Night Shift and Sleeping

amoLucia · Oct 13, 2013

There's whole lot of terrific info on previous posts here on AN on how to facilitate sleeping patterns. Look them up because you'll get lots really quickly. And some are real 'oldies but goodies'.

Just know that there's usually a period of adjustment getting used to 'vampire hours'.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Oct 13, 2013

Here's the down and dirty- but DO search, you'll find lots!

1) ABSOLUTE darkness in the bedroom. Multiple layers of curtains- block ALL sources of light

2) Fan for white noise

3) Leave your phone in another room

4) Sunglasses ON before you even walk out of the building in the morning for your trip home and LEAVE THEM ON until you get into bed.

Hope this helps!

Meanmaryjean = 36 years on nights and counting.....

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Oct 16, 2013

Here's the down and dirty- but DO search, you'll find lots!
1) ABSOLUTE darkness in the bedroom. Multiple layers of curtains- block ALL sources of light
2) Fan for white noise
3) Leave your phone in another room
4) Sunglasses ON before you even walk out of the building in the morning for your trip home and LEAVE THEM ON until you get into bed.
Hope this helps!
Meanmaryjean = 36 years on nights and counting.....

I use aluminum foil on the bedroom windows. I can't sleep with light around the windows. All other suggestions are the same as I use, especially the sunglasses (trick your eyes into still thinking it's night). DO NOT watch TV or computer when you get home, light will cause your brain to think its time to be awake (defeats the sunglasses reason).

13 yrs night shift (Registered sleep technologist)

SoCalGalRN · Oct 17, 2013

Sometimes you just don't adjust. I've been on nights now for over a year and still feel terrible 80% of the time.

cassie77775 · Oct 17, 2013

I adjusted fast. But I'm a night owl. I have black out shades on my windows, phone on silent, and fan going. I am in bed by 8am and sleep until 330 with absolutely no difficulty :)