The first time on a night shift can be quite daunting. 

Our bodies are designed to be awake during the day and asleep at night, so heading out of the door at 7pm when it’s pitch black outside can feel abnormal and pretty daunting.

Even if you prepare for your new working pattern, you could still find it difficult to remain alert and focused until your body had adjusted to the new schedule. It will take a bit of getting used to, but there are some steps that you can take in order to prepare yourself for your first all-night shift.

Take 40 winks

Before you get stuck into your first night shift, it might be worth trying to gently ease into this new sleep pattern. Some people find that staying up late the night before the initial shift helps to get them into a routine. Having a lie-in on the morning before the night shift and then having a few hours sleep in the afternoon will help you tackle fatigue during the early hours.

Sleep doesn’t always come easily when it’s light outside, however blackout curtains, eye masks and earplugs can come in handy when you’re trying to block out noise and disruptions.

Maintain energy 

A heavy meal before a night shift can make you feel sluggish and tired. Instead, try eating small portions of food throughout the day and make sure to take snacks into work to eat during breaks.

A change in sleep pattern can have a negative effect on your digestive system and lighter meals can be more digestible and provide a slow release of energy. Mint tea is also a great way to settle your stomach during periods of time when your stomach is not used to eating.

Keep moving

Sometimes the worst thing you can do when you’re tired is to sit down. Once you’ve let your mind and body rest for a few minutes, it can be hard to kick start your mind back into gear. Walk around, stretch and chat to your colleagues – after all they’re probably as tired as you are and will be happy for some company.

Stick to a schedule

It’s quite common to feel sick at first as your body gets used to the new routine and you are unlikely to want to eat. However, it is important to have regular meals and ensure that you’re keeping hydrated, otherwise you will feel more drained and nauseous as the night goes on.

Depending on the number of staff present, there may be some quiet periods at night. Most hospitals will have a night team there to support you, so if you need to chat about anything or feel that you need some help, there are people on hand who can help.

How Nurseplus can support you

We are committed to the welfare of our workforce and we are always happy to offer support where needed. Support can be offered in a number of ways including job shadowing, mentoring, training and regular one to one catch-ups.

To find out more about the opportunities on offer, and to find out what others at Nurseplus have said about working with us, view benefits of working for Nurseplus include flexible hours, free training in line with the Care Certificate, excellent weekly pay, staff benefits and a refer a friend scheme.

To find out more about the opportunities on offer, visit our jobs pages