Questions about Night shift

[buenafortuna]

Hello! In June I completed my 5-month long CNA program, and recently got hired at a Nursing home for the 11pm-7am night shift. I start next week, but am entirely clueless how to start out the shift!

Do I wake up normally for that day (7 or 8am) and take a nap before work (7-9pm)? I don't want to stay up all day for my 11pm start and be exhausted by morning!

And also, after work at 7am, is it best to go to sleep immediately and wake up around 2-3pm, or stay up until 2 or 3 and sleep until 9-10pm before work at 11?

I hope this makes sense!

Also, can I expect to be very busy during that shift, or is it usually slow?

Thanks for your help!

[casi, ASN, RN]

Start about a week beforehand (if you can) staying up later and later until your body adjusts to going to bed early in the AM and getting up late.

If you get up anytime before 12-1pm TAKE A NAP! Just a little cat nap will do wonders for your energy.

When you get off when you go to sleep depends on your day, responsibilities, social engagements, and TV schedule. Most night shifters seem to sleep whenever they can. When I sleep varies. If I want to do something in the evening, or if I have nothing to do in the morning I'll go to bed fairly earl. If I have school in the morning, want to go out for breakfast, or hit up the stores I'll stay up til noon or so and sleep the evening.

I've never worked night shift in a nursing home, just Assisted Living and Hospital. From what I've been told about night shift in nursing homes is that doing every two hour check, change, and turns takes up a lot of your time and you answer a lot of call lights and do toileting. It can get busy, but you'll have your quiet times.

[buenafortuna]

Great! Thanks so much for the advice!

[bethin]

Try to stay up later and later. When I worked night shift I would go to bed (after a shift) around 10a and sleep until 4p then nap from 8-10p. I had NO problems staying awake during the night. I tried to switch: I turned nights into days and days into nights. I would stay up until 10a because if you work 9-5 you don't go to sleep as soon as you get home. My coworkers had the most problems with feeling sleepy around 3a when your naturally at your slowest - sleep cycles and metabolism play a part in that, not too much you can do about it. Just stay busy during the early morning hours. Try not to sit for too long. And I don't recommend eating a big meal during the early am. If you're able try to eat between 11p-2a. If you eat later than that you may get drowsy. Caffeine is ok, just don't drink it before you head home or you won't sleep at all!

Good luck!