Are you ready to quit night shifts? Just can’t tolerate them anymore? Tired, crabby, and feel like your in a fog all the time? There is no doubt that night shifts are tough for nurses. Some nurses seem to tolerate them much better than others, just like some nurses like the faster paced day shift and some night shift nurses hate day shifts for the same reason some like it. Before you quit your night shifts check out my Top 10 Survival Tips For Nurses Working Night Shift. Please check out the video below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnYeqxdyJM8?rel=0]

I hope this video help give you at least a few ideas on what you can do to get you through your next night shift. The key is taking these tips and not just reading through them, but applying them to you and picking the most important areas you feel like you need to work on. If it’s getting more sleep and eating better, focus on that first and then move on to other areas you need to work on next.

Here is the list of my Top 10 Survival Tips For Nurses Working Night Shifts again.

1. Get more sleep-I always went to bed right away rather than getting busy running errands after a busy night shift and losing some of my sleep time.
2. Try to maintain a healthy weight to help prevent injuries both acute and chronic.
3. Limit caffeine in coffee, soda, and energy drinks.
4. Bring your own healthy food from home! Stay out of the cafeteria, say no to unhealthy snacks brought by families and coworkers, and don’t eat heavy meals.
5. Drink your water. Have a water bottle with you and drink ½ your body weight in ounces every day.
6. Stay ahead-Nights can be busy, but traditionally there can be more down time so keep ahead with your charting and tasks so you aren’t sitting and getting more tired and you will be ready for that late shift admit or code!
7. Take your breaks off the floor if possible and use the stairs.
8. Communicate with family how you are working nights and need your sleep and your 3 am is their 3 pm. Ideally, the family will try to be quiet and respect your sleep time.
9. Drive safely – Try carpooling or being aware when you are too tired to drive. It really can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.
10. Honestly, if you really can’t tolerate nights get off of them! Your health is way more important and there are a lot of options within the nursing profession.

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