staying awake on night-shift

Gompers, BSN, RN · Aug 21, 2005

I work nights (7p-7a) and sometimes I have the hardest time staying awake. I guess my biggest problem is getting enough sleep before hand... But my question to you all is: What do you do at night (when you have the spare time) to keep from getting too tired!!!

Sorry, the best way to stay awake on night shift is to get enough sleep before work! There is no real substitute for sleep. Don't fall into the misconception that working nights is a solution for never needing day care for the kids and stuff like that - too many nurses do, and they're always physically and mentally exhausted at work (and probably at home as well). Make sure to get the sleep you need - don't let family and friends make you feel guilty about saying, "Hey, I need the next 6 hours to myself for sleeping, period."

Of course, there is always coffee, soda, caffiene pills, and all that stuff if necessary. Personally, I stay away from caffiene and find that fruit and fruit juice gives me more of a "kick" than anything. Some people swear by apples - eating one or two per shift. Bring stuff to do during downtime - pay your bills, balance your checkbook, catalog shop for birthdays and holidays, etc. Maybe do some cleaning or organizing on the unit, or formulate and present an inservice (with the manager's approval, of course). A couple of nurses I work with leave the unit a couple times during their shift to run up and down the stairs a few times to get that adrenaline pumping. I find that books are definitely a no-no for me, but magazines are usually okay to read without dozing off. And working with a great group of nurses always helps - sometimes when we're not busy we'll all pull up our rockers into a circle and just chat the night away. Of course, there are nights when we'll all keep to ourselves and the unit is darkened and quiet...those are tough.

hope3456, ASN, RN · Aug 21, 2005

It is nice to know I am not the only one with this problem. I've had a horrific past couple weeks with sleep probs. i think it would be better working the 7p-7a - I work 10p-6a 5 nights a week. When I sleep on my nights off I am screwed for the rest of the week. I just found out I am pregnant, so I am cutting out the caffeine, which makes it worse. A couple days ago, I was so tired I just about gave a pt. a BP med instead of synthroid. I guess God was watching over me(and the pt.) on that one and I caught it. I knew I shouldn't have taken this job, but now I need it for the benefits. I will sleep for a couple hours when I get home, and then wake up and I will lay there for hours trying to go back to sleep. What a waste. Would appreciate support, suggestions

Tracy

BlueYYsRN · Aug 21, 2005

I am a natural night owl. I couldnt imagine working days. I always say that I can stay up a whole lot better than I can get up. My problem is that when 0700 comes I sometimes feel like I am in a brain fog but that is usually worse when it is my first night back after a stretch off. Think about it. How many other people are up hours before going to work? I do drink coffee but sometimes the thing that helps if I am dragging is to get a big drink of water and to brush my teeth. I carry a travel toothbrush and toothpaste in my purse and for some reason it does seem to help.

fergus51 · Aug 21, 2005

Stand up and hop around. There is no substitute for movement to keep a person awake and one of the benefits of working nights is that there usually aren't family members around to look at you like you're nuts if you get up and dance a jig. Practice your ballet or belly dancing skills to amuse your coworkers. We all laugh like crazy when someone does it, but it wakes us all up.

amnesia · Aug 21, 2005

surf the internet!

Era · Aug 22, 2005

Hi!!

I'm currently on nights! I usually tidy up, try to prepare the ward for the day staff. Coffee helps but not that long for me. Surfing the net definitely works and oranges!! Oranges work wonders for me when I have to wake myself up. If you put them in the fridge for a bit then cut them into pieces, the coldness of it wakes you up. Of course cold drinks and munchies work a bit too!

Have a good shift! :nurse:

nurseiam · Aug 22, 2005

I have a few things. I work 7p-7a. The first night usually with no sleep. I will have a coffee and take 2 excederin at midnight. I usully get up and walk around a few times. At about 630 I try to eat a small snack, cheese and crackers, for a clear head for report. I never drink caffeine after 3a. When I get home I throw off the scrubs put in the earplugs and am asleep by 0830.

DusktilDawn · Aug 22, 2005

Nocturnal by nature myself. Very busy most nights so that activity prevents prevents relaxing enough to feel sleepy. However occasionally there is the odd night that has a lull and I just feel like sleeping. Usually moving around helps at these times.

RN4BABES · Aug 23, 2005

Chocolate. Lots of chocolate! :chuckle

Since I becamse a nurse and now a MOM ..I have no problem staying awake and I only do nights. I cannot read on nights as it puts me to sleep! The best thing is to be in a room/area with a fun bunch of nurses that keep the conversation alive.

Era · Aug 23, 2005

:rotfl: Allnurses.com

Zoomer · Aug 23, 2005

I've been doing nights for 14 years now and I love the shift, but I too get sleepy around 4 am. I will get up and walk around or bathe my patient or chat. I also drink coffee but try to avoid that after 4 am. I usually do worse if I work 3 in a row so I don't do that often. Ithink the sleep debt builds up since I only get about 5 1/2 to 6 hours of sleep a day. I have recently started having problems staying asleep after 11 am. I tried the OTC sleep stuff but since most of it contains Benedryl it doesn't work for me. Antihistamines make me restless instead of drowsy. Now I take Ambien. Usually 2.5mg works fine to keep me asleep. The worse part was when I would get sleepy driving home. Now that I work within 30 minutes from home it is better but there were many times when I worked an hour from home that I had to pull over. Very scary.

How does everyone feel about taking naps at work? I think if it is your break that the hospital is not paying you for then if you go to the lounge for 30 minutes for a nap if needed it should be okay. My only problem with this is the many staff members I work with who will do this for longer than their break time or who take their 45 minute dinner and their 45 minute nap. Anyway the hospital policy is no sleeping period. At one hospital where I worked if the supervisor caught you sleeping they could make you go to the ER for a drug test and to determine if you are fit for duty. They usually only did this for chronic offenders. I have heard of employees who were fired for sleeping at the desk.