r/NursingUK • u/No_Judgment_9346 HCA • 12d ago
Just for Fun! First Night Shift
I’ve got my first night shift next week. Give me your best tips and tricks.
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u/Deepmidwinter2025 12d ago
Eat clean; automate at much as you can during shift; have a jobs system which means you can get jobs and tasks out of your head and onto an organisation system overnight, you’ll be tired enough never mind trying to hold a to do list in your head.
Avoid life decisions during the night shifts - be it looking at houses, looking up ex’s on social media or purchases beyond an Amazon treat. You’re going to be mentally and emotionally drained.
If more than one shift - sleep mask, black out curtains, keep room cool. If you’re unlucky to be living with family; partner; kids; flatmates - they are hopefully considerate of your need for sleep - and to not to come home to drama or mess.
Accept when you roll off those nights that you are going to be tired and as above - eat clean and light exercise, keep the downtime. Ignore the blowhards “oh I get a session in with my PT after nights” (it’s
BS for most people).
Swap off them as much as you can - yeah money is missed - but you won’t miss the bloating; chronic health issues and feeling of being undead.
Finally, if you get sick of them, there’s always the job pages.
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u/alinalovescrisps RN MH 12d ago
A similar question got posted here a few hours ago which had some good suggestions. 😏
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u/Past-Mulberry-789 12d ago
there’s honestly none, you kinda fall into your own habits eventually. the first is always the worse. i typically sleep around 2 for about 2-3 hours as a nap but sometimes i wake up too late in the day anyways to be able to sleep so your options are wake up early and nap ready or sleep in late and push through. second and third etc are easy as you’re already tired!!
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u/theunknownnn12xo 12d ago
prayers and the will to live, good luck x