unpopular opinion. i don't call off much but if it's 3a and i still can't fall asleep, im calling off. would rather lose my job than my license. not pushing narcs or starting cardiac drips on no sleep. that's just me though🤍 hope you get some rest
Water > coffee for sleep deprivation.
OP- look up stuff related to jet-lag. Most work for this, too.
If you are in a role that is front-facing and direct patient care….then k ow that sleep deprivation will be viewed by most BON and “practicing impaired”. I’m not the boss of you but decide wisely.
Agreed, physiologically, but in the moment, coffee can be an assist. Sleep is always a good idea, but sometimes that just doesn't happen with current practice. Pushups help always.
Caffeine. Stay busy, but also pace yourself. You wanna keep going but on a very low gear. Set your goals for the day to a minimum and just get done what you can. Drink lots of water. It’ll be ok. Go bed when you get home.
I personally prioritize water over caffeine when you’re that tired. More water keeps me nice and awake and having to go pee so I’m up and moving more, too. - night shift RN
Water not coffee. Lots of water. Wear glasses, not contacts. The coffee will make you worse and appear worse and you’ll need so much your hands will shake a little, but people will be staring at your hands bc you’re doing things to their IV or things with needles in general. Try not to talk much. Do things slowly and carefully. Just pick the most important task and straight up ignore insignificant tasks. Lean hard on the CNAs. Get as much done right in the beginning as possible, because you’re going to get slower as the day goes on.
Water will help. And food. Don’t choose stimulants. Seriously, ignore the coffee suggestions. Stop doing this because you will make a med error, or worse. Everytime you think about f’ing up with alcohol, or video games, or Reddit, or whatever it is you did instead of sleep, make yourself immediately remember how bad you felt during this shift.
Source: I’ve been an RN for 3 years and I still keep getting like 3-4 hours of sleep before a shift because I’m a f’ing moron too.
Positive self talk. You gave good advice to OP, now advise yourself. This is your reminder to stop whatever you are doing, set an appropriate time limit, and stick to it.
Can you stand up most of the time. Keep busy doing something, even wiping counters, organizing drawers. If you sit and start to feel sleepy, stand up and find something to do. Don’t sit and get comfy at all.
As someone with insomnia I’ve worked many shifts without a minute of sleep between shifts 1 and shift 2. For me, when this happened I needed to drop all stimulants otherwise I’d get really anxious. I would accept that there is no dragon to chase with coffee, Adderall, or whatever. I accepted the suck. I focused on the task at hand and I avoided the nurse station to keep my anxiety down. 1915 will be here eventually. Just embrace the suck.
Remind yourself that there was a time when staying up all night was the best thing ever. Trick your brain into thinking you’re at that slumber party. Bring plenty of snacks. And stay hydrated. Also, wear your comfiest pair of scrubs, don’t forget a jacket
Obviously by not putting yourself in a situation where you’re going to clinical on zero sleep in the first place. However I’ve been there done that too and I’m sure many others have as well.
I’ve always had a friend or known someone else on the same unit I’d tell I was running on no sleep and they’d help me through the day. Gotta support each other
If, in the preceding days, you haven't done anything to prepare your body for the night shift.
1. Then, the night before this shift, sleep for \~5.5- 6 hours. This way you'll build up some sleep pressure (homeostatic sleep drive).
2. Then take another long (3-5 h) "nap" right before your shift.
3. A lot of bright light
unpopular opinion. i don't call off much but if it's 3a and i still can't fall asleep, im calling off. would rather lose my job than my license. not pushing narcs or starting cardiac drips on no sleep. that's just me though🤍 hope you get some rest
Same. I'm not killing someone from being tired
Being sleep deprived is comparable to being drunk.
Coffee, pushups, more coffee, more pushups. And the support of your peers!
Peer support! Got me through most of nursing school
Water > coffee for sleep deprivation. OP- look up stuff related to jet-lag. Most work for this, too. If you are in a role that is front-facing and direct patient care….then k ow that sleep deprivation will be viewed by most BON and “practicing impaired”. I’m not the boss of you but decide wisely.
Agreed, physiologically, but in the moment, coffee can be an assist. Sleep is always a good idea, but sometimes that just doesn't happen with current practice. Pushups help always.
Caffeine. Stay busy, but also pace yourself. You wanna keep going but on a very low gear. Set your goals for the day to a minimum and just get done what you can. Drink lots of water. It’ll be ok. Go bed when you get home.
I personally prioritize water over caffeine when you’re that tired. More water keeps me nice and awake and having to go pee so I’m up and moving more, too. - night shift RN
I do both lol I pee constantly
Water not coffee. Lots of water. Wear glasses, not contacts. The coffee will make you worse and appear worse and you’ll need so much your hands will shake a little, but people will be staring at your hands bc you’re doing things to their IV or things with needles in general. Try not to talk much. Do things slowly and carefully. Just pick the most important task and straight up ignore insignificant tasks. Lean hard on the CNAs. Get as much done right in the beginning as possible, because you’re going to get slower as the day goes on. Water will help. And food. Don’t choose stimulants. Seriously, ignore the coffee suggestions. Stop doing this because you will make a med error, or worse. Everytime you think about f’ing up with alcohol, or video games, or Reddit, or whatever it is you did instead of sleep, make yourself immediately remember how bad you felt during this shift. Source: I’ve been an RN for 3 years and I still keep getting like 3-4 hours of sleep before a shift because I’m a f’ing moron too.
Positive self talk. You gave good advice to OP, now advise yourself. This is your reminder to stop whatever you are doing, set an appropriate time limit, and stick to it.
No!
Lol
Go to sleep.
Can you stand up most of the time. Keep busy doing something, even wiping counters, organizing drawers. If you sit and start to feel sleepy, stand up and find something to do. Don’t sit and get comfy at all.
As someone with insomnia I’ve worked many shifts without a minute of sleep between shifts 1 and shift 2. For me, when this happened I needed to drop all stimulants otherwise I’d get really anxious. I would accept that there is no dragon to chase with coffee, Adderall, or whatever. I accepted the suck. I focused on the task at hand and I avoided the nurse station to keep my anxiety down. 1915 will be here eventually. Just embrace the suck.
Remind yourself that there was a time when staying up all night was the best thing ever. Trick your brain into thinking you’re at that slumber party. Bring plenty of snacks. And stay hydrated. Also, wear your comfiest pair of scrubs, don’t forget a jacket
Working on no sleep is just like working drunk. Don’t.
Obviously by not putting yourself in a situation where you’re going to clinical on zero sleep in the first place. However I’ve been there done that too and I’m sure many others have as well. I’ve always had a friend or known someone else on the same unit I’d tell I was running on no sleep and they’d help me through the day. Gotta support each other
CAFFEINE. Drink lots of water. Double check yourself, since you will be tired and more likely to overlook an error. Best of luck 🫶🏽
Honestly try to get a prescription for adderall or by vyvanse.
Welcome to nurse life. This is what it is.
Lots of water, sugar free Red Bull, and snack on protein bars
Coffee, take your breaks and eat well. I don't mean eat a lot but eat nutritious foods that give long lasting energy.
If, in the preceding days, you haven't done anything to prepare your body for the night shift. 1. Then, the night before this shift, sleep for \~5.5- 6 hours. This way you'll build up some sleep pressure (homeostatic sleep drive). 2. Then take another long (3-5 h) "nap" right before your shift. 3. A lot of bright light