Specializes in Developmental Disabilities, LTC.

I used to work with a gal who had 3 small kids to take care of at home & had a weekend-only position that consisted of 12 hour shifts only, 6PM - 6AM. I'd work a couple doubles once in awhile & during down time on the NOC shift (which there was a lot of since we were CNAs), her & I would sit @ the nurses' station I was amazed at how as soon as she would sit down in a chair, she would immediately nod off - without even trying! She'd just be sitting there & her head would droop down & her eyes would close & she just immediately fell into a state of sleep. It was actually kinda funny (again, we had a staff RN - her & I were CNAs) because every few minutes, her head would snap back & she'd stare @ me & say, "Were you laughing at me?!? Don't laugh at me! Do you have any idea how tired I am?"

Anyway, this girl had a 45 minute commute from work to home that involved lot of winding, country roads & she said one morning she was driving home & she nodded off:eek: & heard her daughter calling for her in the car - "Mommy..." She woke up just in time to veer her car from going head on into oncoming traffic!

She said she knew the only thing that saved her life was the fact that for some odd reason, she had decided to take her husband's car into work the night before that has a St. Joseph prayer card tucked in the visor. St. Joseph woke her up. It was a huge wake up call for her (literally) - really forced her to think about what her kids would do if they had to grow up without her.

I work at least two doubles (16 hours) a week. These are mandatory. My main tips are to try to pace yourself, try to get assigned to the same patients for the whole shift (not always possible), make sure you eat well and take ALL your allotted breaks, even if it seems like you are "too busy". Because I have to work these regularly, I hire a maid to clean my house and someone to do my ironing...the extra dollars more than cover the cost and you dont' have to come home and do housework. And when you come home, RELAX as best you can...let the exahaustion go and try to sleep as much as you can.

Some places mandate (force) OT and threaten you with write-up and firing if you don't stay. They threaten to charge you with abandonment and report you to the licensing board, they use it against you at evaluation time.

This is horrible ... I'm constantly shocked at how nurses are treated in other states.

I wonder what it's like with other state boards because, in California, they cannot charge you with abandonment for refusing to work 24 hour or any extra shifts for that matter.

At worst, you're expected to work another four hours if somebody doesn't show up for work but, if you declare yourself unsafe due to exhaustion and they don't find a replacement by then, it becomes the hospital's problem at that point, not yours.

They can't legally fire you for it either.

:typing

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I have worked doubles (16 hour shifts) in the ER a lot over the past 10 years. Had medical bills that had to be paid so you do what you have to do.

Anyway, my one tip is to stay well-hydrated with water only. No soda. For me, this is the key to success.

Always ask first how many other nurses will be working with you. I hate to be working overtime when I am tired anyway only to find out that I made the second nurse and not the third nurse...end up working your exhausted butte off and then soo tired I ususally end up getting sick. I want to the nurse to make the unit adequately staffed.

Specializes in ICU/CCU, CVICU, Trauma.

I agree with drinking a lot of water, not soda. Many times fatigue is due to being dehydrated.

Specializes in med-surg, ER, rehab, neuro, OB.

I used to work doubles all the time, starting at 6 am and ending at 10:30 pm.

For me, the key to getting through it was taking a 15 minute break every 4 hours. I know we are all busy and taking a break is difficult, but working long, stressful hours require that we take care of ourselves physically and mentally.

For me, taking more short breaks is more refreshing than a longer lunch break, plus it gives you something to look forward to. I would go in the break room, have a snack, sit down for a few minutes and just veg.

I have also found that by taking a short break, I work more quickly and efficiently after coming back. I focus and concentrate better when my batteries are recharged.

Specializes in Rehab, LTC, Peds, Hospice.

I work 12 hour shifts weekends LTC. They staff 2 nurses on our floor from 7a - 11p for 56 patients then go down to 1 nurse for 56 patients from 11-7. Many times it seems as if they 'forgot' to schedule someone to cover the 4 hours, (they've scheduled 1 7p-7a nurse to relieve the 2 of us leaving at 7p). The excuse is that the computer doesnt pick this up because mon-fri the staff work traditional 8 hour shifts. So many, many times I or the other nurse will stay as the 9p med pass is too heavy for one nurse to do the whole floor.

At any rate how I cope is I always leave to take my break. I give my keys to the supervisor and even if I only have time to eat in my car, I feel more rejuvinated by leaving the building. I also keep magazines and books in my car to read while waiting through drivethrough. If I bring my lunch I still leave drive my car to someplace with a view and have a 'picnic'.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

A change of shoes and socks before starting the second part of my 16 hour shift.

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