Meals to eat on afternoon and nightshift?

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

I'm doing my first nightshift in a long, long time and wondered what I should take to eat? If I have a heavy meal on afternoon shift, I later feel tired, horrid and bloated. Should I just take a sandwich? Most facilities I go to don't have any canteen or dining room open after hours, so we have to take our own meals. And I usually like something hot cos cold chicken and salad just doesn't cut it in winter!

What does everyone else take to work? Any good suggestions that will fill me up but not bloat me out?

Thanks in advance.

[Nicky30, BSN, RN]

I like to take a small baked potato with a choice of whatever filling appeals to you.

However whenever I take that I have no time to heat it bup let alone eat it.

Finger food I think is best - unfortunately you tend to eat lots when that happens because we take enough for all the nurses on the ward.

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

I bring soup most nights- it's hot and filling but not bloating. You can make it yourself and keep in a thermos, or you can buy those ones pre-made in microwaveable bowls. Also bring maybe a piece of fruit or something and you will be in good shape. Other people I know swear by peanut butter and crackers or cheese and crackers with fruit. Don't forget to drink a lot of water through the night too, that will help you stay awake. good luck :)

[Rabid Response]

Fruit, (sugar-free) yogurt, and string cheese are my staples. I have found that they don't make me sleepy, and I can eat them on the fly. Eating a small meal or meals (I count one string cheese as a meal on a busy night haha) made up mainly of protein keeps me fueled but not bloated. I used to eat mainly carbs all night for their little energy boost, but I found that I crashed after an hour or two and was starving when I got home in the morning.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'll warm up a can of Progresso or Healthy Choice soup in the microwave at work. It is filling, digests quickly, and low on calories. Sometimes the soup will be accompanied with a side salad. My favorite night shift snacks include cheese, granola bars, and diet cola.

[nursinger]

I eat dinner about 7pm, before work. I'm just suprised how many people bring and eat a large meal after 12 MN. Then they wonder why they want to sleep half the night. I bring my crystal light/water and drink that throughout the night and I eat a piece of fruit around 2-3am. I'm good until I get home for breakfast. No bloating, but I water the loo a couple of times in 8 hours. I don't work the evening shift, I'm full time nights.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Thanks guys and gals. I am worried about crashing and burning half way through the night, or just when I have to start the med round before 6 am.

These tips are good ideas, keep them coming!

Also do you limit your caffeine on nightshift and what time do you find you hit the wall? I've been told this is a nightshift phenomenon, and since I'm doing 10 hours, it will be a bigger than usual stretch for me. So I'm wondering how I stay awake? And I can't sleep during the day either - even when I am sick or really tired so how do you get any shut eye b4 nights?

Cheers.

Cazza

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

Hey, try staying up as late as you can the night before your night shift, like (if possible) until 1 or 2 in the morning. (this is a good time to catch up on reading or TV shows or have a movie marathon, haha!) Then sleep as late as you can in the morning. Try if possible to at least lie down in a quiet dark room for a few hours in the afternoon, and rest your eyes; even if you can't get all the way to sleep, that will usually help at least a bit.

As for the caffeine, I am unfortunately an excessive soda drinker, at all hours of the day or night, so it doesn't really have an effect on me any more. Coffee on the other hand, which I rarely drink: if I drink a cup after say 3 or 4 in the morning, it's a lot harder to get to sleep during the day!

Somewhere between 3 and 5 is usually when I hit the wall if I'm going to- usually it's actually worse if it's not a busy night, b/c when it's busy the adrenaline and "busyness" keeps me going. I try to get up and do something physical, even if just to walk around the unit, at those times. And drink a glass of really cold water.

These are just random specific things that work best for me; hopefully others will have some better ideas :)

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

4got to add I will be working in a nursing home with 80 residents and I am the only RN on, so I will need my wits about me Am also supervising 3 carers/ENs too! Suppose I am just stressing a bit re how I will cope.

Thanks :)

[casi, ASN, RN]

I've recently started weight watchers so my meals at night have changed a bit. Mostly I bring a turkey sandwich or left overs from dinner. Then I have my large quantity of snacks to add to my night meal. I have one or two different veggies, crackers, string cheese or laughing cow cheese, and fruit. Sometimes I'll mix it up and add yogurt or other goodies.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I should also mention that I sleep until right before my shift begins. My shift starts at 6:00pm, so I awaken at 4:30pm. If I am sleeping up until the moment that it is time to prepare for work, I almost never become tired while working night shift.

When I worked 8-hour night shifts (10pm to 6am), I awakened at 8:30pm.