Any tips for working nights?

[Dr House]

I have my first set of nights starting on Monday, I only had to do a couple of nights in the past when I was in med school so its a little new to me.

I start at 8:30pm and should be done at 9 to 9.30 am, I only have 3 in a row and then the next day off.

I was thinking about trying to stay up much of the night on Sunday so that I can sleep during the day on Monday but I don't know how well that will really work.

 

[Maccapacca]

Stay healthy. You're far more likely to keel over as a night worker.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

Don't you have colleagues you can talk to this about? It's very alarming that you have no idea what you're doing.

 

[Scuzi]

Don't.

 

[Captain]

Get a good meal in you before you start, will you likely be working all night or are you likely to have some down time in the early hours?

 

[GAC]

Don't.

agreed.

but for now id have a late night tonight so your body clocks knocked on a bit before you try to go even later tomorrow.

fun thing with nights is it hits everyone a little different and no one thing will work for all.

 

[elmuzzy66.]

What is the rest of the shift pattern like? Do you have kids?

 

[Soundood]

the only way your body will cope is to force it too, it will take a few weeks to get used to it, but here are a few tips,

stay up late the night before, maybe 2am, then go to bed

go for a nap around 3pm the next day, try and get at least 2 hours, maybe 3.

eat a slow burning carb meal, brown rice and chicken say before going to work,

take regular small breaks, and at around the 3.30-4.00am (the wall) have a nice coffee and good snack, then that bit will pass, after that its plain sailing

 

[Dr House]

Don't you have colleagues you can talk to this about? It's very alarming that you have no idea what you're doing.

Im going to meet some friends sunday evening and ask, I did ask a couple of people at lunch yesterday and the both just take sleeping pills but Im not keen on that.

I just thought that there may be some useful tips here.


elmuzzy66, no kids or family, generally I work 8.45am to 6.30 (supposed to be 5pm) most days but the long days are 8am to 8.30pm.

I will have 3 nights in a row, the day off the next day and back onto days agin after that. In general I don't think we ever get more than 5 nights in a row and I am told I should manage around 1 to 2 hours of sleep if its not too busy.

Soundood - Thanks

 

[elmuzzy66.]

Not much rest in between the night shift and back to day. That's going to break you as you never really get used to or recover from that many nights.

 

[mrk]

What job is it?

 

[Soundood]

when I was in med school

What job is it?

let me guess, his username and op might guide me to a conclusion...soon

on a side note, you keep popping up on my LinkdIN account Mrk

 

[[TW]Fox]

let me guess, his username and op might guide me to a conclusion...soon

I can't imagine a doctor working on a night shift gets the opportunity to sleep half way through the shift so it doesnt sound like that

 

[Dr House]

What job is it?

Junior doctor. Im not working alone for this set because I'm new but next time I will be alone (plus phone support from the reg)

 

[NickXX]

Sounds horrific - pick a new career.

 

[davido_labido]

I love working nights, far more than days.

The way I do it is I stay awake most of the night before, then go to sleep around 11am. Have 4 or 5 hours sleep and start work at 6pm. Finish at 6am, but stay up until around 11, rinse and repeat.

The hardest part is the day you finish, you will want to switch to sleeping at night, so I generally try and be asleep before 9 and set my alarm for 12, 1 at the latest. Then you will still be tired ready for your usual bed time =)

 

[Dr House]

I can't imagine a doctor working on a night shift gets the opportunity to sleep half way through the shift so it doesnt sound like that

It really depends on the department. Sometimes you don't get any sleep at all sometimes you manage 1 or 2 hours with a few interruptions. The idea is that after your jobs are all done form the hangover they only bleep you for something a little urgent and I work on a ward where most are semi stable. There are always things that come up but the nights are not too hardcore.

The reg even gets to stay at home and only has to come in if its something the SHO can't deal with him self.

Sounds horrific - pick a new career.

haha this is the new one and I plan to stick to it for now.

I love working nights, far more than days.

The way I do it is I stay awake most of the night before, then go to sleep around 11am. Have 4 or 5 hours sleep and start work at 6pm. Finish at 6am, but stay up until around 11, rinse and repeat.

The hardest part is the day you finish, you will want to switch to sleeping at night, so I generally try and be asleep before 9 and set my alarm for 12, 1 at the latest. Then you will still be tired ready for your usual bed time =)

Thanks, strange that you like doing nights, I don't think I have met anyone that enjoys it.

 

[Hyburnate]

I enjoy nights too -

I usually stay awake as late as possible running up to it and then just work the first shift and be knackered by the end of it, as soon as home go to sleep wake up do what I want for a bit and then back to work.

 

[Destination]

Don't you have colleagues you can talk to this about? It's very alarming that you have no idea what you're doing.

It is the NHS after all

Tally ho old chap, no problems with random nights here and there, seven day service and all that.

 

[Craig1981]

Get those glasses with eyes painted on the lenses. Put out some documents in front of you. Then sleep while wearing them. People will think your awake and working and will leave you alone.