My first night shift... help!

Published

I'm a new nurse and I have my First overnight shift tomorrow... I've been working days, getting up at 4a and have no idea how I'm going to make a 6p-6a shift tomorrow. I'm excited but terrified of being absolutely exhausted... Any tips would be amazing!!

I worked 7pm to 7;30 AM FOR 20 YRS. I stayed awake until 2am and slept for 2am untill 8am then slept again from 1pm until 6pm . I had every thing ready for work before lying down and had dinner ready in advance. Then after first night shift I went to bed by 8am and slept untill 4pm . Soda crackers to much on helped

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lol I'm right with you. I'm a new grad as well. I've been days for eight weeks 6a-6p and now I'm going to nights. Everyone keeps asking if I'm nervous moving to nights... I'm more worried about what my body is going to have to go through now that I'm nights

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Me too! And everyone was to afraid to visit in case I answered the door at midday with my hair everywhere and a really nasty look on my face. One time we had a mentally ill next door neighbour (off his meds) roaming our backyard looking for his 'dog'. His calling woke me up, so I threw open the back door and just glared at him. He scuttled off and never returned!

OP, you'll find out if you're either a night shifter or a day shifter...is there anyone who is fine doing both??? I'd like to do a research paper on you if so :D

I like a lot about both shifts.

Night pros:

Rarely have non-clinical staff present, fewer visitors, so calmer atmosphere.

Only HS blood sugars.

No meal trays.

Sometimes there's a lull after midnight. Sometimes.

Shift diff.

Extra-fun coworkers.

Night cons:

You have to have the night before AND the night after off if you want to do something during the day without falling asleep at the wheel or in an empty patient room.

No sleep. Bad sleep. All the time.

Never awake and available during business hours.

STRESS HORMONES. Night shifters have more health problems from fighting natural sleep patterns.

No sleep. Bad sleep. All the time.

Murdering people for calling me while I'm trying to sleep before a shift.

Day shift pros:

Living during normal human hours.

Being able to function on days off.

Living during normal human hours.

Being able to function on days off.

Day shift cons:

Management. Rounding. Breathing down your neck.

Does it really matter that much that I missed one of the 5,000 PRNs on the whiteboard? Gah.

So many meals.

So many blood sugars.

Family and visitors... just... no, please.

I can't say there's good advice for prepping to work a night shift when you don't have actual prep time. My body is very rigid about not functioning if I don't sleep at consistent times each day, so when I worked night shift, I stayed on night shift schedule on my days off.

Munching and moving can help give you a little pep when you start to feel drowsy. Crunchy snacks are good. Block your windows with cardboard so sunlight doesn't interfere with melatonin production as much. I know people who've sworn by vitamin B supplements, but all they do is give me highlighter yellow pee, which is fun but doesn't keep me awake.

Let us know how it went :sleep:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

How did you do? :singing:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, NICU, CCM, LNC, Forensic, LCP.

I understand the anxiety! During my first job as a nurse, I worked the 6a-6p shift for months, and then the next day, I switched to 7p-7a. I had no choice but to force myself to stay up all night so that I could sleep all day before my first night shift, which was difficult. It took a while to adjust, and some nights I had to drink a five-hour energy shot or double fist with coffee and water. It would help to have room-darkening curtains/blinds or wear an eye mask and no noise/distractions. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult MICU/SICU.

The trick is to actually get sleep before the shift. If you're well rested before hand (or at least moderately rested) you'll get through it. Piece of cake.

I rotate to various shifts all in the same week. It's doable.

Find whatever your caffeinated beverage of choice is and use it. Coke, coffee, tea.

You may end up liking the night shift. There is a different mind set, and a bit more laid back pace.

Good luck - you'll do great! I know it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree. Protein helps. I usually bring some string cheese and crackers along with some grapes. Stay hydrated too. Some shifts can be so busy you forget to drink or pee for 12 hours. I work over night per diem, so it is not a regular schedule for me. The headaches and nausea have gone away. The exhaustion remains.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was a night nurse for over 20 years. It is not for everyone; some cannot make the change and others thrive on it. What I learned:

1. Take a 3-4 hour nap the day of your first night. 25 mg of Benadryl will help you sleep. Allow yourself an hour to get up, shower, eat, and then drive to work.

2. Drink plenty of water, not just caffeine and eat frequent healthy snacks during the night when you can.

3. When you get home, make sure you have room darkening shades and curtains in your bedroom to allow your body to sleep better. A fan is a bonus, and keep your room cool. I used to wear the earplugs that you compress and then they expand to fit the contours of your ear canal to block out all of the noise that happens in your house. Make sure your alarm clock sound is maximum volume! Then take 1-2 Benadryl and go to bed. If I woke up 4 hours later, I would take another Benadryl and sleep another 3-4 hours. Everyone reacts differently to effects of Benadryl, so start with 25mg. Some feel sluggish, others don't. It goes away after a while. DON'T take sleeping pills.

4. Avoid caffeinated beverages after 4am. Take a cup of ice with you to munch on in your car if you are afraid you will be sleepy on the drive home. Turn your radio up loud, sing, talk to someone on the phone if you have a headset, and keep car interior cold.

5. Some people take melatonin to help with sleep.

6. On your days off, try to sleep only 3 hours when you get home. Then stay up a little later that night and sleep later the next day.

Not everyone can do nights, so if it really is difficult, then you might need to find a day shift job, but give it a try. I dreaded it, and then found out it was great!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I love nights. I don't use any caffeine beyond the occasional Diet Coke. Energy drinks are hard on hearts and kidneys. On my days I work I sleep from 8.30-4.00 Days off I stay up till about 4 or 5 am and sleep till noon or 1pm. I don't get sleepy at work at all but my first day off I am whipped. I work 3 on and 4 off and I think it helps to do shifts in a block like that if you can. The key is to make sure you get regular good sleep. People on days don't generally think that 3 or 4 hours is enough and it's not enough for night shift either. You either adapt to it or you don't. There are some people who just can't work nights. I couldn't do days. I always felt tired.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU-my whole life!!.

Provigil. Get your provider to give you this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Worked 12 years of nights.....disliked EVERY SINGLE NIGHT !! Finally went to days and lived a peaceable life. I never felt I had enough sleep when working nights, and had to drive 25 miles home, exhausted. My husband loves nights, my son has worked nights for 18 years......just not my thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You will be so nervous you may not sleep for the first day but don't worry, You'll stay awake! Find a routine that works for you. A workout in the am & nap in the afternoon is a good routine for me. Nights takes a while to get used to but it can be done. You will either love or hate it. Good luck! Hope you love it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion