New Grad about to go out in the world...

RNMeg · Jun 30, 2010

I did my senior capstone on nights, on a tele/stepdown floor. I loved it. I had always felt out-of-sorts during AM clinicals, when MDs/PT/OT/radiology/lab etc were on the floor. Nights had a lot fewer people around (just overnight visitors, really) and I could really focus on the patient's condition, getting meds out, getting admits settled, keeping on top of changing conditions - it was much better for me. I hope when I finally get a job (end of July/beginning of August) I'll be on nights :redbeathe

NewRN1986 · Jun 30, 2010

Hi there, Congrats on your new job and good luck!, i just passed my NCLEX last week and I am sending resumes like crazy :) but the competition is tough down here in South Florida we'll see; anyways down to your question i recently did my 2 month preceptorship at night and i can give you some advice;

First I think it is a good idea to do nights as a new graduate the pace is definetly slower and you will have time to research topics unknown to you and to write down notes;
Second you don't have the pressure from family members, and you can learn more easily;
Third your precepting nurse will love answering your questions, since there is a lot of down time at night talking with each other will keep you awake :)!

In order to survive your first night shifts, the night before you go to work try to stay as late as you can; so the next day you can sleep until later and your body will feel a little more rested.

Also if you want to drink coffee, don't do it at the beginning of your shift, save it for when you needed it the most, which for me was 2:00-5:00; and don't drink it after 6:00 bc when you go home then you can't sleep.

If you feel you are falling asleep you can go into the bathroom and put water on your face, I also jumped :clown: in there, it raises your heart rate and wakes you up.

And in order to get a good rest when you get home, please put your phone on silence, buy blackout curtains (most important so your body produces more melatoning at dark and helps you get better rest) I think walmart sells them, and third take a shower organize your clothes for your next shift so you can sleep as much as you can, and make your room very cold;

Best of Luck!!! Hope it helps!

ScrappinSpidey · Jun 30, 2010

Be prepared for others not understanding that you work night time hours, this includes administration. I work nights and I love them, but I hate the mandatory 2 hour monthly meeting that is held for the night shift because it is always after my 12 hour shift. Why they can't make it before shift start instead of after I don't know. Day shifts meeting is in the middle of their shift.

Also friends and family might expect you to be able to bounce between night hours and day hours. It isn't easy to do that depending on your schedule. Right now my schedule rotates and I have every other week were I only get about 1.5 days off between shifts. I learned quick that I can't bounce to daytime hours for that day and a half. I have to just act like Im going to work in order to keep from being exhausted.

I much prefer my shifts to be all in a row, but right now at my current position it isn't possible. There will be an adjustment till you figure out how your body reacts and how much sleep it needs. Some people stay up for a few hours after a shift, others go home and straight to bed.

I agree with the poster that said get black out curtains, getting all your stuff ready before shift and having the room colder. All of those work for me. I usually get my stuff ready for my week the last day I have "off" then I don't have to worry about getting ready much. Meals are already made and ready to go, uniforms ready etc.

I also need a pick me up around 1-3am. Usually a soda works fine or some chocolate. I find it is more about the sugar than the caffeine. 5am used to be my hard time but now its my busiest time so I don't have a chance to get tired.

Oh yeah.....Night shift can and does get just as busy as dayshift at times. People don't always sleep through the night. Sometimes they don't sleep at all!! Emergencies happen and sometimes the docs like to come and play and give you all kinds of orders in the middle of the night. I have nights where Im not sure Im going to get all my charting done and then I have other nights (few and far between so I enjoy them when I can) where Im cleaning out cupboards and stock drawers to stay awake.

Good luck and welcome to the night shift :)

tlg1971 · Jul 1, 2010

Thank you all for the input and tips!!! Makes me feel better about deciding to go with the night shift.