Night shift help

Caffeine_IV · Mar 28, 2014

What is your sleep schedule? There is a learning curve for our bodies when adjusting to night shift. A month or so more or less depending on the person.

generalRN2008 · Mar 28, 2014

Do you have family to adjust time for or live alone? If alone sleep 8 hours with black out curtains or foil in the window. If family, you may have to do broken sleep schedules.

bargraphix · Mar 28, 2014

right now I sleep from about 9-3 or 4 but I am always tired so I think I need to change it. I do have family but they usually don't bother my sleep schedule.

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2014

Since you work 11p-7a you can try to go to sleep a little later. Instead of going to bed at 9a go to bed at 10 or 11a.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Mar 28, 2014

Blackout curtains changed my life...

Elle23 · Mar 28, 2014

It might help to lay down and take a nap before you go in.

I currently work 8 hour nights, and though I sleep some during the day (usually around 5 hours), the most refreshing sleep I get is those few hours before I go to work.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 29, 2014

There are plenty of threads about surviving the night shift.

Here is one:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/night-shift-newbies-531465.html

maryen · Mar 29, 2014

I really don't have any advice because I am a complete failure at working night shifts! I had no problem staying up and alert during my shift, it was getting sleep afterwards that I just could not adjust to. The most I ever slept was 9a-1p. I tried everything, even taking 1/2 sleeping pill. I felt exhausted all the time. It didn't help that I also did some day shifts too. I lasted 6 months. My body just couldn't do it! Give it a few more weeks and see if you can get in a better routine. Exercise and eat healthy! All the best to you.

Baubo516, RN · Mar 29, 2014

I work 10pm-6:30am every other weekend. I have to stay on a "day" schedule for school, so the first day I have to work the night shift, I take a 2-3 hour nap before going in so that I won't be up for 24 hrs by the time I get off.

I have blackout curtains on my windows, and a sleep mask and foam earplugs at my bedside. I only use the mask and/or earplugs if I need them - i.e. noisy neighbors or nieces coming over to the house. I take 2 Tylenol PMs and usually get into bed by 7:30 or 8am. My intention is to sleep for 8 hours, but for some reason I usually wake up after 4 hours and have to go pee. I just go do it, then get back in bed. I usually sleep until 3 or 4pm. Even though my hours of sleep are briefly interrupted, I feel pretty good when I get up. I think it is better for you to sleep 8 hours in a row than to take 2 separate naps, although I know many people do this due to family commitments, etc.

After I get up, I eat and have time to hang out and see my hubby before going in to work. I drink 1-2 cups of coffee and the beginning of my shift and then I am good to go.

I guess I should cut back on the acetaminophen... for some reason taking just the diphenhydramine HCl doesn't seem to work as well as it does in combo with the acetaminophen... I have not tried melatonin yet.

This is what works for me! What have you been doing to get your sleep?

Pb&j711773 · Mar 29, 2014

So this is what I've heard.. Your circadian rhythm can be manipulated by your eating schedule. Stop eating during the 12-16 hour period before you want to be awake, once you start eating again your internal clock will be reset again as though it is the start of a new day. Your body will consider the time you break your fast as your new "morning".

Not sure if this works.. But it's worth a shot :) good luck.

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Mar 29, 2014

I work 10p-6a four nights a week. I am home by 0630, I sleep until noon, get up, shower, eat, stay up til 4 or 5 then go back to sleep til 9, get up, eat, and leave for work. If I don't follow that routine as close as possible, I get tired around 2am.