Tips for Night Shift Nurses

• Learn how to transition from the day to night shift, and the different responsibilities expected of night shift nurses.
• Know the benefits of becoming a night shift nurse, such as a higher salary and more flexibility during the day.
• Understand different success strategies night shift nurses use to sleep and eat on their new schedule.

Are you a nurse who finds yourself staying up late often? Working the night shift might be a great fit for you!

Three of my nursing positions thus far have included working the night shift, and while working these hours is not for everyone, I have found there are many benefits to working the night shift.

If you are a nurse contemplating a shift change, I’d like to discuss the night shift in further detail, and by the end of this article, you may decide if this is the right fit for you.

Is Becoming a Night Nurse Night for You?

If you already find that you stay up late, night shift nursing may be for you. It is a great position for a single nurse who does not yet have children, but I have also seen it work well for married nurses with children.

It is important when deciding if you should become a night nurse, to think about the schedule changes and sacrifices that come with it discussed in this article. There are pros and cons to working any shift and what schedule works best for you is individualized based on your situation and lifestyle.

What is the Transition to Working the Night Shift Like?

During the night shift, patients are usually asleep, and the nurse is mainly there for patient surveillance, medication passes, and possible emergencies. Night shifts tend to be slower and quieter, but this will vary depending on the facility and unit you are working.

There is always potential for more to occur, such as falls and acute illnesses that may require hospital transfer if you work in long-term care.

Be sure you are familiar with facility procedures and policies and who to call if you need assistance on your shift.

What are the Benefits of Working as a Night Nurse?

A benefit to working the night shift is that you have the entire day to do what you would like or need to do as long as you get your sleep prior to your shift. Many of the nurses I have worked with overnight enjoy the flexibility of being able to run errands or be with their children during the day if they have them.

This is also a time when you can schedule any medical appointments that are harder to schedule with a daytime nurse position. Other benefits to working the night shift are increased autonomy, a slower pace, and fewer workdays a week depending on shift lengths.

Nurses are already in high demand, but night shift nurses are very sought after as there aren’t as many nurses willing to work these hours. As a result, higher pay is an added benefit to this nursing position.

How Can a Nurse Set Themselves Up for Success During the Night Shift?

The first tip to setting yourself up for success is getting adequate sleep before your shift. There are different options for how to schedule your sleep prior to your night shifts.

Some nurses like to stay up most of the day and sleep from just before dinner time until shortly before their shift. Other nurses prefer to take a longer nap earlier in the day.

How much sleep you require to make it through the night shift will depend on you and how you are feeling. How much sleep you need will also depend on whether you are working twelve-hour night shifts or eight-hour night shifts.

How Night Sift Nurses Sleep Well During the Day

When it comes to sleeping during the day, there are a few products you can invest in to aid in better sleep. There are a variety of sleep machines on the market today, one of them being the Hatch Sleep Machine.

Sleep machines can assist you in sleep by alleviating some of the daily living noise of other people living in the home with you, or if you are in an apartment, a sleep machine will help block out some external noises. Sleep machines work by giving you a selection of calming background noises that may assist you in falling and staying asleep.

The sound of rain, ocean waves, and a gentle blowing wind are just a few examples of the noises that may help. For some, just having a fan on in their room is enough.

Investing in blackout curtains is another option you can use to sleep better during the day. Blackout curtains help to block out more sunlight than the average curtain. For people who need the room darker to sleep, this has been extremely helpful.

Whichever sleep schedule and routine that you find works for you, it is important to stick to that routine as much as possible, especially on the nights you will be working. As an overnight nurse, your sleep, eating habits, and other daily living activities are done at quite various times, so it is important to maintain a certain level of routine to stay healthy and energized.

When Do Night Shift Nurses Eat?

When it comes to eating before your overnight shift this will also depend on whether you are working eight-hour shifts or twelve.

If you are working eight-hour shifts you may be able to get by eating supper at your usual time, taking a short nap, and then going to your scheduled shift. If you are working twelve-hour shifts, you may want to have supper at your usual time and pack additional snacks to have during the night.

Regardless of when you eat before your shift be sure to stay hydrated throughout the night. I always had a refillable water jug that stayed cold all night. The tip is to not overhydrate so you do not need to wake up a lot to use the bathroom once your shift is over because you will be tired.

The Bottom Line

There are many factors to consider when considering working as a night shift nurse. Working hours that are opposite to most of the world’s activity, as well as natural sleep cycles, can be difficult.

Being intentional about your emotional and physical health and utilizing these tips will help you put your best foot forward in a night-shift nursing career.

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