Working The Graveyard Shift

The night shift can be either 12 hours or 8 hours. I have worked both shifts. Your days will be nights and your nights would be days. You will sleep during the day and be awake at night. If you are new to the night shift your body will take a while to adjust. When I first started working night shift, it took me three weeks to adjust. The only thing that helped me sleep during the day was to make my bedroom dark and keep the blinds closed. I also started drinking more caffeine at night. My two favorite drinks were coffee and coke. I started an unhealthy diet where I would eat a full meal at 2 or 3 am and also snacks. Working full-time nights as a parent, you hardly see you kids or get to spend time with them. It is harder if you have a child under the age of 5. The 12hours shift would work best for a single parent if the shifts are spread where you can rest one day in between the two days. Working night shift is hard on your body physically so you need to take care of your body. You need to take some kind of multivitamin and eat healthy. I started eating healthy and exercising at least once a week. I ate dinner at home and I pack a healthy snack. My snack of choice is fresh fruits and protein bars. I also bring a fruit smoothie or protein shake, making sure that I drink adequate amount of water throughout my shift even if I do not exercise sometimes, I burn calories by walking throughout the halls. Most important I make sure that I take my multivitamin daily. Taking care of your body is very crucial as a nurse.