Tips for working night shift as a new lpn.

tiroka03, LPN · Mar 2, 2011

Just consentrate on learning the paperwork. Learn what to do in the case of an emergency. Learn who to call, when you think there is no one to call. You can call the pharmacy, and outside pharmancy, a hospital or a nurse line. You can even call the MD if you don't mind getting an ear full. Just don't give HIPPA type stuff out. If I call an e room, I pretend I am a wife asking about her husband, or a nurse line, I might pretend it's me I am asking about. Don't give yourself away. You don't want it to get back to your boss you are needing to know things. It is also a good idea to have a phone with internet access so you can look up things on line.

Get two copies of all the paperwork you will use often. On the first, write anynote you may need later, and make copies of the second one, so you don't have to dig to find a copy when you need it.

Get a address book, and write in things you need to know, phone numbers and procedures. You can write the doctors name and answering services, and the names of mortuaries, in it. Mine is chock full of things. If I had to look up a procedure or a med once, I will write it in the book, and will have quick assess to the answer the next time

josinda421 · Mar 2, 2011

I say COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE!!!!

*SJ* · Mar 3, 2011

How many hours do most of you sleep per day who work the night shift?

Oh, it varies. That's why I take Ambien on occasion. There are days I'm able to get a good 8-9 hours (which I do best with) and days I wake up after 3-4 hours and need to take a nap later. If I'm on a 4-5 day stretch working it's easier to get a good amount of sleep in one chunk, my body adjusts easier.

Some of the CNAs that I work with sleep for a few hours in the morning and then a few hours in the evening. That would not work for me, I would be a crabby mess if I did that for more than a few days!

lostinal · Apr 9, 2014

I remember having some of those same thoughts a long time ago...when I took a night position. I think it is individual and you won't know until you do it. I had friends who also had a family (children). They loved night shift and wouldn't work any other shift. They were able to sleep. I, however, never got used to night shift. I had trouble sleeping during the day. I resorted to Benadryl but that left me with a hangover. I was always tired no matter how little or how much sleep I got during the day. Then on your days off you have to try to switch back to a normal life so you can spend time with your family and get things done when the rest of the world is awake. Night shift actually left me feeling ill most of the time.

You know yourself and your sleep habits. Maybe you could have a trial run at night shift (even while not working) and see how your body adjusts, how you feel. Don't be like me and feel horrible on the way to work because everyone else is going to bed and you are just starting your shift.

Good luck!

NurseQT · Apr 13, 2014

I worked full time nights for quite a few years than went to days for the last 4+ years, I just accepted a new full time nocs position on Thur. Working nocs used to be a must so that my husband and I could save on daycare costs, I always ended up suffering a severe lack of sleep tho, many times I was getting only about 3-4 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Now I would prefer working days but nocs was the only shift available and really with my husband's crazy schedule the nocs will be beneficial.

One thing that always helped me was doing my best to get to sleep while it was still semi dark outside, now that spring is here that is not possible I know... Having room darkening blinds and the ability to keep the room cool help a lot too, at least for me. I'm lucky enough to have blinds that keep my room very dark when drawn and a ceiling fan that keeps my room cool. Most of my family knows not to call me during the day, the only one who has a hard time remembering that is my husband! He always used to wake me up at noon and ask "haven't you slept long enough??!!!" Or he's wake me up to ask me if I wanted to talk to my mom when she calle!!!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 13, 2014

I work 7P-7A for family reasons as well. My advice is you have to develop a little bit of a selfish streak. Your sleep time is your sleep time. Yes, there will be exceptions to the rule but for the most part it has to be understood that you are not to be disturbed while you are sleeping. Otherwise you will become so crabby and out of sorts your family time will become meaningless.
Remember, night workers are the exception rather than the rule. The rest of the world runs on "normal" time and it couldn't care less about whether or not we get one hour or eight hours sleep a day. Phones ring and even your friends and family will say "oh, were you asleep"? You can put a "Day Sleeper" sign on your front door in a 144 font and sales people and others will suddenly forget how to read.
I really enjoy nights. You don't have all the bosses around and things are generally more relaxed. I think there is more comradrie on the night shift. Spending time with your family is a good reason to do nights but if you don't make time for YOU, you and your family will both be miserable.

Silence your phone, disable your doorbell and run a loud fan next to your bed when you're sleeping. The fan becomes "white noise." I've always had problems sleeping, but an ex-boyfriend moved into my house one day years ago during the day, and I didn't hear a thing. I was shocked to wake up and find him calmly sitting at the dining room table consuming the contents of my refrigerator! (Which is another story.)

Friends and family are educable. (Mostly). It required a couple of 2 or 3 AM phone calls "just to chat" before my father caught on, but he did catch on. Neighbors -- not much you can do about normal noise, but the neighbors who started a home improvement project on our adjoining wall during my sleep time caught on when I started hanging pictures on the same wall in the middle of the night. (Fortunately they were nice people and apologized.) Take your sleep time very seriously, or no one else will!

Blackout curtains help immensely as well.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 13, 2014

I really hope this is how it will be for me as well. Are there any tips you could give me on how to adjust or keep myself on a good rhythm....thanks for all of the advice

There are numerous older threads on AN addressing this subject. Older threads are OK, because this material doesn't really change. Here's one:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/night-shift-newbies-531465.html

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 13, 2014

If you do take the night shift...
Drink very little liquid from about 2am onwards. My biggest problem when trying to sleep is having to go pee at about 10am. No matter how many times I peed before going to sleep. Your body is used to voiding multiple times from 7am to 11pm. It's used to holding it from 11pm to 7am.
Even if your house will be empty, wear earplugs and make sure your room is DARK. Wearing earplugs saved my life to sleep better during the day.
Use a sleep aid if you need one. You need enough sleep to function with the rest of your life.
Congrats on your position and best of luck!

I agree with all of your suggestions except the earplugs. They always drove me crazy. I bought an industrial fan and set it next to the bed. When I go to bed, I turn it on for white noise. If I put it on "high", I don't hear lawnmowers outside the bedroom window or someone moving into or out of my house. "Medium" works fine most of the time.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 13, 2014

I remember having some of those same thoughts a long time ago...when I took a night position. I think it is individual and you won't know until you do it. I had friends who also had a family (children). They loved night shift and wouldn't work any other shift. They were able to sleep. I, however, never got used to night shift. I had trouble sleeping during the day. I resorted to Benadryl but that left me with a hangover. I was always tired no matter how little or how much sleep I got during the day. Then on your days off you have to try to switch back to a normal life so you can spend time with your family and get things done when the rest of the world is awake. Night shift actually left me feeling ill most of the time.
You know yourself and your sleep habits. Maybe you could have a trial run at night shift (even while not working) and see how your body adjusts, how you feel. Don't be like me and feel horrible on the way to work because everyone else is going to bed and you are just starting your shift.
Good luck!

The key is to "switch back" as little as possible. Schedule appointments for first thing in the morning (before you go to sleep) or late in the afternoon (get up a little early).