Night shift Nurses, how did you manage?

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2005

Hi everyone! I am a new RN in an LTC Facility. I will start my orientation in 2 weeks. I will be oriented during the days, then will be oriented at night. My question is... How did you manage being awake at night instead of the day? And How long have you had to adjust your sleeping pattern? This is a concern for me since I haven't experienced working at night even when I was in nursing school. Please share your experiences. Thanks a lot!

Hi,

Night duty is a strange phenomenon you just do stay awake and do get through them.

You will find out soon if you one of the lucky ones who manage to sleep through the day with no problem. OR

The more common night worker who drifts in and out of sleep then gets up in disgust.

Speaking for myself the first night is the hardest because you tend to have run around all day fitting in what you need before you stretch of nights begins. After that you 'get into them' and it is much easier.

My witching hour is around 5am and that is when I struggle most if I am going to. :angryfire

Some people love nights, some people suffer them and some people hate them.

Just like life.

Enjoy your nights they go quick

Kay :Melody: :angryfire

tmbrasells · Jan 30, 2005

Hi everyone! I am a new RN in an LTC Facility. I will start my orientation in 2 weeks. I will be oriented during the days, then will be oriented at night. My question is... How did you manage being awake at night instead of the day? And How long have you had to adjust your sleeping pattern? This is a concern for me since I haven't experienced working at night even when I was in nursing school. Please share your experiences. Thanks a lot!

Hi! I have worked 7p - 7a for 10 years and I love it. I am naturally a night person though. Some things that help are an herb called Melatonin that helps your sleep cycle. Some people complain it gives them vivid dreams, but it's gental, OTC, and you don't get a hang over effect like you do with benedryl. Also grouping you days together will help a lot. Then your not trying to change back and forth. Good Luck!

PMHNP10 · Jan 30, 2005

Hi everyone! I am a new RN in an LTC Facility. I will start my orientation in 2 weeks. I will be oriented during the days, then will be oriented at night. My question is... How did you manage being awake at night instead of the day? And How long have you had to adjust your sleeping pattern? This is a concern for me since I haven't experienced working at night even when I was in nursing school. Please share your experiences. Thanks a lot!

I've worked nights since I became a nurse (with the exception of my time as a travel nurse last year) and never had much problem. One thing I highly recommend is that you don't switch back to a day schedule on your nights off--maintain a schedule of sleeping during the day 7 days/week. Equally as important is that you blacken your room as much as possible (i.e. cover the windows and reduce the light as much as possible. If noise is a problem, get earplugs. I have no problem getting 7-9 hours of sleep, and feel fine throughout the night. If you are a regular exerciser, I'd recommend doing it as soon as you wake up. I admit that I do it before I go to bed, but some research suggests exercise might make your sleep less restful, and it isn't as beneficial. I ignore that though because I get adequate sleep and I believe some exercise (regardless of time) is better than none.

As for eating...well I have a horrible ethic when it comes to diet. However, when I first started working nights I dropped like 30 lbs in a couple months. How, you ask? Well my big meal would be shortly after I woke up, then I'd go to work for 12 hrs, then I'd come home and go back to sleep (exercising on my nights off). I would seldom snack because working on an ortho/neuro floor with 7-8 pts did not give me much time to snack. Hence, the 30 lbs I shed. Unfortunately as soon as I moved to CA on a travel assignment and started working days (2+yrs later) I stopped eating just one meal, started snacking more, stopped exercising, and put back all of the weight plus an added bonus of 20+ lbs. :crying2: Now I am back to nights, so I tried to start working out again, but just have no motivation to maintain anything consistently. To look at my picture from 1 year ago is a kick to the ole palotas (sp?)

Moral of the story. Nights are very doable. Good luck to you.

bellehill, RN · Jan 30, 2005

If it is like my floor the lights will be dimmed, but not off. It isn't like you are sitting around watching people sleep in the dark. The patients won't all sleep all night so you will have stuff to do and it is bright. I have been on nights for almost 4 years and I love it, but then I could never get up at 5AM for work either.

RNview · Jan 30, 2005

thank you for sharing your experiences. it is kind of giving me an idea of how it would be like working nights. as far as the weight loss? i feel like i would lose weight quick which i'd hate to happen. :rolleyes: i am one of those having a problem gaining weight. i have noticed that when it's late at night already, my appetite goes down, so if i work nights, everything would be different. melatonin is a great idea; :idea: i will give it a try and see if it fits me.

so, even though you work nights, do they still call you during the day when they need you? i know this question is kind of nuts, :rolleyes: but you know sometimes when reality hits; i kind of can not believe it. :no: i know there will be a time when these things happen. how do you feel at work when a sudden change of shift happens? does it usually happen?

jaycrue · Jan 30, 2005

Hi everyone! I am a new RN in an LTC Facility. I will start my orientation in 2 weeks. I will be oriented during the days, then will be oriented at night. My question is... How did you manage being awake at night instead of the day?
For 12 hr night shift
BIG dinner before work
REDBULL energy drink take one at 0100 and again at 0400
Laptop for movies/ snacks (skip this if it's busy)
when you get home:
Eat big breakfast; take zopiclone right after breakfast wake up at 1500 hrs.
This formula has been tested by myself to be effective

donmomofnine · Jan 31, 2005

"Laptop for movies/ snacks (skip this if it's busy)"

Hope that you don't work for me! :rolleyes:

RNview · Jan 31, 2005

Laptop for movies/ snacks (skip this if it's busy)

Are you serious? :eek: I don't think I would do that even it is not busy. :nono: No no no!!! You're gonna be in a BIG trouble. :nurse:

pmchap · Jan 31, 2005

Hi, I no longer work nights - but over the last 10 years have worked about 8 of those as nights. Working nights is a unique experience which brings out unique traits in people. How many day shifters start the day by asking their colleagues how they slept? In my time I have found a couple of advantages to nights - first they are longer shifts which means more days off - always a good thing (I would accrue heaps of holidays due to the fact that I wouldn't take as many because of the regular 3 day weekends!!) - second penalty rates in Australia mean that if you pick your shifts (ie weekends & nights) you can make up to 30% more than a base wage which is great with bills. Third longer shifts means when you do do an extra the overtime pay is massive. Fourth you have time in the day to do other things.

Working nights meant during the day I was able to - help my wife run a small business, go to uni and get a second qualification (teaching and nursing - what a combination). I am able to sleep anywhere/anytime so I was able to sleep a couple of hours between work/uni then in the evening 4/5 hrs before work started. I worked 10 hr shifts (12 were not available) on a general medical & also a rehab unit. The nights meant that if the patients where quiet and the other jobs ie paperwork, cleaning etc was done I was able to do some uni work.

Jaycrue I can understand your comment re laptops - it is funny how on nights we think it is ok for someone to read a novel or newspaper during downtimes - but God forbid that they watch TV, use a computer or in my case - do uni work. I found that the stop/start needs on nights meant that the only real productive things that I could do where some editing of papers and some article reading. I always found it interesting that if we were quiet and the ADON would do a round then the other staff would rush off and become 'busy' I have no issue admitting when the night is quiet - as long as all your work is upto date and you are available to help should a patient or another nurse require any assistance.

Cheers

Peter

PS I no longer work night duty for only one reason - it seems to kill relationships (my wife let me know that I needed to find another job or another wife!!!) The 5 day a week Clinical Educators work that I now do seems to wear me out more than nights ever did - but at least I am home to kiss the kids goodnight and sleep when the larger percet of the population do.

suebird3 · Jan 31, 2005

Congrats on the job! I just got off my 2nd tour of 11-7's in mid October.....and whatever it takes, we'll do it!

Whereas I have not tried Meletonin, I would occasionally use Benedryl to keep me asleep. (I am one of those idiots who will ALWAYS wake up half way through my sleep.).

My DON was the midnight nurse when I hired on 5 1/2 years ago.....she will still work the shift....d/t a shortage of one body on the floor. Seeing as the facility is the residents' home.....they watch the T.V. or movies during the night. She has also brought in her DVD player for REAL deadtimes.....but she and I already have a "routine" set up, and know the "downtimes". Wait until you figure out your own routine! :) :rotfl:

Keep us posted on your job!

Sue, the "mother" of 4 beaky children

RNview · Jan 31, 2005

wow everybody has different stories to tell. thank you guys for sharing. i agree with you sue, in the long run i will have my own routine :) hhhhhhmmmmmm, i wonder what it would be like :chuckle it would probably depend in the work environment.

peter, it sure makes me sad to think that when i start working nights, i wouldn't be able to kiss my son goodnight. :scrying: i have a 19 month old son and he sure is more attached to me than his dad. at night he looks for mommy all the time. i wouldn't mind working at night but to think that i wouldn't be able to spend much time with my son makes me feel bad. for now, i have to sacrifice 'coz this shift is the only shift available. and as a new rn, i would be busy knowing and learning the routine and in times like that time flies. :)