Night shift survival tips

Let’s talk about night shifts.

You will either love them or you will hate them. Either way, for the majority of nursing roles they are unavoidable. I remember the good old days of being able to do a run of three nights with no issues. Sometimes I would even add a bank shift (overtime) on the end and make it four. However, as it currently stands … I hate them. The thought of three nights in a row fills me with absolute dread. The desire of wanting to sleep and not physically being able to do so is so so hard. I would love to tell you that they get easier with experience but well .. they don’t. Ironically, ask me to stay up dancing the night away and I’ve got no issues.

Now, I don’t want to taint anyone’s views of night shifts before you have even had a chance to experience them for yourself, and there are definitely some perks. Generally the wards tend to be quieter … sort of … not really, but there just tends to be a calmer pace and atmosphere during the night. Which now when I come to think of it is probably because everyone but us is asleep. Other perks include eating bad food, and drinking fizzy drinks at 4am and it being perfectly acceptable because you haven’t technically slept.

I can still remember my first night shift in my second year placement on the NICU. I still couldn’t quite get my head around the idea, that I would be up in the middle of the night working. All the action happens in the day (so I thought) so what else would I do? How would I survive? I remember struggling to keep my eyes open. Luckily, the nurse I was working with felt sorry for me and gave me another break. If it is your first night shift it is worth mentioning this to whoever you are working with so when your eyes start closing; they know why. I remember leaving that shift feeling triumphant, yet slightly disoriented that it was broad daylight and I was yet to sleep.

After completing eight years worth of night shifts (I don’t even want to know how many that equates to), I will share some of the things I have learned and some tips that get me through.

1. The first shift is ALWAYS the hardest. Eleven pm rolls round and you suddenly find yourself yawning wondering, how on earth you’re going to survive. The good news is, you always do. By the time you make it to night shift two and three, it feels like a breeze (OK slight exaggeration) but being a vampire feels somewhat normal.

2. Bring food supplies and lots of it. Some of my fondest food related night shift memories are of that wonderful team member, baking all things naughty for the team. Or the ward take away instigators who encourage everyone to order Nando’s for dinner. There are some strange individuals who manage not to each much on nights. I for one am not one of those people, so as stated make sure you bring lots of food to nibble on during your break and for your journey home. Post night shift hunger is real.

3. Stay hydrated. I know how difficult this can be. I am extremely guilty of bringing a 1.5 litre bottle of water to work, telling myself ‘I'll drink three of these tonight’. One baby vomit and two feeds later, and I realise I’ve only had sips. Try to drink more as I have found night shifts can be so dehydrating. Plus, more water = more trips to the toilet which = no time to feel sleepy.

4. Which leads me to point number four. The C word. Caffeine. Whether you take it in the form of coffee, Red Bull or Coke make sure you have a supply at the ready; especially for those of you who drive home post night shift.

5. Try to have a nap before your first night shift. I’ve found that having a nap really sets me up for my night ahead. It’s not always possible and if you struggle to nap in the day (not even sure how this is a thing) then try your best to have a lazy day. I’m talking endless Netflix and staying in bed until it’s time for work. Alternatively I have heard of people staying up later the night before, in hope of waking up late. Whichever way you want to do it, just make sure you rest.

6. Now, when it comes to that glorious moment of being able to sleep, you are either going to be one of those lucky people who sleeps from the moment their head touches the pillow, right through till your alarm goes off. Or alternatively you're going to be one of those people who sleeps for three hours and then struggles to go back to sleep. I unfortunately am person number two. Tricks to combat this for me are going to the gym. Crazy I know, but the exercise is the final remedy to put me into a good sleep. Secondly a big hearty breakfast because there is nothing worse than being woken from your slumber because of a rumbling belly; that or a full bladder.

7. Ear plugs and eye masks, keep them at the ready. The times when you are in desperate need of sleep is also when the construction men want to start drilling.

8. Lastly how to switch yourself back from nights to days. Sometimes I won’t sleep. I will keep myself busy all day so that by the time the night rolls round I am absolutely shattered and ready for bed. Sounds mad, but a girls gotta do what she has to do.

So those are all my tips for surviving your first ever night shift. I would love to hear some experiences of how your first night shift went. For those of you who are night shift veterans I’d also love to hear how you tackle night shift struggles.