Who works nights?

[peaceful2100]

I got my schedule today. The reality is starting to set in. I am beginning my new job next week as a neonatal care tech. I am working nights. 645-715am. I will start my first night shift on June 5th. My scheule was given to me for a whole month which was nice. June 4th, I have a hospital orientation for the nursing staff including the care techs in the day from 830-430 then I work nights June 5th, 8th, 10, 11th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 26th, 27th, 30, July 1, 4th and 5th. That will be nice so that way I will have lots of time to spend with my 4 year old daughter. She is in pre-school and she will be in summer daycamp at the school she attends for the days I come home from work so I can sleep.

How did you prepare for your first night shift? Did you stay up late so many days in advance to prepare and started sleeping during the day. How did you prepare for it or can you even prepare for it. I am so nervous. I want to do good and I don't want to fall asleep. I know that I am not going to do a lot of sitting when I don't have to. I know during my break I will walk around. Ok, now I need to stop worrying so much.

Thanks

[ERNurse752, RN]

I like night shift...I'm more of a night-owl person, and my bf works at night too.

I stay up as late as I can the night before I go in, so I can sleep late the day of.

Snacking was more of a problem for me on days, for some reason. I don't tend to be as hungry at night, I guess. :)

Make sure you keep moving (usually not a problem!) The more you sit, the more sleepy you will become.

Good luck and have fun! Night shifters are special people! :)

[peaceful2100, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the advice! I am more of a evening and night person then a day person myself anyway. I hate getting up early in the mornings and by afternoon I am usually tired but then late evening/night I get sudden bursts of energy as my dad likes to call them because I don't go to bed when everyone else do. I have been staying up longer lately. Sleeping more during the day. Really I am not a soft sleeper. I can sleep through pretty much anything and everything. I have took naps several times during the day and nothing has bothered me not the phone, not loud trucks. Nothing. When I am in my own room and have the door close I can't even hear the phone ring. Plus my room is pretty much dark. So I have pretty much got those things set.

I will let everyone know how things are going after my first few shifts next week.

Thanks again

[SmilingBluEyes]

EAT a BALANCED meal....drink lots of water on your shift to stay hydrated well.....sleep with a box fan on to block noise..turn off phone ringers.....block bedrooms windows with a dark sheet or foil....learn to *love* caffeine (rofl) and enjoy. I think some of the BEST nurses work NIGHTS! I love it, just the less sleep is hard for me. But it DOES enable me to be home w/dd all day long and that is a plus. Good luck!

[rebel charm]

I've always had trouble sleeping at night and sleep like a baby during the day, so night shift is perfect for me. I wonder how people stay awake during the day shift!

[live4today, RN]

Worked nights for a long time, and loved it until I started gaining weight I had a hard time losing. I would only eat popcorn or a piece of fruit and bottled water when I worked nights because I would eat a regular dinner between four and six each evening before laying back down for a few hours sleep before reporting to work again. Working nights messed with my circadian rhythm, and I will never work another nightshift for anyone. I'll do the evening shift first, then days.

You're young, energetic, excited about becoming a nurse, so you'll do just super, I'm sure! Each nurse has to find his/her own 'rhythym' to what works best for them, so every one has a different reaction to things. If it feels good to you, stick with it. If your body starts singing the "I've got to get off this shift" song, listen to what your body is telling you.

[SmBaxter]

I find that sleeping a couple of hours in the AM when I get home, and then getting 3 or 4 hours right before I go in helps a lot.

Believe me, you will be so excited the first night, you will have no problems staying awake!

Eat healthy foods ( trite but true-gained 10 lbs on microwave popcorn!) I like to reheat grilled chicken breast with a salad, or soup ( protein is essentail for mental alertness!)

Stong ( like, nuclear!) coffee is good in a pinch.

In AM at home, no phone (unless emergency calls from selected people), no light ( throw black fabric over windows if necessary!)

and preferred sleeping temp ( I need it COLD!)

Good luck!

[nursedawn67, LPN]

I work night shift...6p-6a...When I have to work a night I go to bed late and sleep in until about noon and then go to work at 6....when I get home at 6:30 I sit up for about a half hour and go to bed and sleep until 2 or 3 (if I have to work again)....if I don't have to work that night then i only sleep until noon and go to bed about 11pm. I find it works well for me. At work if I get tired I get up and move around...I save jobs like stocking my med cart for those times so I can get up and move. The best thing is find what works for you. Good luck!