Working a night shift can be a little intimidating at first. However, once you’ve read through our tips on how to best prepare, you’ll be conquering your night shifts in no time! If you’re new to night shifts, or just haven’t worked one in a while and forgot the preparation process, we’ve got you covered. We hope our tips help you get ready for your next night shift.
Stick to a sleep schedule
In order to be able to stay awake at night, it’s imperative that you stick to a particular sleep schedule. Figure out when you need to wake up to get to your night shift, then start to follow this sleep schedule even on your days off. Even though you may want to return to your previous sleep schedule, it’s recommended that you don’t so your body can adjust to your new sleep schedule for night shifts.
Stay active
Just because your schedule might be different from other people’s schedules doesn’t mean that you should eliminate exercising from your routine. Even 30 minutes of exercise a day can do a lot of good for your physical and mental health.
Drink a lot of water
Making sure you’re hydrated during a night shift is essential. When you’re hydrated, this actually helps you stay more alert and focused, which is what you’ll need when working long hours. We recommend bringing a quality water bottle with you so that you remember to keep drinking water throughout your shift.
Plan meals and bring snacks
Meal preparation is important to keep in mind when working night shifts. You don’t want to have to leave the healthcare facility you’re working at in the middle of the night to go get food. Bringing snacks is also important, especially snacks that won’t tire you out. For instance, nuts, berries, vegetables, and protein bars are all good options to keep you filled, but not groggy.
Don’t skip out on self-care
If you think that a self-care night can only be had before bed, you would be wrong! You can enjoy forms of self-care at any point in your day. Whether that be putting on your favorite face mask, doing some yoga, or just relaxing with a book, you should prioritize time for yourself before or after a long night shift.
Make a list of everything you need
Do yourself a favor and make a list of everything you’ll want to bring to your shift. If you’re running late or you’re tired, odds are you forget something at home. Save yourself the hassle of trying to remember everything and make a list of necessary items. This list will most likely include items like a phone charger, a jacket, a watch, comfortable walking shoes, hand lotion, headphones, hair ties, mouthwash, your badge, and your medical supplies.
Anticipate traffic
A wise idea when preparing for your night shift is to anticipate traffic. Many nurses who work night shifts overlook the idea of traffic and sometimes end up rushing to get to a shift. Avoid unnecessary stress and consider the time of day you’re driving. For instance, if you work in a busy area and you’re on your way to a Saturday shift at 7pm, know that there very well could be a lot of cars on the road at that time.
Know that this is a bit of a lifestyle change
If you’re new to working night shifts, know that this will be a bit of a change to your lifestyle. Since you’ll be sleeping more during the day, you might miss out on a few social events here and there. However, this is likely only going to occur if you’re working weekends. If you have to sleep during the day on weekdays, then there won’t be much of a difference between your schedules and your peers’!
Stay positive
Remember to try to stay positive when working night shifts. Since you might be out of your element at first, you may have mixed emotions about working night shifts. Once you get used to it, night shifts will feel like any other normal shift you would work.
We hope you were able to gain some insightful tips if you’re new to working night shifts. Even if you aren’t a night shift first-timer, hopefully this blog was able to help you with some fresh tips. If you’re a nurse looking to book their next shift, be sure to check out our website for open jobs!
