Need tips for working double weekend

Although I worked weekend doubles for 2 years, it was at a nursing home.

I often carried a backpack with personal care items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, hairbrush, makeup, and so forth. It really helped my psyche to freshen up halfway through the shift.

Try to avoid caffeinated drinks during the last 6 hours of your shift, or you might not be able to fall asleep once you arrive home. Remember that you must return to work in a few hours if you're getting off at 10pm.

Stay hydrated during the shift, and always be sure to take your breaks. It really feels crappy when you are stuck in the same building for 16 hours without a break or lunch hour to regroup and see the scenery.

I really appreciate your help...Is nothing like to have the fear of the unknown, but It is great to have people like you that "been there done that"...I will remember your tips my first day:nurse: thank you!!

Also, get a good night's sleep the day prior to your double doubles. Have NOTHING scheduled for the day after your shifts end - be prepared to rest, eat, and rest some more.

Keep a favorite soft drink or snack in the car to eat on the way to or from.

Lay your clothes and grooming needs out for both days on the Friday before. Also pack both days lunches/suppers.

Be sure you have everything ready in advance as you will have precious little time to sleep between the two days' shifts, and you don't want to waste it on making lunches or finding a clean scrub top!!!!

If you are working nights, cover your bedroom windows with aluminum foil and tape, keep a fan running and unplug the phone to help you sleep well. If you live in a small town, or your relatives like to come over unannounced, put a sign on your door - Do Not Disturb.

Good luck!!!

Also, get a good night's sleep the day prior to your double doubles. Have NOTHING scheduled for the day after your shifts end - be prepared to rest, eat, and rest some more.

Keep a favorite soft drink or snack in the car to eat on the way to or from.

Lay your clothes and grooming needs out for both days on the Friday before. Also pack both days lunches/suppers.

Be sure you have everything ready in advance as you will have precious little time to sleep between the two days' shifts, and you don't want to waste it on making lunches or finding a clean scrub top!!!!

If you are working nights, cover your bedroom windows with aluminum foil and tape, keep a fan running and unplug the phone to help you sleep well. If you live in a small town, or your relatives like to come over unannounced, put a sign on your door - Do Not Disturb.

Good luck!!!

Great advices!! Thank you very much...I will have those tips with me before I start...I feel less nervous already!!!:wink2:

Also, find out if you will be working alone, and if so, who do you call when you are in a crunch. You are a new nurse, and will need support even after those 4 days orientation.

I will remember that...thanks a lot..Never thought about it!!

I would also start to update myself on the common medications that are administered to such a population. And, for the LTC nurses out there, I always wanted to know; how do you handle the Coumadin patients? How often are the INRs done? What do you do if it is not done as per policy? Is it weekly, bi-weekly, etc?? That, to me, is a biggie and a good question to ask. You don't want to be responsible for a patient bleeding out because they were not monitored. I remember a thread some time back about this, and it made me start to think...what would be done if I decided to work a second gig in LTC?

Also, what shifts you would be working would be important, because I heard that daytime and dinnertime may be the biggest med passes. You'd need to know how to manage your time, know how many patients you would be taking care of and how to prioritize their care. I have never worked in LTC, but these would be some of my many questions.

my advice - don't work such long hours. I believe it is dangerous to you and to your patients. Good luck!

Make sure you have comfortble shoes and an extra pair of them. Your feet will get plenty of exercise, they may swell and you need to have support but comfort too.

Extra socks too.

Oh, I forgot, even if you are a nonsmoker, try to go outside during your break, even a few minutes will help give you a clearer head. Good luck.

I think the biggest one for me is to always sign every med out right away, no matter how busy you are.

If someone is taking a med qid, it gets difficult to remember if you have given that same med to that person 7 times or 8 times over the past two days.

I find that the two days seem to run together toward the end of the second one, thus it is very easy to miss doses -- or perhaps even worse: give something 9 times instead of 8.

I have seen nurses who work double doubles who will sign all their meds off for both shifts at the end (or beginning) or their shift. No matter how good they thought their memories were -- pill counts always revealed mistakes.