Night Shift!!! How do YOU stay awake?

sharpeimom · Nov 12, 2010

i worked nights 35 miles from home. the drive home was usually no problem because the road was parallel with a busy railroad track (used by a big lumber company) and the train whistle kept me awake if all the school buses didn't. after i got back to town, i'd run any errands i had, grocery shop, take any of the critters who had appts. to the vet, etc. after all that was done, i'd head home and make a cup of tea and read the morning paper, start a washer load, and usually snooze in my chair for an hour or two.

i'd wake up about noon and have the afternoon to do whatever i needed or wanted to do. i'd cook dinner for my husband and me, then shower and go to bed, sleep until about 10:30. i'd dress, and drive the 25-30 minutes back to work, and have time (usually) for a quick review.

i would get very headachy and queasy about 4 am, and tea helped. it eventually went away by about 5 or 5:30 most shifts. i am not a night person! :rolleyes:

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2010

been working nights for 4 years now. I enjoy the pace...I find that when I'm heading into a stretch, I'll stay up until 3-4 am on the night before I work...watching netflix, or reading, then go to bed, sleep til 1-2 pm, get up get ready, make lunch, etc.

When I have a lot to do for the first half of the shift, I'm alright. Usually stay busy until like 10-11, some meds at 12, don't usually start charting til 11. If it's a ok night, and my patients are stable, I'll bang out 2-3 assessments in a hour, get up go round, I will eat snacks when I have a minute between 8-10(I also eat a small meal before I leave for work). If I get tired in the morning, I try to stick with water with crystal light, walking to check patients, doing any early morning stuff I need to do. I'll write out my reports at 2-3 am so I'm ready for the next shift to come in.

When I don't get sleep I KNOW i'm tired. I have pulled off in a rest area and slept 2-3 hours before....don't drive tired! too many accidents out there!

copperkali · Nov 12, 2010

Lately we have been so busy I don't even have a chance to sit during the night. However when it is super slow, I will play solitaire or other games on my ipod, search the internet (what we can), or try to chit chat with coworkers.

LouisVRN, RN · Nov 13, 2010

I stay busy! Honestly I have no problems and never have had any problems staying awake at night. There is always something to do. I will organize the med room, re-stock the nourishment room, file papers, leave the Dr's notes on things their patients would like but aren't critical. Clean my patients rooms, take out the trash, re-stock linens, gloves, thermometer probes, ask my co-workers if they need help, get peoples input on how things are going, formulate ideas for new projects/policies, e-mail my supervisor a list of things we need/are working on. If its late enough that the patients are waking up or early enough in the evening I will refill water pitchers or pass out coffee/tea/juice to the non-NPO patients. I love working nights, my brain works so much better and I feel better overall. However when I have to get up early for a meeting that's another story. I'm always nauseas and feel sick.

Up2nogood RN, RN · Nov 13, 2010

I haven't had any problems staying awake as long as I keep busy as others have said. That usually isn't too difficult as there's always something to do or someone to talk to. I rarely drink coffee anymore as I've found it works for awhile than I crash. I used to be a coffee addict so this has been a drastic change. I went from eating full meals to just nutritious snacks at night (if I can keep my hands out of the candy drawer!). I've been FT nights now for 3 yrs and have lost that extra 30 lbs I put on the 1st 6 months. WooHoo let's go shopping:)

ETA: I work 2 jobs (5 12's a week) and I always take my break to get an hour of shut eye or just put my feet up anywhere between 3-5 am.

Do-over, ASN, RN · Nov 13, 2010

Personally, i am usually so busy that I don't stop moving long enought to get sleepy =). On the rare occasions when I am not running behind, my teammates usually need a hand.

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Nov 13, 2010

When I get a little sleepy, I go to YouTube and play the video for Mr. Blue Sky by ELO. Seriously. (I work at home on the computer and I'm paid on production, for any busybody out there reading this who is thinking I'm doing something wrong on someone else's dime.) Anyway, that song does it for me better than any caffeine, though I don't mind hitting the caffeine. :) I think it's those first few beats that just jolts my system to alert mode.

I don't know if this is an option for you, but if you can duck away and listen to a song for a minute or two like this, you'll quickly gain the minute or two back in productivity that you would have lost otherwise by dragging your tired behind around.

I also stay away from too many simple carbs as well before work. That helps a lot.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Nov 13, 2010

I work.

sharpeimom · Nov 13, 2010

i work.

but some nights have lulls... :yawn: even in psych... :rolleyes:

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Nov 13, 2010

I worked in ICU and I would have a cup of coffee around 2:30 or 3 and then do bedbaths on my patients My patients were usually on vents or in a coma like state. By the time I was thru fluffing and puffing it was time to go home

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Nov 13, 2010

but some nights have lulls... even in psych...

not so, according to the director of my unit..."there's always something that needs to be cleaned!" lol

Davey Do · Nov 13, 2010

I have the luxury of being able to stay on a MN schedule: I routinely sleep from noon/2pm until 9pm. Then, I am awake all night long. No big deal- sleep during the day, awake at night.

Thanks for asking.

Dave