What helps you sleep after night shift?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I often struggle sleeping the day post night shift. I often have to take half of a sleeping pill to get at least 4 hours.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Benadryl!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll pop in 50mg of Benadryl about 10-15 minutes before I get home. Grab a light breakfast so I don't wake up hungry. I'll pee so I don't wake up to pee. Go up to my room, turn on my fan (white noise), close the blinds and go to bed. I usually sleep until about 3pm.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in community small-town med/icu unit.

Super dark room (I have a black out blind that I put a dark coloured flannel blanket over top of), fan on medium for white noise, ear plugs if it's a nice day (neighbor likely to mow lawn), no coffee after 2am, and no drinking at all after 4am (I get off work at 8am).

I get home from work, eat a small meal, either last night's leftovers or eggs and toast, have a warm bath in my dark bathroom then off to bed.

I feel feel really hyped after a shift, I'll take either melatonin or a benadryl before the breakfast/bath routine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Worked nights for years. What to do? Benadryl, and plenty of it! Blinds, shades, and blackout drapes. Put towels up over the tops of the curtain rods (hanging down the sides) to block ANY light from coming in. Would even put one against the door to block light from hall.

Make sure you're not hungry, make sure you use the bathroom, make sure you've turned the ringer off the phone. I kept my answering machine in another area of the house so I couldn't even hear that. Air conditioner or fan for white noise.

If you DO have to get up for something (like the bathroom), keep the lights OFF. Getting shocked with daylight during your sleep cycle can screw you up. I used to keep my eyes closed, lol, just to be sure :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Excellent advice- can I also add: sunglasses ON before you ever leave the building on your way home. Sunlight hitting the retina supresses melatonin secretion- thus 'waking you up'.

Also, if you have an LCD display alarm clock- turn it away from you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks everyone! I have heard benadryl is helpful, will have to try it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

A chilly room, white noise, black out curtains, and a xanax. That combination is the only thing that got me through working nights. Benadryl would help me fall asleep, but I'd wake right back up 2 or 3 hours later.

Jeez I am so glad I don't work nights right now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nothing. That's why I got off night shift ASAP. Though admittedly I'm medication-adverse, so never went that route. I've also had paradoxical reactions to benadryl in the past so don't hold high hopes for that.

We're planning on building a new house in the next several years, and I intend to design the master bedroom in such a way as to facilitate sleeping on a night shift schedule in case I want to do that in the future.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have a half-hour walk home that helps me transition. If you can't walk home, taking a walk anyway might be a good idea. I eat plenty--number one thing that wakes me up (or keeps me awake, if I wake up for another reason) is being hungry. That's had the most impact on my sleep, actually! And often I turn on Netflix to something light and funny and not too engaging, put the laptop next to my bed, and fall asleep to that. It usually doesn't take long but at least I'm not just lying there hating it and wishing I was asleep if I don't fall asleep immediately. The day I have to rely on medication to help me fall asleep is the day I quit night shift.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

I would try Benadryl. Also keeping the room dark and cool, as other posters have mentioned, as well as using white/light noise. Usually I was just so tired I would collapse!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A hot chocolate about 3hrs to end of shift

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

either benadryl 50mg or melatonin. I also have a box fan which give great background noise (I havn't heard any of my four kids but once in the time they've been off of school). I also have black out blinds, and have since put some tinfoil in the windows as well. I have rolled over reciently thinking what time of night it was, only to be still day time lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment