New NOC shift nurse

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Staring NOC shift on Wednesday. Please give me some tips on how to make it through my first couple nights. I've been on days for the last 4 weeks and have become an old lady who is in bed by 2000. I'm gonna need lots of coffee.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Young whippersnapper! It's not nice to badmouth us old ladies! You notice, it's not us on this thread asking for tips!

Really, no offense taken!!!

The first few nites can go either of 2 ways. Firstly, you'll be so overwhelmed and wired that your head will be spinning and the nite will fly by. Or secondly, there will be so much stuff that you'll max/zone out. Sadly when I orient, I tend to cause the second route - it's just that I know orientation time is soooo limited and there's sooooo much that newbies want & need to know.

So yes, you may seriously need 'upping' activities. I suggest nap/sleep just BEFORE going in, drinking lots of water, eat good protein snacks, take intermittent 'short stretch walks, visit other units' staff, if poss, and volunteer to help other nurses AND don't forget the CNAs (they will love you for that).

Good luck!

PS - For safety sake, please change your screen name. Already you're cueing people that you may be having "sleeping on the job" problems. Not wise!

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The night before my block of night shifts I go to sleep very early and sleep as long as possible. The day of I do very lite activities like baths, reading and sitting in the sun. Don't overdue the coffee at night. It'll ruin you. The first night back you're usually fine as far as being tired. When I get off at 7a the nest morning I eat a lite breakfast and take 50mg of Benadryl. I can usually sleep from 0830 to 1630. With this I'm ready for toe or three more noc shifts. I hope you find your sweet spot!

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