Help!! New nurse starting nights 7p-7a

Pat_Pat RN · Sep 27, 2008

The night before the first night, I try to stay up late, so I can sleep during the day before, and be awake at night. Make sense?

I've found 50mg of Benadryl works well for me to help me sleep. Some use melatonin to help with sleep. Some people use Lunesta, I think just the first "sleep night" and the last, depending on how you sleep at the end.

Some people try to stay up on the last day of their "run" to get back on a day schedule. Something might be required to help you sleep that night as well.

Good luck with the night shift. I've almost always worked nights, and find it is just what works well for me.

Nurse Salt · Sep 27, 2008

I try to sleep until 12 or 1 pm the day I go in for my first of 3 nights. I have never had a problem sleeping during the day, but I realize others do, so I would suggest you try everything else before starting any drugs/sleep aids (because they can make you cloudy the next day and you don't want to become dependent).

Stay up late the night before until maybe 3 or 4 am, and get black out curtains or a sleep mask and ear plugs. Turn your phone OFF and have a fan on to keep you cool (and for background noise). On the last day of my stretches I will nap for 3-4 hours then function as a "normal" person. If I do decide to stay awake after my shift because I have something to do that day I just drink plenty of water and don't drive long distances. Your body may take a few months to get used to your new schedule, and you will develop your own routine with what works for you. Good luck!!!

sweet tooth · Sep 27, 2008

The first night was the hardest for me. It is possible for you to stay up most of the night and still not sleep during the day so be careful. I just don't see anyway for your body to comfortably make the shift on the first night you work. It will take some time for you to get used to it. Darkening the room, fan, etc. all help. I get up about 5am(mainly because I have kids to get off to school). Some things that have helped me- eat a hearty bkfst (otherwise I'll wake up at 12:15 for lunch), I go for a walk, take a shower, and take 1 benadryl (by 0830). I also set a time that I want to get up and if I wake up before then I make myself stay in bed. A lot of times I'll dose off again. If I don't go back to sleep, at least I've conserved precious energy that I will need later on. I also don't turn the tv on. Just know that it will take some time and like anything, you have to see what works for you. Good luck.

ccuCCRN · Sep 30, 2008

Hi there!

I have been on nights for about 5 years and LOVE it! I never was a "day person" so working nightshift suits me well. At first, nightshift was really difficult for me; I couldn't seem to stay awake and alert. After about 6 weeks or so my body got adjusted to the point where nights feels a lot more natural to me than days. My first day on, I usually take Benadryl about 10 or 11am and I sleep until about 4:30 or 5. Sleep is not an issue for me after my first night. A word to the wise, though--TURN OFF YOUR PHONE WHEN YOU GET HOME! You have NO idea how many people (even people who know you work nights) try to call you during the day. Remember, you deserve a good night's sleep as much as they do.

Welcome to nights! I hope you come to love it as much as I do!! :nurse:

Liz520 · Oct 1, 2008

for those of you that work nights......do you keep you sleep/awake habits for the rest of the week? i will most likely end up working nights like the op because i graduate soon. i am curious how the rest of the week works for folks on nights. we all have friends, family, and some of us spouse who like to go out to eat and get together during "normal hours" so how do you make it work?

Nurse Salt · Oct 1, 2008

I sleep during "normal" work hours and work during "normal" sleep hours, other than that, I conduct my life in a "normal" manner. I try to have several "anchor hours" of sleep each day, meaning work or not, I am asleep those hours most every day. For me those hours are from 10-12, but research has found 4 "anchor hours" are most beneficial to keeping health.

LaruaRN · Oct 2, 2008

I have not heard of the concept of anchor hours before. Is there a reference for this research? I have been working night shift since June and feel like I have adjusted for the most part but this might be helpful for health and just feeling well. It is difficult switching from nights working to days off and wanting to get things done in the daytime world. Thanks for any info on this research.

Sully, RN · Oct 2, 2008

I have been working nights for 3 months now. I like to have 3 - 12-hour shifts in a row. The first night is the hardest. The first night I work I wake up in the morning as usual. In the morning I do household chores and exercise to try to tire myself out. I nap from 1pm to 5:30 pm and then get ready for work. When I get off work the next morning I am exhausted and go right to bed. I usually wake up around 3pm. After my third shift, I go right to sleep and whenever I wake up I switch back to my day schedule. I go to bed that night around 10 or 11pm. Seems to work for me so far. Switching back from days to nights kinda ruins one of your days off though

Nurse Salt · Oct 2, 2008

A colleague of mine found the research a while back I'll see what I can do to track down a source... But you can always google it...

Nurse Salt · Oct 3, 2008

A colleague of mine found the research a while back I'll see what I can do to track down a source... But you can always google it...

Ok, here are some things I found... http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1694075&pageindex=1#page

Slide 24 gives a great illustration of what I was referring to...

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/HRS/wellness/healthplus/hppshiftwork.pdf

gradRN2007, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2008

that's almost exactly what i do, i sleep from 1-5p if possible the first night back and then work, sleep when i get home or by 9-10am then get up at 5 for night #2 etc..after 3rd night i sleep till whenever, 2-3 and get up and then go back to sleep 10p if tired or around 12-1a if reading a good book and then get up the next day at 7am or so until next 3 on...love it

good luck