Need Survival tips for Night Shift!

seemerun · Oct 31, 2011

I am about 4-5 weeks into my new night shift position. I don't know if will get better or worse from this point? But FWIW I am tolerating it just fine. I got lucky and they gave me a schedule where I don't have to bounce back and forth to much.

I guess just make sure you don't drink caffeine after a certain point into the shift (3am for me) so that you can get to sleep when you get home. Get some blackout shades and try to stay asleep as long as possible. 8 hours when you can but I'd try for at least 6? Have a plan for what you are going to eat so you don't end up eating out a vending machine every night.

I feel like I am transition OK between the 2 shifts as long as I GO TO BED when I get home. Sometimes I don't feel like it because I got a second wind or the sun is shining or whatever but if you don't it will catch up with you! :-) Good luck!

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

I'm a fairly new night shifter, too, and I guess I'm not the best person for advice, because I have to stay on nights (for the most part) even when I'm off in order to avoid acting like a zombie. For me, keeping the same schedule is essential. It gets lonely, but hubby and I make it work (notes to each other, etc.) I have "flipped" my schedule a few times in order to spend time with him, but I end up being verrrry sleepy. So if there is something I really want to do/attend during the day, I try to schedule my work days accordingly so I have enough time to flip and then "un-flip", so to speak.

Best of luck to you! :)

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

Watch for changes in your BP and in your blood sugar. I've had friends who loved working nights, considered themselves night owls, but had to go back to days because their BP went insanely high or they couldn't keep their glucose stabilized. Just something to watch for.

Google "sleep hygiene" -- those are always good suggestions. Here's a good site as well:http://enw.org/NightShift.htm

diva rn, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

Well, I will first off say that I am biased...I worked nights (7p-7a) for many years and I LOVED it...I work a regular 5 day a week schedule now (9:30a-5:30p) and I HATE it.....I would go back to nights in a heartbeat...

The key for me that was super successful was--I did not ever "flip" back and forth...I basically lived like that all the time, it was modified somewhat, but that is what worked for me..

I would get home around 8am and because I am a night owl, I wasn't really tired, so I would shower and then read the paper. I would go to sleep around 10am and wake up around 5p or so...then go to work...I would usually do my three in a row....so I would have 4 days off in a row...that way I never felt like I was working...

on the days I wasn't working, I would stay up till about 5 or 6 am...and sleep till about noon....or later....and that's pretty much how I lived....up most of the night, sleep most of the day...

what was great was, I could always make medical and dental and appointments and other things because I didn't have to worry about getting time off work (like I do now)

by the way, this worked out great when my kid was in school, I was always able to go to her school functions, I always worked the weekends by choice and she was with her Dad (I was a single Mom) so I was always with her, too.

It was wonderful and I would go back right this very minute, but I do case mangement now and the hours won't let me... :mad:

My blood pressure and blood sugar were all fine....actually better than they are now...and my mental state was a WHOLE lot better than it is right now...

Circejane · Oct 31, 2011

There are a number of threads on this exact subject, with great advice in them. I'd do a search on the forums. Enjoy night shift--I do! :)

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

I've worked nights for a year and I love it. I don't switch to days on my days off. I go to sleep between 0230 and 0500. I tried the switch and it didn't work for me.

diva rn, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

I've worked nights for a year and I love it. I don't switch to days on my days off. I go to sleep between 0230 and 0500. I tried the switch and it didn't work for me.

Amen sister...that's the formula!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

That's why I can be found lurking here on AN at 0300

diva rn, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

That's why I can be found lurking here on AN at 0300

Me too, BUT what is so sad is...I have to freakin work today...I have a darn day job now that I HATE.........I just never sleep...I try to sleep during the week I usually go to sleep around 1am..on the weekends tho, I still stay up ALL night...I will NEVER change..hopefully someday I can go back to nights...

I have to laugh, b/c people hear about my "regular" 5day a week job with "regular" hours and say "don't you just love it" to which I reply...NO...I HATE IT.............................................and I DO..... :mad:

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

Before I was a nurse, I worked in hotel mgmt for 10 years. It always felt unnatural to get up at 0530 am. I HATE days. I would be willing to transition to days for the OR again or a clinic. Never a floor. Yuck!

I would also suggest to the new night shifters to maintain healthy eating at night. Many don't, and poor eating will only compound the problems associated with nights.

JenJen the RN · Oct 31, 2011

You have to learn what works best for you with the sleeping cycle. I do 7p-7a and I love it. For me, I get out of work sleep till 2p-3p and enjoy my evening with other people who work normal days and get out of work at that time. If I feel like I'm crashing I may sleep later or take a nap before work. For the days I have off, feel it out. I normally sleep for a few hours just so I'm not a zombie then I can go to bed normally at night the next day. Since you're doing 12s, its only 3 days a week! So you still have 4 nights to sleep like a normal person.

Tricks to stay awake: FOOD that's why most people gain weight on night shift lol it works tho, little snacks that take awhile to eat like trail mix are the best!