Those who choose a career in nursing dedicate themselves to helping others at all hours of the day, even when everyone else is sleeping. Though the night shift—which can start as early as 7 p.m. and end as late as 7 a.m.—isn’t always the most popular, it’s an essential time to attend to patient needs. Some nurses prefer the night shift, while others try desperately to avoid it. Working as a night shift nurse can take some adjusting to, and you may need encouragement to keep going, especially in the earliest hours.
Here are some best practices and tips for the tired:
Night-shift work isn’t for everyone, but it can be beneficial for nurses earning a nursing degree online because it allows them to study at convenient times—even if that time is 2 a.m. More than 20,000 nurses have earned their degree online from Walden University’s School of Nursing. Walden University, an accredited university, offers nursing degree programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Completion Program, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
*B. Wilson, “10 Tips for Nurses on the Night Shift,” The Nerdy Nurse, on the internet at https://thenerdynurse.com/10-tips-for-nurses-on-the-night-shift/.
†National Sleep Foundation, “Sleep Drive and Your Body Clock,” on the internet at https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/sleep-drive-and-your-body-clock.
‡Monster.com, “12 Survival Tips for Night Shift Nurses,” Nursing Link, on the internet at http://nursinglink.monster.com/benefits/articles/3472-12-survival-tips-for-night-shift-nurses.
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.
Walden University’s DNP, MSN, and BSN programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K St. NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 20001, 1-202-887-6791. CCNE is a national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate education programs. For students, accreditation signifies program innovation and continuous self-assessment.