New to night shift

[Cowboys_RN]

I was hired in postpartum for the night shift, 7:00 to 7:30. I have never worked night shift before and I'm trying to figure out when to sleep. Do you sleep during the day on the night you work then come home and go to sleep? Someone told me they go home and sleep for 4 hours after a shift then go to sleep at a regular time at night. I have a newborn at home. My husband and I talked about him dropping him at a sitter for 4-5 hours in the morning after I work. I think that will be fine but then when do I sleep before I go in?

[Cowboys_RN, BSN]

Thanks for all of the advice :) I think for the first week I'm going to try and nap when the baby naps and see if we can get by without using a sitter. He'll be 4 months old when I start. I can also have my 12 year old keep an eye on him if I need a longer nap before I go in. I guess I'll just see how it goes!

[LDRNMOMMY, BSN, RN]

I used to work nights 7p-7a before I had my daughter. I would be asleep NLT 0900 and sleep until about 4-4:30 since I had to quick whip up dinner for dh and I. He would roll through the door at 5:15, then I had to be out the door by 6p.

As the mother of a baby who is about to turn one. I would highly suggest finding a babysitter. That way you can be for certain you will get x hours of uninterrupted sleep. I know my daughter wasn't on a predictable schedule yet at 4 months. If she doesn't nap well that day you won't either. You owe it to yourself, your baby and your patients to be well rested after a nights work.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I agree with the other posters who say find a sitter. I cannot fathom having to keep my eyes on a baby AND keep them open. I did it once when my son was about 13 mo old -- got two naps totaling about 3 1/2 hours and had to go back in the next two nights. Never again!! I thought I was going to fall asleep coming home, not to mention at work. I think it would be wise to at least look for a sitter.

Best of luck to you!

[Myxel67]

If you're new to 12-hr shifts--especially nights, make sure you find time to drink enough water. Keep a bottle going all the time at work. After 2 yrs of 12-hr nights, I developed kidney stones. 8-hr nights were much kinder and easier on the body.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Very good advice, Myxel.

[TriggerRN]

I worked nights for about 18 years. Everyone's time clock is different and everyone has a routine. The idea is, to find yours. I am the type person that came straight home, jumped in the shower and went straight to bed, because I found that if I stayed up past about 2 hours, I couldn't fall asleep. If it was my first night back, I would stay up late the night before, get up early in the morning and by about 1 pm I was ready for a good nap. One thing that I found more than anything to help me sleep was a fan. I got an inexpensive box fan and turned it on in my bedroom, along with curtains that filtered light, so it was good and dark in there. The fan cut out the noise in the house and outside and helped a lot when my kids were young. The only drawback is now I can't sleep without the fan going . You may find along the way a little Tylenol PM may help too. Good luck with your position and nights. Once I found my "routine", I loved nights. I will still pick up a night shift over a day shift anytime.

[momof2RN]

Hi,

I've had two kids since I started working noc's five years ago. After my daughter was born, I tried the sleep when she sleeps thing. It was horrible for both of us. When I got home I would sit and wait for her to fall asleep so I could nap- I think it was the longest stretch she had ever stayed awake (she was 12 wks old). I quickly decided that a tired and miserable mom equals a tired and miserable baby. It wasn't fair to her or me, so I ended up finding someone to watch her on Mondays and Fridays so I could sleep. Luckily, I work weekend option so my husband has the kids Sat. and

Sun.

Good luck! You'll find out what works for you.

[MamaMadge, ADN, BSN]

I work 1900-0730 in L & D. I do like most of you. First night, I try to take a few hour nap before I go in. Then I come home in the morning after getting kids to school and sleep from 0800 to about 1400 or 1430. Then I go back at 1900. For me, 5.5 to 6 hours is enough and I can handle that for 2 nights. I wouldn't recommend trying to do too many 3 or 4 night stretches!

I really like Advil PM which has Diphenhydramine in it. I use a sound machine, a ceiling fan and dark mini blinds. It took me about 6 months to get used to it but now I am sleeping more during the day. I love my job so much and I love my night shift co workers. Days are just so hectic!! Its a give and take!

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your job.

PS I wouldn't try to have the baby at home while you sleep. I have co workers that do that and they don't get good rest and are always tired!