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Working the night shift can be a daunting task. Your friends and family are asleep, the world is dark, and yet you’re here at work. It’s not easy, but it’s a doable (and often rewarding!) task.
We’ve put together some tips for nurses to help you work the night shift.
Coffee break, not multiple breaks
A cup of coffee is good, but multiple cups are not. Caffeine will wake you up to get you through your shift, but too much caffeine can keep you awake when you’re at home trying to sleep. Lost sleep = sleepiness during the next night shift. Here the cycle begins again. Caffeine takes a few hours to leave your system. in eight hours, 75% of caffeine gold. Drink your coffee at the beginning of the shift, not at the end.
rested
sleep sleep sleep. The most important thing is to maintain a sleep schedule that provides adequate and healthy sleep. WebMD Notes Night shift nurses can suffer from sleep disturbances. Create and stick to a regular sleep-wake schedule, and tell your friends and family the hours you’ll be sleeping. Remind them that calling you at 1pm during their lunch breaks will be the same as calling them at 1am on yours. Find balance and socialize after you’ve finished sleeping.
Skip the vending machine
As a nurse, you already know the dangers of diabetes. research Offers There is a relationship between night shift workers and diabetes, indicating that they are twice as likely to develop the disease. Part of this is the diet. When the only thing open on your lunch break is a 24-hour fast food restaurant, it’s easy to fall into the habit of eating what’s right for you. Packing healthy lunches, eating healthy dinners, and remembering not to skip breakfast goes a long way.
Get by with a little help from a friend
Take the time to get to know your fellow nursing staff. Night shifts can provide quiet, quiet times that day shifts don’t. There is time to do paperwork, but there is also time to chat. The beauty of your arrangement is that your auxiliary nurses are all in the same boat on the night shift. If you’re feeling sleepy or stressed, they’ve probably already been there and can help. These friendships can help relieve feelings of isolation. You are not the only one who has a different routine than your friends and family.
Don’t be a vampire
While it can be difficult to fit into a sleep schedule that still allows for a night shift ahead, use your “days off” to actually see the sun. Getting up early in the afternoon on your day off allows for more daylight hours. Your friends who work during the day will appreciate the opportunity to see you in natural light. But remember to balance: you still have to sleep.
be ready
We’ve already mentioned packing a healthy lunch, but there should also be time to go to the grocery store, buy your ingredients, and make that lunch. Those who work the night shift must be organized, almost more organized than their daytime counterparts. This nurse notes that she does the shopping and laundry on her days off. Packing lunches, preparing meals and running errands can also be scheduled at the end of a shift while the rest of the world starts their day. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your sleep schedule, there are still hours in the day to get things done.
dancing party
If you have a chance to move, stretch your legs, or lift your heels, do it! Stretching between rooms, taking a few brisk paces around the hall, or even an impromptu dance with a co-worker behind the desk is enough to get your blood flowing, banish any sleepiness, and help add to your exercise routine. Speaking of which, stick to your workout routine, even if it’s at an odd hour. Before or after your shift, make time to go to the gym, yoga class, or run.
Written by Natalie Howard
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