Working the night shift

NSALVADORE · Dec 1, 2009

I'm sorry I don't but I looking at a possible job opportunity where I might for the first time be working nights too so I'm looking forward to seeing what others say :)

pinkiepie_RN · Dec 1, 2009

Try your best to fight the urge to switch back to waking up in the morning like normally after working a shift or having a day off. I just worked 12 and slept until 1, which means I probably won't be too tired at work. Stay busy because that definitely helps stave off the tiredness for me, and make sure you don't snack all night long or it will eventually catch up with you. Alarm clocks are a wonderful invention and sleep is very important! If you're alert enough, go ahead and run errands after you're done your shift, so you can sleep right on into the next shift if you work a few days in a row.

Oh and my $0.02, I wouldn't do 3 12-hour shifts in a row. I think that's suicide. I do 2 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off.

ErinJane · Dec 1, 2009

I just got off back to back twelve hour nights for my preceptorship :).

To adjust I go to bed at my regular time the night before but set my alarm for 2 or 3 am. Then I make myself stay awake until about 9-10 am then go back to bed until 4 or 5 pm depending on how long it will take me to get ready. Eat a large meal (such as a normal dinner) right before you head to the hospital. Remind yourself to eat something at about midnight or 1 am. Also, if you find yourself getting sleepy walk around the floor or start researching conditions that your pts. have. Nights are an excellent time to get experience with cares since usually anyone of the floor will let you attempt anything on their pts because they have the time to assist/observe. Also, I've notice (I'm my experience) night shift nurses are very laid back.

Good luck!

shrimpchips, LPN · Dec 2, 2009

I have been working nights the past couple of months as a PCNA. (Now, I won't be anymore, because I just got a job as a nurse tech at a hospital that is MUCH closer to where I live, so now I can switch back to days :yeah: ...working at the other hospital (which is an hour away), nights were the only time that I could work into my busy schedule).

Obviously, keep your room dark. Also try to keep it cooler if you can. If you have trouble sleeping, use children's Benadryl. That is actually recommended by sleep doctors to help those working nights sleep during the day. 1 children's tab is equal to 1/2 adult pill, so 2 tabs is equal to 1 adult pill. I like the children's Benadryl because it does the job but it the lower dose doesn't make me groggy when I wake up.

Before heading it I hit up the nearest Starbucks for some caffeine :smilecoffeecup: I like vanilla lattes, and I add an extra shot of espresso in them. They're more expensive that way, but that extra shot keeps me going for a very long time. If I feel like I need it, I'll also drink another cup of coffee when I have time during my shift.

If you can, try not to drink anything (or drink very little) after 3am, otherwise you'll keep having to wake up and pee when you're trying to sleep.

For food, I try to pack healthy. If I'm lazy and don't feel like making something, I'll bring in a Lean Cuisine or something like that to heat up during my "lunch" break (just watch out on the sodium, some of those things have a lot!). I also bring a lot of fresh fruit.

When I come home in the morning and I'm working again that night, I take a shower and go straight to bed and wake up at around 3-4pm (6 1/2 - 7 1/2 hours of sleep for me) which gives me enough time to eat, hit up Starbucks (or Dunkin Donuts) and drive to work. If I'm not working again that night, I go home and shower and go straight to bed. I try to wake up around 12-1pm. That's not a lot of sleep, but if you sleep all day you will be up all night and your schedule will be messed up. I find that's the best way (for me) to get back on a regular sleeping schedule.

shrimpchips, LPN · Dec 2, 2009

Oh and my $0.02, I wouldn't do 3 12-hour shifts in a row. I think that's suicide. I do 2 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off.

I agree with this! I worked 3 12's in a row (nights) and it was awful. By the second night I was pretty tired but by the third night I was EXHAUSTED and it was really hard for me to stay awake, no matter how much coffee I had. For some reason I find working 3 12's (nights) in a row a lot harder than working 3 12's (days) in a row.

Oh, and if you want to know what nights are like...it depends on the floor that you will be on and the night. There were a lot of nights were I did a lot of sitting around and then there were others where patients will be calling you all night. There were a couple of nights were I was so busy I didn't even have time to sit down and I was late with ALL of my charting lol. Good luck!

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

see...I like the working 12's because then you're done for the week. not gonna lie, the last shift is very hard.

I usually sleep until the absolute last minute to get up for work... home at 6, up for an hour doing some housework or something, bed by 7, up at 2 or 3. get rea dy, pack my bag, on my way by 415.

At work, I generally stay busy until about 10-11 for sure...between meds, charting, checks, calling docs, doing tasks.....I eat before I go in because sometimes it takes a while to get the break.

drink water, I limit caffine after 3AM. bring your own food. If you feel tired, get up and walk, do something.

suanna · Dec 2, 2009

I've worked nights my whole career. My2cents:

1) Eat before you go in but avoid sugars, fats, and excessive protien. A lite dinner with lean meat and a salad is ideal. Skip desert. As a rule a heavy meal of fats or a big sugar load is going to crash you before the shift even starts.

2) Until you get used to nights- never eat a big lunch at work. You are better off having 4-5 "snacks" - fruit with cheese, some whole grain crackers with peanut butter, bowl of whole grain cereal with low fat milk.

3) Coffee is your frend- but if you don't imbibe- look into caffeine tablets. Used in moderation a couple cups of coffee or a caffeine tab may be the only way to keep your eyes open if you do crash.

4) I've had great results with the "x hr energy" drinks. Not a lot of caffeine or sugar but a big load of B viamins and some mild herbal stimulants. They have really helped when I hit the wall but be careful- taking them too late in the night will ruin your next sleep cycle and make the following night a nightmare.

5) Have yor bigest meal for breakfast. It's a great way to unwind after a tough night and eating a full meal loaded with the fats and calories that only a farmer can tollerate puts me in a coma in 10min.

6) DON'T die to get home. If you can't keep your eyes open- pull over, get out of the car and walk around, even call a friend for a ride. You can always pick your car up later- you can't always pick up your severed limbs. A sleepy driver is as dangerous as a drunk driver. Be responsible and safe.

7) If you are going to be on nights for a while and find you just can't cut it- talk to your doctor. There are medical interventions that may help you adapt.

shrimpchips, LPN · Dec 2, 2009

I also second not dying on your way home! :lol2: but seriously. Sometimes I find it SO HARD to stay awake when I'm driving home and I will admit, I have dozed off for a few seconds before and swerved onto the shoulder... :eek:

blast your music, keep a window open. I find that calling a friend and talking REALLY helps keep you awake, and so does eating in the car. Bring something healthy to eat like some grapes or apple slices or even a little handful of nuts. Gum chewing and mints only help me slightly.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

I usually will go home and take a shower if I'm going to be doing something the next am....usually wakes me up, when I'm going to be driving 45 mins north to my fiances house. I've found that singing with the music really helps, and if I'm wayyyy too tired, I won't drive.

Also, I would say that anytime you're tired at work, try hard to find something to do. I've cleaned the station before at 3am to stay awake.

foreverLaur · Dec 2, 2009

I work 7pm-7am and it has its ups and downs. I eat around midnight. Just keep yourself busy. When you sit around is when you start to get REALLY tired, especially after you eat. I'm a night owl anyways so I routinely stay up until 4am when I'm not working. I sleep til 4pm or so the next day if I have to work again or 2pm if I don't.

I generally work three 12s in a row so I have a long stretch off... sometimes a whole week! It is really nice and I've never had a problem working there. I work four in a row pretty often and once, when I was really poor, I worked fourteen 12 hour shifts in a row :) It's doable, but you lose touch with the real world for the whole time.

pinkiepie_RN · Dec 3, 2009

Staying busy is definitely important. I find myself even doing research using work's access to research databases about my specialty to help pass the time. It's usually either really busy or super slow at work on NOCs for me and it's hit or miss whether or not I have trouble staying awake or not.