Although the tasks and obligations for a nurse who works after sundown are the same, the night shift (or shift work) does present particular difficulties. A nurse must significantly alter his or her daily routine and personal life due to the night shift’s work environment and schedule. The majority of patients are asleep during the late shift, so nurses must find ways to balance this workload with the continuous monitoring of patients throughout the night.
Despite the fact that shifts differ depending on the hospital or healthcare facility, the typical night shift is from 11:00 p. m. and 7:00 a. m. Some nurses might begin a shift at 8:00 p m. After a night shift, nurses go home to rest and refuel in the early hours of the following day. Unfortunately, sleeping throughout the day is sometimes difficult to achieve. A night nurse typically gets up, attends to their personal affairs, and then stays awake until it’s time for their next shift.
NIGHT SHIFT NURSE ROUTINE | DAY IN THE LIFE | Holley Gabrielle
What nurses can expect during a night shift
You can better prepare for this work schedule by being aware of what to anticipate as a night shift nurse. During the night shift, you can anticipate the following:
Why are night shift nurses important?
Whether they work in a hospital or a clinic, night shift nurses are extremely important. As a night shift nurse, you provide treatment and care for patients while they are sleeping. Your patients may experience discomfort if they sleep in unfamiliar surroundings. As a night shift nurse, you can make them more comfortable and give them comfort.
Challenges for night-shift nurses
Working as a night shift nurse presents many challenges. Knowing what challenges you might encounter can help you create a strategy to overcome or lessen their effects. Here are some of the challenges night shift nurses face:
How to overcome challenges
It’s crucial to get enough sleep, exercise frequently, and eat enough nutritious meals to feel energized when you work the night shift as a nurse. To overcome difficulties you might encounter as a night shift nurse, follow these steps:
1. Adjust to a night shift sleep cycle
Other aspects of your life could start to suffer from not getting enough sleep. Create a strategy that helps you counteract any health risks. Changing your habits can help you establish a new routine and make sure you get enough sleep.
Set a time for yourself to go to bed and a time for you to wake up in order to help you adjust to a night shift sleep cycle. Avoid planning your sleep schedule around your social activities. Following a regular schedule for sleeping and waking up can help you get enough rest while keeping you healthy and alert, even though you may miss out on opportunities to socialize with your friends and family.
2. Find a quiet sleep area
When you do have time to relax, make sure you are in a distraction-free, quiet sleeping area. Think about listening to white noise to aid in relaxing into a peaceful sleep. Additionally, ensure that the space where you sleep is kept at a comfortable temperature so that you can doze off more quickly.
3. Inform your friends and family
In order to prevent interruptions during your time of rest, let your friends and family know when you plan to sleep. Make sure they are aware that they might only see you occasionally and that they might need to adjust to your sleeping hours. It is simpler for you to adjust to your night shift when your family is on board with your new lifestyle. Planning time to catch up with everyone is also made simpler by sharing your schedule with your family and friends.
4. Plan social activities
Even though working the night shift makes it more difficult for you to spend time with your friends and family, remember them as you make plans for the coming week. Setting aside time for your relationship can inspire you at work and give you something to look forward to.
5. Find the right work schedule
Consider working longer shifts to help you regain a sense of normalcy. For example, you can work three 12-hour shifts per week. This gives you the opportunity to group your time off and gives you more time to spend with your family or friends, even though it may exhaust you. Find a routine that best fits your interests and makes working the night shift more tolerable by reviewing your schedule.
6. Get proper exercise
It’s crucial to put your fitness first if you work the night shift as a nurse. While you can always go for a walk, you can also get in shape by joining a gym or other fitness class. Proper exercise can improve your ability to concentrate, reduce stress, and help you sleep better. Regular exercise can also improve your mood, fight fatigue, and help you maintain a healthy weight.
7. Maintain a healthy diet
Maintain a healthy diet whether you’re at home or at work. Prepare healthy meals and snacks with items like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Avoid buying snacks from the office vending machines because they are full of sugar and calories and can make you feel drowsy at work. Eating wholesome meals can increase your overall health, keep you satisfied and energized, and keep you full.
8. Limit your use of electronics before bed
Using electronics before bed, such as your phone or tablet, can make it more difficult for you to fall asleep. Because of this, it’s crucial to refrain from using any electronics right before bed.
9. Change your caffeine habits
Even though drinking coffee or tea can keep you awake during a night shift, drinking too much caffeine can be harmful to your health. Avoid drinking tea or coffee right before going to bed. You may find it difficult to sleep as a result, which may disrupt your sleep schedule and cause you to sleep when you ought to be awake.
10. Stay involved
Keep in touch with the nursing staff even if you have to arrive at work earlier or stay later to avoid feeling excluded. For instance, attending staff meetings enables you to voice any issues night shift workers may have and supports your advocacy for improved night shift working conditions.
11. Network with other nurses
Networking with other night shift nurses enables you to exchange ideas and methods for juggling a night shift schedule, whether you participate in a nursing conference or join a professional association. You can use best practices during your own night shift by exchanging ideas.
12. Give yourself time to adjust
Your first few weeks on a night shift schedule are likely to leave you feeling more exhausted. Allow your body time to get used to your new sleep schedule as well as your new work schedule. If you still don’t feel better after a few weeks, talk to your boss about possible solutions, such as finding new ways to adjust to a night shift or switching to a day shift.
13. Know who to call
Since the night shift may present unforeseen difficulties, it’s crucial to be prepared for them. Make sure you are aware of the proper steps to take and who to contact in case of issues. For instance, knowing who to contact when dealing with a challenging patient or running low on staff can make things easier for you to resolve. Make sure you understand how to contact your support network as well as when to do so.
14. Communicate during shift transitions
Take the time to get a complete report from the nurses working the day shift because your patients might be less talkative and social at night. Ask questions to stay informed about your patients’ care and treatment, to catch any subtle changes in their course of care, and to catch any problems or discrepancies before it’s too late.
15. Stay positive
When working the night shift seems too much, remember the benefits of the position. For instance, working nights often allows for a slower pace and allows you to form close bonds with the other members of the night shift nursing team. You can find greater job satisfaction by keeping your attention on the positives.
Benefits of working the night shift as a nurse
There are several advantages to working the night shift as a nurse for both your personal and professional life. The following are some benefits of working the night shift as a nurse:
FAQ
What is the night shift for nurses?
Even though an employer may choose to change the length and times of a shift, most night shifts last between eight and twelve hours and occur between seven p m. and 7 a. m. The unpredictable nature of nursing, however, can occasionally result in changes to the scheduled shift times and lengths.
Is night shift nursing worth it?
You get paid more. There is no denying that the night shift differential plays a significant role in why night shift nurses continue working nights, although every hospital and state is a little different. And the longer you stay up late, the more accustomed you become to the extra money.
Can you sleep on night shift as a nurse?
The best sleeping pattern for night shift nurses is the one that works for YOU. There is no right or wrong way to go to bed. Some nurses choose to stay up extremely late the night before and then sleep in when their night shift starts the following day.
What percentage of nurses work night shift?
Moreover, 75. Ninety-one percent (951/1256) of the nurses said they rotated shifts. 6%; 121/1256) or floating (14. 6%; 184/1256) night shiftwork.
