night shift help!

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I have been an L&D nurse for a little over a year now and recently moved to a new job. I have been on days (12 hr shifts) for orientation since Feb. and am now switching to my permanent night shift this coming week. I've read all about how to sleep during the day (fan, sleep mask, no phone, dark room, etc.) and how to transition to a "normal sleep pattern" after working three 12hr shifts but I still am curious how to transition from being on a normal sleep schedule to night shift schedule. For example, I've been off for the past three days and am scheduled to work Tuesday night 7p-7a. What is the best way to sleep to prepare for working nights? Thanks!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Hemodialysis.

Ideally I stay up late and plan on getting a nap in the next day. Sometimes that works and sometimes life gets in the way. You will have to see what works for you. It may take a little bit of adjusting though. I hope you love the noc shift as much as I do.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
What is the best way to sleep to prepare for working nights? Thanks!

Nothing you mentioned really worked for me. The only thing that helped me handle the transitions was regular exercise. Any kind will do, but yoga worked really well for me.

To prepare for a run of nights, I tried to stay up late the night before (not all night, but as late as I could), then catch a nap before I went to work. This usually helped give me a "rest reserve" to help get me through that first night shift in a row.

In the end, I was forced to realize that nights just isn't for me.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I stay up late and sleep most of the next day.If I am asleep by 4-5 am I usually get up around lunch.I eat and have a shower and pack my food. Then I head back to sleep by around 3-4 pm and nap again before work.

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Thanks for the tips. I figured I needed to just stay up late and sleep during the day the day before I work but I'll definitely try the yoga suggestion, it's been awhile since I've done it and I would love to get back into it.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Take a nap sometime during the day and stay up as late as you can. I try to sleep until 3-4pm.

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Specializes in Oncology.

[color=#3399ff]i am interviewing for a job friday at shands in gainesville. if i get it i will have to work nights again. i have only worked nights once. i liked the shift a lot. the problem was the apartments i lived in didn't have central ac so i had to purchase a "swamp cooler" type of machine to cool just my room. i blacked out the windows and was able to sleep okay if it was cool and dark. i hate waking up in sweat! :down: hope you transition to night shift easily.

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