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Hi..I am a new nurse that's is going to be finishing orientation soon and switching over to nights. I am looking for some advice on how to switch your sleep schedule. How do you get sleep that first night? any tips would be greatly appreciated!! thanks
Hi! Welcome to nights :)
Like you, I'm a new grad. I started orientation the first week of July, and went to nights the first week of August, so I only have 2 months under my belt. But here's what I've found so far:
I IMMEDIATELY bought the window tint for our bedroom. We have 4 huge windows, so curtains were MUCH too expensive and just didn't work. It works to keep it generally dark and actually MUCH cooler too! I got it at the Home Depot ~ the darker the better!
On my first night, I try to sleep as late as possible. I've never been a "nap person", so when I tried a few times to get up like normal and nap in the afternoon, I found myself tossing and turning and never getting any sleep, so I'd be up for 24 hours straight! So I sleep til noon or 1, then get up and do my thing, go to work, and get home and go right to bed, usually sleeping about 7 hours.
I also couldn't sleep during the days in between at first. I don't like to use sleeping pills, but found that melatonin works great for me. I know it doesn't for everyone, but worth a try!
I'm not CRAZY about nights, since my husband has an 8-5 job, but I always tell myself that its only 3 a week, and someday, whenever that is, I'll be on days. Good luck to you!
Rachel
thanks for all your tips. i am really looking forward to going to nights. i know there will be fewer resources, but I am not a morning person and find days to be pretty overwhelming with all the discharges, patients going to procedures, etc. i am hoping i will be able to go to days eventually but for right now am looking forward to working nights to get my routine down pat. thanks for all the tips!! I really appreciate it
RiverNurse
170 Posts
I work nights. I do most of the above in addition - I take a good quality B Complex before going to work. Gives me an extra boost and I don't seem to get the "hungries" like I used to get when I worked nights a few months back - and I sleep better...
hth,
shawna