Post Views: 4,554
ViewsHow Nurses Can Survive The Night Shift
Everyone knows that feeling of dread when you have an upcoming dental appointment. For most nurses, that is how they feel when they have a scheduled night shift. You try your best to avoid it, but ultimately have to do it. While there are some nurses out there that might not mind working the night shift, for the most part, most nurses dread it. It interrupts your sleeping patterns, forcing you to sleep during the day, and inevitably not seeing your family at all.
Adjusting Your Sleeping Pattern
When you begin working night shifts, your body will experience a bit of a shock. Other than staying up until 2:00 am in nursing school studying, generally speaking, you have had a fairly consistent sleeping pattern throughout your life. As in you were up during the day and sleeping during the night. With a night shift, you not only have to be awake at unimaginable hours but productive and reliable. In the beginning, this is certainly a challenge. It takes about two weeks for the average person to form a new habit. So, it will take time to become adjusted to this new working schedule.
Sleeping During The Day
Since you will be sleeping while the majority of society is going on with their day, you need to invest in some curtains and earplugs. The sun is at its highest point in the sky around 2:00 pm, making it more difficult to achieve quality sleep. There are curtains specifically made for blocking out light, you do not want to skimp here. Unless you have a dark room, your brain will have a hard time believing it is nighttime and therefore resting. Also, having earplugs helps if you live with someone on an opposite schedule. This way you are not kept awake by them milling around the house.
- Eat and drink before bed – to avoid being woken up in the middle of sleep for either.
- Avoid caffeine or alcohol – having caffeine or alcohol before bed guarantees poor sleep.
- Have a dark and quiet room – have light-blocking curtains and all sounds turned off.
- Use earplugs – even though they can be annoying to use, they work incredibly well.
Eat Healthily
If you are struggling energy-wise, you should not be eating mostly carbs or sugary foods. Many granola bars seem healthy but are loaded with sugar. This will make you feel more exhausted. What is also known as the dreaded “carb coma”. Instead, make sure to bring healthy food and meal options that actually give you energy. You could also consider buying pre-made healthy meals to bring with you. The night shift is usually slower and quieter than the day shift, but even then you may not have time for a meal. If that is the case, then bring some of these healthy snacks:
- Bananas
- Edamame
- Yogurt
- Almonds
- Oranges
Don’t Overdue The Caffeine
Everyone knows how much caffeine improves their day, and how much caffeine makes them feel worse. If you know that having that third cup of coffee with make you feel worse, don’t have it. Caffeine makes you feel awake and happy at the moment and for about an hour afterward. But it inevitably wears off, and you can feel worse than before. For most people, it is recommended not to have more than two cups of coffee a day. The same goes for tea which can be loaded with caffeine. I know that nurses work harder and faster than most typical jobs, but they still need to keep in mind what is good for their bodies. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated with water, albeit, coffee is often more satisfying.
Spend Time With Co-workers
To increase your mood and your energy start a conversation with a co-worker when you have the time. This will make you happier and more productive at work. Not to mention, keep you awake if your night shift is slower than expected or your just tired. While you won’t be friends with everyone you work with, it is nice to have someone to make conversation with during a long shift. Simply walking to the cafeteria to get a snack together can lower stress for both of you. Also, you can relate to someone who works in the same profession as you, and even find out solutions to your workplace dilemmas.
Schedule Time With Family
By having a schedule so different from most, seeing your family and loved ones will be a challenge. Because of this, you may feel sadness or that you are missing out. While most children understand that Mom and Dad have to work, they still feel the absence of their parent/parents being gone. To avoid feeling like you are missing out on family time, or even time with your spouse, schedule time. It may sound silly, but it will give you something to look forward to after a long shift. Feeling more connected to your family will help you feel more at peace and relaxed when at work.
Working the night shift will still be a grueling process even with these tips, but hopefully, they can ease some of the stresses and effects it can have on you. Ultimately, you have to listen to your body and if you can’t handle what you are doing, or come home miserable all the time, you may need to make a change.
7 comments on How Nurses Can Survive The Night Shift
Leave a Reply
Trending
How Nurses Can Survive The Night Shift
By nurseadvisorofficial
Everyone knows that feeling of dread when you have an upcoming dental appointment. For most nurses, that is how they feel when they have a scheduled night shift. You try your best to avoid it, but ultimately have to do it.
I gotta share something kinda tough from just last week. I got caught up in this investment scam, and man, I lost a big chunk, like 80 grand. It all started with those promises of making big bucks, but it ended up being a total mess of lies from these shady folks. But hey, here’s a little silver lining in the gloom. I stumbled upon this legit recovery services called RIGHTWAYLAWRECOVERY FIRM They asked for solid proof that I’d been scammed, so I sent them all the docs I had. And you won’t believe it – they worked some magic and got my money back, like, real quick. So, if you’re stuck in the same boat, don’t give up. There’s still hope out there. Hit up rightwaylawrecoveryservice@gmail.com and get back on the road to financial peace. Reach out to them on Telegram +1 513 602 3179
I almost thought I was going to lose my company and my car, but thank god for the digital hackers of the internet I would have lost it all! I order an ATM card from Digital Hacker for over 200,000 euros! that have a daily limit, that’s amazing!!! Thanks Digital Hacker contact him via; Email; digitacardhacker@gmail.com OR digitalcardhacker@proton.me what’sapp +33758779954
My son recently started having grand Mal seizures at 16 years old. We were prescribed Kepler. We decided NOT to take the medicine and go with a Modified Atkins Diet that entails feeding our son 15 carbs a day with lots of healthy fat. He eats a lot of grass fed beef, free range eggs, organic low crab veggies and is doing fantastic! We could tell a difference in him by the 3rd day. This is not alternative or junk science. Dr Adams at Johns Hopkins has been championing this diet for years and has been really successful. Doctors are really resistant to this therapy but it works!. Read “Grain Brain” for why it works. He also takes taurine which helped stop the night time teeth grinding, jerking, and unrest in his sleep (also known to stop seizures). And he takes cur cumin as a brain protestant that raises seizures.one day came across Albert post thanking Dr Adams for curing his son seizure problem, and i got the contact of Dr Adams i quickly contacted him then he made me to know that the medication is 100% permanent cure, and that was how i got the medicine which i used for my son, after which i took my son for medical test It worked! Over a year now, my son have not show any symptoms of seizure and I believe my son is cure if you need his help email him on [ adamslord85@gmail.com ]
.CANCER
.HIV
.ALS
.HEPATITIS A AND B
.DIABETIC.
.HERPES
.GET YOUR EX LOVER ,WIFE,HUSBAND BACK
I almost thought I was going to lose my company and my car, but thank god for the Digital Hackers of the internet I would have lost it all. after severe scammers ! I order an ATM card from Digital Hacker for over 200,000 euros! that have a daily limit, that’s amazing!!! Thanks Digital Hacker contact him via; Email; digitacardhacker@gmail.com OR digitalcardhacker@proton.me what’sApp Number +33758779954
I was about to be conned and all my assets taken away from me and this was all in the name of love, the love i had for my ex wife, but with the help of premiumhackservices@gmail.com she was exposed and all her plans truncated.
At this point in life, bad situation emerge for us to learn our mistakes and figure out what next is to be done. I’m really delighted I eventually found a real competent hacker after been spammed by several sham hackers I followed their Bogus recommendation. Never knew that my wife Had a son out of wedlock without informing me about it for almost 12years of our relationship until I noticed she picks strange calls on her phone and send some money to strange man. As much as it is inappropriate to spy on one’s spouse phone it’s also necessary to be sure that your relationship is in perfect shape. All my gratitude goes to this Genuine GeniusHacker-:jamesmckaywizard at gmail dot com who got to clone/hack her phone completely to the extent that I had a clone of her phone and could read all her whatsapp & amp;Facebook message, call logs text message and GPS to know where and what she is always up to. I’m really grateful for this great experience, it really helped me find out the truth about my marriage. They are also specialize on hacking and recovery of lost funds, kindly send a message if you’ve experience any of these issues..Email: jamesmckaywizard at gmail dot com or WhatsApp +31657446248. Kindly reach out to them and thank me later.
What would I have done without your help Mr James Mckay Wizard?.. I’m most grateful and am writing a review for you with a grateful heart. Thanks for helping me get my life back together and especially helping me to clear my credit debts that my wife had maxed out and even more thanks for helping me get the proof I need to go through with the court proceeds. My wife has always been a cheater and I never would have had helped without you, she would have took away my children and all my money. If you are looking to hire a good cyber hacker and recovering agent he is the man for you contact him here: jamesmckaywizard at gmail dot com or WhatsApp +31657446248.