What do you do to get past the 2am slump

[peaceful2100, BSN, RN]

Hi, I started my first night shift and all. My first one ever and it went pretty slow since I had a hard time staying awake? I was fine from 645pm until around 2am and then I got really sleepy. I did my best to stay awake and I did stay awake all though I did quite a bit of yawning. I know I am not going to get use to this overnight. How long did it take before you all got use or partly use to working nights. Just my luck by the time I start back school in August that is when I will get semi-use to it. I am not a RN yet I am only working as a neonatal care tech. I graduate next may. I can't wait.

[Teshiee]

My slump kicks around 3am. It is hard sometimes. Depending where I am working I take a quick power nap or walk around to stay awake. It is funny because when I am off from work I wake up at 3am all the time.

[SmilingBluEyes]

J - A - V- A baby!!!!!!!!!!! after all , I live in Seattle. Seriously.

[Y2KRN]

Caffine, Caffine, Caffine

Y2KRN

[AlexandraRN]

caffiene is the only way!!!!!!

[jevans]

My slunp is 4am

Coffee............. coffee....... and the odd chocolate bar!

j

[indeed]

Unfortunately, my slump doesn't hit until 0700, so the nurses I report off to get to watch me rub my eyes and drink heroic amounts of coffee. I think I hit that slump because I am finally sitting

Indeed.

[Tinaboo]

:zzzzz I know the slump thing happens to me at about the time that I walk into the door when I get home.

[OrthoNutter]

I usually hit my slump driving home in my car around 0800hrs. I've found the only way I can make it home without swerving on and off the wrong side of the road is to have a phenomenally full bladder and to be eating or drinking something while driving. So I usually load up with about five glasses of water before heading out to the carpark, stop by Starbucks on the way home and pick up a caramel latte and grab something from a bakery that looks reasonably healthy to have for breakfast. Doing all that keeps me awake long enough to get me home and then I'm zonked again!

[REDWOMANRN]

MY SLUMP, TOO, HIT ABOUT 3!!! GRAB A MOUNTAIN DEW AND TAKE A WALK TO THE FARTHEST VENDING MACHINE FOR SUGAR AND, IMAGINE, CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Wash your face with a cold washcloth, change into a different pair of shoes, go for a walk and stand outside for a few minutes for the fresh air and sip some ice water. And COFFEE- save your coffee intake for when you really need it so it will work. That means none on your days off, and possibly cut down as a regular thing while at work. Half a cup will let me finish a shift off easy so long as I don't indulge at other times.

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

I was lucky to have only worked nights for a max of about 6 months, but 3-4am was when my slump hit. I worked residential rehab at the time, so it was waaaaaaay quiet! I would wash my face & brush my teeth. Then I would slam a Mt. Dew and have a cig outside.

Heather