Incredible Health

Empowering healthcare professionals to find and do their best work.

Crystal Norris, RN

How To Survive Night Shift: A Guide for Nurses

Getting used to night shifts after spending your whole life in a normal circadian rhythm can be challenging. Compared to family and friends that work regular 9-5 jobs, it may seem as though you live in another world working your nursing night shift.

Night shift can create coffee-addicted zombies stumbling through life in a sleep-deprived daze. You don’t have to be one of those zombie nurses, however. With a little planning and preparation, you can break this cycle and not only survive but thrive on the night shift. 

1. Get enough high-quality sleep

The most crucial factor in surviving your night shifts is getting enough high-quality sleep. Train your body to fall asleep properly by establishing a bedtime routine and sticking to that routine as often as possible. 

Here are some suggestions to help improve the quality of your sleep:

  • Monitor your caffeine intake while at work. Do not have any caffeine starting six hours before you plan sleep.
  • Try unwinding with a warm bath after a shift.
  • Make your environment as comfortable as possible using blackout curtains and eye masks to trick your body into thinking it is night time.
  • Avoid screen time just before bed, as the blue light from electronics interferes with circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall and stay asleep.
  • Eating an easy-to-digest meal will curb hunger and may allow you to sleep longer. 

Your goal is to get at least 7-9 hours of quality sleep before or after a night shift. If you are unable to do that right away, that’s okay! Just keep at it with that goal in mind.

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2. Monitoring your health closely

Night shift is not only hard on our sleep pattern but also our bodies in general. Night shift nurses have higher risks of insomnia, daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, menstrual problems, colds, and weight gain compared to their day shift counterparts. Listen to your body, even if your brain disagrees. 

Sleep when you need sleep. Eat when you are hungry. Keep up with regular doctor visits and address any health issues you have head-on. 

3. Bond with your co-workers

Spend time getting to know your fellow night shift crusaders. Building camaraderie on a team through celebrating triumphs and empathizing with common challenges fosters a healthier, less stressful work environment. Meaning you’ll feel more rested at the end of a long night shift.

4. Stay busy during your night shift

During the night shift, with most of your patients sleeping at one point or another, you have an opportunity to focus more on the patients who are awake. Being that nurse who is ready and able to give extra attention to patients in the middle could help them open up to you, giving you more insight into what may be going on with them.  It can also make your night shift experience a more positive one.

In addition, use any downtime to get extra things (like stocking supplies, charting, etc.) done for the oncoming day shift staff. Staying busy will make the night time pass more quickly.

5. Get home safely

Working a long night shift and driving home can be dangerous. If you can, carpool with other nurses and have a conversation with the driver on your way home. Use public transportation if safe and available. If you must drive, take alternate routes home to not cruise on autopilot home and make sure to drive defensively. 

6. Strike a healthy work-home balance

With the nature of the night shift, it is easy to feel as if you are becoming isolated from family and friends. Mainintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial. Night shift nurses must work hard at maintaining relationships. Keep in touch when you can via text, email, or phone calls.

Here are a few suggestions to help ensure a regular night shift doesn’t interfere negatively with home life:

  • Make a “command center” in your home to keep up with activities that are going on with your family.
  • Couples can look forward to a scheduled weekly date night to catch up with each other.
  • Plan a family fun day on your day off to spend time with your children.

Using these tips, you can adjust and see why so many nurses love working the night shift and not simply survive it. The typical slower pace of working nights, along with the close-knit family-like team developed on the night shift, can add quality to your professional life.

By using effective planning to balance your day-to-day commitments, sleeping when you need to sleep, keeping track of your health, and bond with your team you can conquer and take steps toward conquering the nursing night shift.

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Crystal has been a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery for the over three years. Her favorite part of her profession is being able to help women to find their strength bringing new life into the world. Crystal is a wife and mother to her sweet daughter Ruby. In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family.

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Day in the Life of a Highly Productive Nurse

Most people, when deciding to go to nursing school, feel like they know what it is like to be a nurse.  They develop their perception of nursing from family and friends who may be nurses, or even television or the movies.  Let me tell you though – real nursing isn’t like what you see on Grey’s Anatomy. That’s a good thing, though! Who needs all the drama?  In this article, we will discuss how to plan, prepare, and prioritize your shift to ensure that you are getting the most out of your 12-hours. 

Plan
Planning starts before your feet hit the unit floor.  The night (or day for all our night shifters out there – see our “Night Shift Nursing Survival Guide” article) before your shift, make sure you have your nursing bag packed with all your essentials including an extra pair of scrubs for unexpected incidents!  It is always a great idea to include high protein snacks (in case of an emergency, and you don’t get to eat lunch!). Also, plan to get adequate sleep the night before.

Prepare
Once you get to work and receive report from the off-going shift, use the information you obtain to prioritize care.  Do you have patients that are going for testing during your shift? Who needs blood glucose checks before breakfast? Any critical labs slip by the previous shift nurse that you need to give to the doctor? Any potential discharges on the horizon? Use your first hour to review your patient load and prepare for the day ahead.

Prioritize
Once you have your game plan, then it is time for action.  The next few hours will more than likely be one of the busiest parts of your day. Go see your most urgent patients first for shift assessment and then work your way down the list.  Anticipate needs before exiting each room and cluster care as much as you can. If you are doing a dressing change or other procedure, make sure you have all the equipment needed before you start.  Bring medications that may be due during this time with you as you see patients. Focus on the patient at hand, but always be thinking about the next thing you need to do. 

Once you see everyone, find a cozy place to review charting, make any notes that you need for your patients, and update care plans accordingly.  Doctors usually make rounds in the first few hours of the shift, so review and make sure that no new orders have suddenly appeared. 

The next few hours will consist of taking care of patient needs that may come up, reviewing and following doctor’s orders, and charting.  Once everyone is settled, and you find a spare minute – take some time to take care of yourself. Use the restroom and have lunch. These instructions may sound obvious, but reminders are still needed!

As the day winds down, make sure you round on every patient and meeting any immediate needs they have.  Nothing is worse than being the nurse known for leaving things for the next shift. Make sure your charting is complete and accurate.  The next nurse should be able to review your charting and see the whole story of what happened during your shift. Give clear, concise report to the on-coming nurse (at the bedside with the patient if possible!).  Say goodbye to all your patients and get ready to do it all over again tomorrow!

If you use these tips to plan, prepare, and prioritize your shift, with a little practice, you will have this routine down to a science.  Nursing is a profession where you need to be ready for anything. The more organized and ready to roll you are, the better your day will go – no matter what challenges you face.  You have the tools and the know-how – now go out there and get it done!

About The Author
Crystal Lynn Norris RN – Crystal has been a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery for the past three years.  Her favorite part of her profession is being able to help women to find their strength bringing new life into the world. Crystal is a wife and mother to her sweet daughter Ruby.  In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family.

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Crystal has been a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery for the over three years. Her favorite part of her profession is being able to help women to find their strength bringing new life into the world. Crystal is a wife and mother to her sweet daughter Ruby. In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family.

Read more from Crystal

Empowerment of the Nurse

Sometimes as nurses, we can feel powerless in situations that arise.  With the constant changes in healthcare, we have trouble advocating for our patients, as well as ourselves.  Our perception is that we are unable to act autonomously or even have a voice in the policies that affect us.  Bedside nurses, as well as nurse leaders, need to be empowered to speak up for themselves and the patients they help.

Powerlessness trickles down and causes a variety of problems in the nursing profession.  Frustration from lack of power can create job dissatisfaction, stress, and nursing burnout.  These things lead to high nurse turnover rates and short staffing, which causes further discontent in the nursing profession.

Nurses that feel a sense of empowerment demonstrate independent decision-making and autonomy.  This empowerment helps us contribute to our role as genuine stakeholders in the complete delivery care system for our patients.   Empowered nurses can perform well without constant feedback from superiors. So what can we do to feel more empowered in the hospital setting?  See below for some suggestions.

Educate yourself on policies and procedures – Make sure you are up-to-date on all policies and procedures related to your unit.  Don’t delete emails you may receive about policy updates. Use these as a blueprint you can use to guide your care. Stay current with evidence-based practice data. Look into continuing education courses provided by your workplace, nursing associations, conventions, or colleges.  When nurses use evidence-based practice, patient outcomes improve.

Use your resources wisely – Nurses must be good porters of existing resources – including medical supplies and other things we need to do our jobs adequately.   As nurses, we help shape evidence-based practice when it comes to these resources.  Simply suggesting simple changes in handling procedures that could save time and steps.

Humanize your communication with patients as well as your coworkers – Speak to others in clear language and on the same level as your patients.  Don’t talk to your patients from behind a computer screen.  Sit down and get on their level while asking assessment questions. 

Embrace change – Nothing in the healthcare industry (or life really), is constant except change.  Being “set in your ways” as a nurse and not moving with the fluidity of change will only hinder you from being successful.   Not only should you walk with change, but you should also always be looking for more efficient ways to be more productive. Empower yourself to be successful by being an advocate for change.

Get certified in your specialty – Look into certifications in your particular specialty.  Getting certifications will broaden your knowledge base and make you feel more confident in the decisions you make every day on your unit.  These certifications will also look beautiful on your resume and empower your negotiating skills during interviews in the job market. 

Being an empowered nurse means that you can motivate and mobilize yourself as well as those around you to live up to your potential on your unit.  Use all the educational resources available to you to build a knowledge-based arsenal to prepare yourself for any challenge you may face. Embrace changes that may come your way, and use effective communication to connect with your patients and co-workers.  These tools will help you become a better nurse and empower you to make a difference.  

About The Author
Crystal Lynn Norris RN – Crystal has been a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery for the past three years.  Her favorite part of her profession is being able to help women to find their strength bringing new life into the world. Crystal is a wife and mother to her sweet daughter Ruby.  In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family.
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Crystal has been a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery for the over three years. Her favorite part of her profession is being able to help women to find their strength bringing new life into the world. Crystal is a wife and mother to her sweet daughter Ruby. In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family.

Read more from Crystal

7 Essential Items for Any Nursing Bag

Personal Finance / Nursing Bag Items

We nurses do love our accessories!  One of the essential qualities of a nurse is always preparing for the unexpected.  The best way to do that is to ensure that you have the correct tools on hand for the job.  Below are some suggestions of exceptional items to keep stocked in your nursing bag for both everyday use, as well as those unexpected situations.

​Stethoscope and scissors

Probably one of the most commonly suggested items, consider buying your own stethoscope versus using the disposable ones your unit may provide. Not only are you reducing medical waste, but typically you will have a better quality stethoscope to assess your patients better. A pair of blunt-tip scissors can come in handy for cutting difficult to open medication packaging, wound dressing changes, and cutting through clothing during emergencies. 

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Small pocket notepad

Keep a small pocket notebook that will fit in your scrub pocket to take down quick notes or as a reference guide for things you have trouble remembering.  What’s the phone number for the pharmacy again? Who do I contact for Social Work? Creating your own directory to carry around will keep you from scrambling to locate those things that you can’t quite store in long-term memory. 

Clipboard

A clipboard with built-in storage or a foldable clipboard for all your loose paperwork is a handy thing to carry around.  These are also good for when you need a hard surface to write on that has not been exposed to your sick patients. 

Lots of your favorite pens, pencils, highlighters, and dry-erase markers

A nurse should always have a black pen, a pencil, a highlighter, and a dry-erase marker in their pocket.  Personalize these items to spot them easily so pen thieves can be detected quickly. A dry-erase marker will come in handy for updating your patients’ whiteboards with vital information.

Your personal pharmacy

Be prepared for any ailment that may arise in your 12-hour shift. Headaches, common cold symptoms, tummy troubles, allergies, and aches and pains can pop up at any moment so try to prepare. Unscented lotion, lip balm, feminine products, mouthwash, and a toothbrush and toothpaste are also great things to keep on hand.

Extra scrubs

Keep a set of scrubs for any incidents that may occur during your shift. You never know what may splash upon you unexpectedly. Having an extra set in your bag or car will prevent the need to wear hospital-issued green surgery scrubs.

Snacks and water bottle

Things can get busy and something you may not have time to eat a full lunch.  Keep high protein, healthy snacks available for emergencies or when you feel your sugar may be running a little low.  Also, keep a water bottle to stay hydrated during your busy day. 

Being prepared for anything will give you the peace of mind that you can survive your shift.  All of these things can benefit both new and experienced nurses. What are some things that you can’t live without as a nurse? 

Get job matches in your area + answers to all your nursing career questions

Let's get started

What's your current role?

About The Author
Crystal Lynn Norris, RN – Crystal has been a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery for the past three years.  Her favorite part of her profession is being able to help women to find their strength bringing new life into the world. Crystal is a wife and mother to her sweet daughter Ruby.  In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family.

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Crystal has been a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery for the over three years. Her favorite part of her profession is being able to help women to find their strength bringing new life into the world. Crystal is a wife and mother to her sweet daughter Ruby. In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family.

Read more from Crystal

Guide to Being a Rockstar Preceptor

We all remember the feeling of being a new nurse.  The fear, and being uncertain of every nursing decision you make due to lack of confidence.  The self-assurance and belief in yourself as a nurse comes with time and experience. As seasoned nurses, we are responsible for making new nurses feel comfortable and giving them the guidance needed to grow into an integral part of the team.  Whether you are taking on the role of preceptor for a new nurse fresh out of school, or to a nurse with years of experience transferring to a new unit- you need to help them build a solid foundation to thrive in their new role.

Preceptor roles are ordinarily assigned to experienced nurses. Each institution has protocols, checklists, and job duties assigned to various units.  It is your job as a preceptor to help your orientee find their way around these on their way to becoming an efficient and skillful nurse.  

Set Goals Early In Your Preceptor/Orientee Relationship 
In your initial meeting with the new nurse, establish goals that you hope to achieve during your time together in orientation.  Have the new nurse answer the following questions.

  • What do you expect to establish during your time together?  
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses, and how can those be used to help you learn? 
  • ​What are your most significant fears or concerns when it comes to working on our unit?
  • What can I do to help you during this experience as your preceptor?

​Getting the answers to these questions will help you create a guide to establish your orientee’s learning style and personality.  These will be critical to a successful relationship during precepting.  

Get Personal
One of the best ways to make new nurses more comfortable is to remind them that all nurses have been in their shoes.  Tell stories about things that happened when you were a new nurse and what you learned from that experience. The best preceptors are those that can empathize with their orientee.  Being a new nurse is scary! Show them that you remember being where they are so they can see you as a light at the end of the tunnel. One day they won’t be the new nurse anymore and will know what they are doing!  It is hard to see that when first starting.

Provide a Safe Learning Environment
When learning to be a nurse in a hospital with sick patients, it is essential for the new nurse to learn in an environment that is both safe for the orientee, as well as the patients of the hospital.  One way to ensure safety is to use the “see one, do one, teach one” method when learning new nursing skills. Have the orientee watch you do a skill, practice the skill after that, then “teach” you how to do the skill.  Your unit should have a list of competencies that nurses should be checked off on to work independently. Work on these consistently with your orientee to build their confidence. Seeing them excel with these challenges will ensure that you are developing a nurse that can work safely on your unit.  

​Encouragement and Feedback
Communication with your orientee is crucial during precepting.  Always give words of encouragement during and after skills and assessments your orientee does on their own with you observing.  Point out things they could do differently as well as what went well. When you have to give constructive criticism, be open and honest.   Always intervene if the orientee is about to do something dangerous and debrief once everything is safe. These interactions will hopefully stick with your orientee, and they will always remember why they were corrected.  

Your role as a preceptor is much more than being a mentor for a new nurse.  You provide a plethora of tools and resources to the new nurse so they can establish their work routine.  You support and encourage the new nurse in a time that can be very challenging for them. Building confidence in their skills will allow them to spread their wings and fly.  You will take great pride in seeing them develop from a novice to contributing member of your team.

About Author
Crystal Lynn Norris RN – Crystal has been a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery for the past three years.  Her favorite part of her profession is being able to help women to find their strength bringing new life into the world. Crystal is a wife and mother to her sweet daughter Ruby.  In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family.

Crystal has been a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor & Delivery for the over three years. Her favorite part of her profession is being able to help women to find their strength bringing new life into the world. Crystal is a wife and mother to her sweet daughter Ruby. In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with family.

Read more from Crystal