CALLING ALL: Night Shift Nurses!
Just some background- I work on a 36 bed Med/Surg and Oncology Unit, we have a 6:1 - patient:RN ratio. It is fast paced, even on the night shift which is 1845-0730 or later. I have been an RN for a year now and I was a tech on this same floor. I have learned SO much that Nursing school never taught me, and things clicked in my brain that didn’t click while I was still in school.
It’s been an amazing year and now I am training new grad RN’s on orientation to our floor! I have done orientation with a few that are experienced, but just new to us, and with a few that trained with someone else for most of their orientation before they came to me.
Now, I am training brand spanking new grad RN’s and I am so excited about this! I really like helping ppl connect the dots and helping them to feel welcome and making sure they never feel stupid or bullied. No new grad will leave the floor and cry in the their car if they are on orientation with me. I had an amazing RN for orientation and she and I became close friends outside of work, I had such a wonderful experience as a new grad.
Questions I am always asked by RN’s new to night shift:
1. How do you make it work with life?
A: I PLAN! I plan ahead as much as possible, and I schedule life around work.
2. How do you sleep?
A: When I am not working I sleep on a regular schedule. On the day of the first night shift back I get up in the morning and do whatever until the afternoon, when I try to get in a couple hour nap. Then, when I get off work I try to be in bed by 0930 at the latest (if possible) but absolutely no later than 10. I get up between 1530-1700 and head out by 1800.
3. How do you eat?
A: I am still trying to figure out the best way to schedule this, but recently I have been doing a couple small lower carb snacks earlier in the shift, and then fast until about 0400 and have another healthy snack. I was doing a “lunch” meal at midnight for a long time, but I don’t think it works well with my metabolism.
4. How do you manage with pets and/or children?
A: I have two dogs, one of which has chronic health issues. My younger brother comes to my house after he gets off work, and it is his “part time job.” He walks them and plays with them, and he is a presence at my home that keeps people clueless as to when someone is going to be at my home which is great for security purposes. I can trust him with my pets and my home. I know everyone isn’t fortunate enough to have family nearby for this, but I recommend finding someone you know you can trust to help with your pets and children. My pets are family, they are my babies, and they will never pay for the career I have chosen.
5. How do you workout and try to get or stay healthy?
A: This has taken some trial and error. Originally, I was trying to go to the gym after work in the morning, or before work when I woke up, but I cant maintain that long term. Now I focus on getting there when I am not working, and fitting it in as much as I can, while still allowing recovery time.
I have found that EVERYONE does something a little different! What works for some doesn’t work for all and working night shift takes a lot of planning, at least for me.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT OTHER NIGHT SHIFT NURSES DO TO MAKE IT WORK!
