Keeping a regular schedule will help align your body clock with your sleep pattern. Sleep, and how to acquire enough of it during the daytime, was the chief topic of discussion among night shift nurses. Sleeplessness or insomnia troubles up to one in three people in the UK at some point in their lives, and Professor Dijk believes that stress plays a major part in that inability to sleep. We all know teens can lie in bed all day – older adults need fewer hours of sleep. Here are some pointers to ease the problems that are associated with the overnights shifts in the nursing profession. Have something to eat and drink before you go to bed. It isn’t your weekend. “This is not a good idea. The ANA offers some simple recommendations for optimizing your sleep routine for nursing in general, including night shift nursing. “If you work away on an oil rig, and always do the same shift pattern, your body will adjust because you’ll do it for months at a time,” he says. Night shift workers should try to stay on the same sleep schedule every day of the week. T “Get a sign for your door that says ‘don't knock, night nurse sleeping!’” – Ashlie R. “Get blinds that do not let sunshine through.” – Danell S. “Black out curtains. I … Quick review: the pineal gland in your brain produces melatonin in response to darkness – it’s a biological marker of night and makes sleep inviting. Trying to simulate nighttime is … Working on the night shift for four nights, and then switching back to days is not enough to shift your body clock.”. A couple of drops in the diffuser in your bedroom and slight sprinkles on your skin will work the charm of putting you into a deep slumber in no time. Shift workers also face potential health problems, researchers have found. This strategy might shock you if you had been relying too much on caffeine during your night shifts. Make time for yourself to have uninterrupted sleep.” – Rainy. With a sound machine designed to produce soothing sounds of nature, getting lulled into a deep and peaceful slumber will no longer be a problem. What do firefighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, factory workers, and office cleaning staff have in common? the sequence of shift changes in a clockwise direction from mornings to afternoons to nights, are more acceptable than backward rotation shifts. He has studied astronauts in space sleeping in shift patterns, and has determined that those working shifts get one and a half to two hours less of sleep than those attempting to kip at night. No matter the definition, tricking one's circadian rhythm to get enough sleep can be challenging for many nurses. But being in bed longer isn’t always better, sometimes it’s as bad as not being in bed long enough.”. Then after your last night shift of the week, try going to sleep at the regular time but get up in the early afternoon and stay active until a more normal bedtime. If you have been wondering “How to fall asleep fast?” then your answer lies with the breathing exercise – a simple yet effective relaxation technique for better sleep. Try to stay up as late as you can each night. allnurses is a Nursing Career, Support, and News Site. Totally changing sleeping habits isn’t easy, and it isn’t for everyone. All of them become victims of sleep disorders due to their rotational shift timings around the year. Wilson [ 6 ] demonstrated that forward rotation shifts, i.e. But if you do choose to be a nurse at night, make self-care a high priority. He has proven how the use of artificial lighting in the evenings upsets natural body rhythms and leads to disturbed sleep, and is now developing of new forms of lighting that are more sympathetic. We hope that your pestering question of “How to sleep for night shift” has now been resolved. It is possible to work a 12 hour night shift as long as the average length of a night shift does not exceed eight hours in a 24 hour period, when measured over a standard reference period of 17 weeks. When I was working eight-hour night shifts (10:00 to 6:00a.m. The transition to the night shift schedule is a major adjustment both on work and personal lifestyle aspects. See our disclaimer for more information. Creating a comfortable sleep space, one that’s dark, quiet and cool, can help you relax into a good day’s rest. We love and use them now as part of our daily lives! My first time we stayed up until 1 a.m. then 3 a.m. the following night. You need to make sure you get enough sleep, as otherwise you could be drowsy on site. Getting To Sleep After a Long Nursing Shift. Typically, this shift is defined as starting at least an hour prior to midnight and ending at least an hour after midnight. Create rituals. This helps your body metabolize the caffeine that you had already consumed during the first half of your shift. Here are some tips that night shift nurses can implement to set themselves up for maximum rest and health: 1. Your email address will not be published. The traditional night shift schedule for a hospital-based nurse is typically two or three consecutive 12-hour shifts from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., followed by roughly two to five days off. You get the option for choosing one or a mix of six different sounds to create a calm ambiance for your sleep. 1. Have you ever wondered what that common thread among firefighters, police officers, medical professionals, and air-traffic controllers is? Overall, those who work night or rotating shifts seem to have a highe… Whether it's working in a hospital setting, as a night manager at a hotel, in a 24-hour convenience store, a late-night diner, or other shift work, countless jobs that may force you to work at night. “Get up and do something else for 20 minutes, and then try again.”, The other thing he says people get wrong in their approach to sleep is to try and “catch up” after a poor night’s sleep. Try to set aside a block of 7–9 hours to dedicate to sleep after a night shift. Develop and Stick to a Sleep Routine Whilst Working Night Shift. That was my usual sleep time working 3rd shift. *This post contains affiliate links. Daylight is an enemy to all those who work night shifts. If you need further advice or tips about sleep, shift work or night shift please email us or comment below. Light is an important timing cue that helps your body regulate sleep … You need to define your night shift sleep schedule in accordance with your work while keeping in mind to sleep for 7 to 8 hours at a stretch. For others, night shift nursing might require a significant change in lifestyle, routines and eating habits, requiring extra effort to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This can be difficult on your sleep patterns, but it also can be helpful to get to know both sides of the clock. It would help if you also practiced the strict schedule of work-home-sleep throughout your night shift duties. According to Dr. Witkoski Stimpfel, strategies to improve collaboration for frontline nursing staff include: Limiting the number of consecutive shifts and voluntary overtime.