Need advice for night shift

Lizzie21 · Oct 13, 2010

So this is what I find helpful for preparing for nights. I am a new grad also. I go to bed at a normal time the night before, get up early the next day and then take a long nap during the day so I have energy during my shift. I also bring healthy snacks to work and drink tea before going to work. I hope this helps.

TinaL29 · Oct 13, 2010

Hi Lizzie - thanks for the advice. I'm going to give it a try!

hannor · Oct 14, 2010

i work 12 hours a day, and during my night shift, i already set my mind for it. the power of mind. i prepared myself through getting enough sleep. i sleep 8 hours at night and have a nap for an hour at noon. remember that too much sleep could cause you headache,:). during my duty i avoid eating too much. it makes me feel sleepy. a nice talk with your fellow also could help..hope this couldwork with you..have a nice duty!

LETRN · Oct 14, 2010

I've been on nights for a couple of months, and the transition is brutal :mad:

I had good luck with taking a nap during the afternoon of the first day of my 3 in a row, and every night on my way to work I make a big cup of coffee and take it with me on the drive. I also use Melatonin when I get home in the morning, it helps tremendously.

JenRN30, BSN · Oct 15, 2010

I've been on nights for a couple of months, and the transition is brutal
I had good luck with taking a nap during the afternoon of the first day of my 3 in a row, and every night on my way to work I make a big cup of coffee and take it with me on the drive. I also use Melatonin when I get home in the morning, it helps tremendously.

True, the transition is very hard for the first month or so. I think the most important thing for me was getting blackout shades so you can sleep when you get home. Trying to sleep with sun streaming in through the windows does not work very well. I've never been able to take naps so I just go to bed as normal the night before, wake up as normal (7am ish) and go into work at 6pm. Makes for a very long first night, but then I sleep great when I get home (with my blackout shades).

I was very nervous going into night shift because I've never been a night person, but it's worked out fine. You'll do great, try not to be too nervous. GL!

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Oct 16, 2010

I'm a night shift tech and the night before I work, I try to stay up until about 4-5am and then try to sleep until about 2pm or later if possible. Stay awake until I get home the next day and then basically immediately go to sleep. I'm less tired if I do it this way. Those of you that get up at the normal time and just take a nap before work, I don't know how you do it, but my hat is off to you!

Oh, and I don't have blackout curtain, but I do have Benadryl and a sleep mask and I love them both very much! :)

laughing weasel · Oct 16, 2010

I like to take a nap right before I go to work for two hours. It helps to reset your bio clock if you see sunset and sunrise or the sun in the appropriate horizon. Keep moving sitting down is your enemy.

TinaL29 · Oct 16, 2010

Thank you for all of your advice! I'm going to give melatonin a try and naps before work. And maybe coffee if all else fails, since I'm not a coffee drinker.

1rarejewel · Oct 18, 2010

If I need a boost of energy to work, I like Bolthouse Farms Mocha Cappucino (sp?), some caffeine, lots of B vits, tastes like a lovely combo of chocolate milk and coffee (there is some of each in it), lots of protein too. I sleep as soon as I get home, after a shower of course. I have room darkening curtains and the tv has to be off. Turn off your telephone ringer, unless you're waiting on an important call.

On my days off (when I get off one morning, but don't have to go back that night) I still sleep when I get off, just not as long. I shave 2-4 hours off of my sleep time to try to reset my night sleep clock. That changes though depending on what my body decides though!

RiniBeenie151 · Oct 18, 2010

I just started my first job and it's night shift too. It actually is not as bad as I thought it would be... I have been working 3 nights in a row so the night before I stay up until 3ish and then sleep in until 12. The try to nap before work and have a cup of coffee.

When I get home from the first night I'll eat a little something and go to bed around 830am. Then I sleep until about 3. Same goes for the next day. Then my last night I'll go to bed when I get home and wake up around 1 to reset my sleep schedule. I also nap during the day usually. I don't have a problem going to bed at night then and might take a benadryl to help.

During work I rarely have caffeine. I'll have a can of pop if anything and it helps. Also I try to eat small snacks through out the night if I have time such as fruit, yogurt, granola bar.

Hope it works out for you!

TinaL29 · Oct 20, 2010

Thanks for the info! I've finished my first night shift, and it was okay. 4am was rough, but I got through it! I definitely need to nap before, but I'm still trying to figure out what works best for me. I will definitely be bringing more healthy snacks with me...eating small snacks through the night is a great idea!