I recently switched to the night shift and it has been working great for my family situation. I know a lot of mothers and fathers who are choosing to working night shift because it gives them more time with their children. If you are considering going to nights, but wonder if itβs possible, let this post put you at ease. I will share my tips and tricks on how to survive and thrive on the night shift.
Personally, I am a Registered Nurse who works 12 hour shifts. A full time position only requires you to work 3 days, so if you are switching to nights on a 12 hr shift β it will be very manageable. I would work 2 days in a row maximum. Some people like to work their 3 in a row, but I think this is too taxing mentally and physically. The recovery time is not worth it. But see what works for you.
Before Your Nightshift
In preparation for the shift, I highly suggest you take a nap during the day. If your kids are in school, take a nap before you have to pick them up. If they are little, take a nap with them! You want to have some hours of rest before you go to work. I usually have a cup of coffee on my way into work at 7pm and another cup around 1am. To maintain a sleep balance, drink all your coffee in the first half of your shift – then water! Stay away from the energy drinks! The crash on the other side of the high will make your ride home more dangerous.
During Your Nightshift
While on shift, you need to stay awake. There will be a slower pace on the night shift. If you have downtime, use it! Read that book, research a topic, write that paper. Don’t just scroll through the mind numbing feeds of social media. Use your brain! If you need a pick me up in the middle of the night, get moving. Take the stairs up and down and up and down. This will keep you warm and awake. I will also go to the break room do 25 squats. Do anything that will keep you moving because it will keep you awake.
What to Eat & Drink on Nightshift
Your metabolism will slow when you stay up all night. It’s just the science of the body. So don’t pig out overnight. Stay no to the sweets left in the break room. Pack veggies, fruits and nuts to eat throughout the night. If I work days in a row, I eat a little breakfast when I get home, a snack when I wake up and a big meal right before I leave for work. That satisfies my caloric need without overdoing it.
This is the coffee I drink for work: Eight O’Clock, Infusion Alert HI-CAFFINE. An arabica bean blend with guarana. It has a medium flavor, not too strong tasting. But, wow, it keep you awake, alert and oriented x 4! (nursing joke). I stopped drinking cuban expresso (colada) after discovering this stuff.
The Drive Home | Nightshift
When you get off you will be tired. More tired than when you get off a day shift (especially at the beginning). As you drive home try these 3 tips for staying awake.
- Play music you love really loud and sing along
- Listen to a comedian, if you are laughing you are more alert
- Drink water throughout your drive
- If you feel like you are sleepy, try lifting your left foot off the floorboards and balancing it in the air. My dad taught me this trick and it helps!
- If you feel like you are falling asleep, pull over. Take a power nap or call an Uber. Know your limits and listen to your body. You are better off safe than sorry.
When You Get Home after Nightshift
When you get home you may have to take kids to school or wait for a sitter. Do not drink coffee at this time or get on your phone. If you need to spend time on your phone try using those βno blue lightβ glasses to keep from the blue light disrupting your sleep. I personally try to stay off my phone completely. I have a small breakfast, take my daughter to school and the sitter comes at 9am to watch my son. After I shower, I draw all the curtains, put on an eye mask, ear plugs, and breathe. I do an old breathing exercise to help me fall asleep quickly. Itβs called the 4-7-8 trick and it goes like this.
- Exhale completely through your mouth
- Close your mouth and inhale slowly through your nose while you mentally count to 4
- Hold your breath for 7 seconds
- Exhale completely through your mouth while you mentally count to 8
- Inhale and repeat 3 more times.
It works every time. Now sleep for as long as you can. I usually sleep until I need to pick up daisy from school at 1pm. If I am working that night I will βtake it easyβ and stay home. But if I am off that night I will resume my day as normal and brew a pot of coffee after I pick up my daughter. This is a recovery day. Donβt feel guilty if you donβt get a chance to clean the house or fold laundry. Rest is important. On recovery day I will stay awake until my normal bedtime around 10:30pm that night.
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This schedule works well for me. I send one to school and one stays home. If you have younger kids, babies or toddlers, you need a caretaker. You cannot just “stay awake” for days at a time. I thought I could do it on my own, and just stay up, but that was a horrible idea. I gained weight, lost my patience completely and it was ruining the quality of my life and the lives of my family. If you have family, ask for help. I hired a wonderful young woman off care.com. She also doubles as our date night babysitter!
Sleep Health | Nightshift Tips
It is worth mentioning that sleep health is very important to maintain optimum health. Treat your new daytime bedtime as something sacred. Use whatever tools necessary to get effective sleep. Below are some suggestions to help you out.
You will notice within the first few weeks if nightshift is right for you and your family. I enjoy it because I see my kids more. Everyone needs help when they are transitioning to a night shifter. Be sure to utilize your resources. Instacart is a grocery shopping app that shops for you and delivers your groceries, Postmates is another app that will shop any store or restaurant and deliver it to your door.
Good Luck and I hope this post helped you. Let me know in the comments below!
Don’t forget to check out my other articles that will be helpful to you! How to Pass the NCLEX eBook! The Complete Guide to Nursing Resource eBook and The Most Effective Nursing Report Sheet to organize patient information and your shift!. I have tons of Nursing related content – so go take a look around!
Check out my course: HOW TO GIVE THE BEST REPORT.
The 8 Modules in this course teach you to:
– Initiate Report
– Courteous Tips the Next Shift Won’t Tell You
– Give Perfect Concise Report
– How to Call & Talk to Doctors
– How to Give Report to other Facilities
– How to Give Report when Going on Break
– How to Give Report to Other Floors
Hi, just wanted to comment about your sleep after night shift. If you take the kids to school at get to sleep at about 9am and wake up in time for a pick up at 1pm. Thats four hours sleep or three and a quarter if you count getting ready and driving to pick up your child at one. After doing this three times a week, every week how do you maintain being alert for your shift, to drive, have the energy to do housework and look after the children and stay healthy ?
This is far less than the recommended amount of sleep for good health.
I Was wondering the same but I think she meant she wakes up to pick up her kid when she doesnβt have to go in again for another shift that night. But if sheβs working again sheβll prioritize her sleep and maybe have someone else get her kid- that was my assumption.
Enjoyed your article, and the one about feeling incompetent during orientation! The report form is not downloading correctly, however?
Did you click to download the report sheet? email me at megforit@gmail.com. I’ll send it over to ya!
These are really great tips Meg! Some of our nurses work per diem and pick up night shifts so they can also spend quality time with their little ones π I’m going to share this blog for them! Super helpful tips from someone who has been through it.
Hi there! I have been working nights on med surg since Feb and my kids are STILL getting used to it. Even though I explain how much time we get together and how I am available for all the things the transition for me to leave is still hard. Any advice to help them feel better about it? I have 4 (12 and under). Thanks!
I think children will always want more of you no matter what your schedule. They love ya! Canβt get enough of ya! Continue to love them and throw away the guilt. Youβre doing awesome.
Hi I had a question about your babysitter situation. Was your schedule the same every week with the babysitter coming the same days? Just trying to figure out how to work that out before I decide on this night shift position. Thank u!!