5 Essential Ways for Nurses to Survive the Night Shift
A nurses the duties and responsibilities that include working the night shift or (shift work) presents unique challenges. Challenges are being on a night shift, but there are some perks: hazard pay, differential pay, less bureaucracy, and a solid group of colleagues.
Distance from administrators who works dayshift, fighting off sleep at work are some of the disadvantages of working nightshift, so it is vital to create the best helpful ways for every possible situation for career success.
Sometimes you tend to forget to take care of yourself. As a nurse who takes care of patients’ needs at night, it is vital to have survival tips to help make the benefits outweigh the cost of working graveyard shifts.
1. Stay hydrated
Always carry a water bottle. Drinking water helps prevent fatigue and headaches and also helps your energy levels up.
2. Get enough sleep
Get at least six to eight hours of sleep during the daytime. Your body gets adversely affected when you can’t adjust to a different schedule. Make sure you have your get-to-sleep-fast tricks to help you relax when you get home.
3. Bond with your co-workers
Communication and bonding with co-workers make the night shift easier to handle. It can also increase the tendency for the shift to run smoothly.
4. Keep Busy
Nurses can find productive ways to keep busy to survive the slower-paced night shift. Trying to get any extra work on the night shift to possibly help the day shift nurses schedule constructive.
5. Stay Alert
Nurses working on a night shift tend to experience the most drowsiness and fatigue around 4 a.m. It is suggested to engage in a minute of exercise to fight back the feeling of fatigue. Staying alert and active also helps recharge energy levels even if it’s just a walk to the cafeteria or climbing stairs.
Takeaway
Nurses take into consideration that working the night shift takes some time for the body to adjust to the schedule. That is why, learning to adapt to a different sleep, routine and keeping alert while on the night shift are needed to manage healthy wellbeing.
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