Many new nurses are required to rotate between day and night shifts. Does anyone have any strategies for getting enough sleep in between?

The key is to switch over your sleep schedule completely BEFORE working a night shift (not the day of). The night previous to your first night shift, stay up all night until morning. I personally watch movies, blog, go out for coffee with friends, take my dog for extra walks...anything to keep me awake. Then, since I tend to be very tired from staying up all night, I have no problem falling asleep.

I hear all these wierd plans like having a nap right before your first night shift (after being up all day), and some people go off and sleep on their breaks instead of sleeping adequately during the day. Even worse, some don't eat at all over night. To each their own *shrug.* I believe these people struggle with night shifts more because they don't try and create a normal schedule as we automatically do with days.

I suggest you eat a healthy "breakfast" when you wake up, eat a healthy meal on your break etc. And more than anything, avoid sleeping during your shift. If you sleep during your break, you will have trouble sleeping through the day.

I have the pleasure of switching back and forth between days/nights frequently. So, to keep a relatively normal schedule, I sleep 9pm - 5am for day shifts, and 9am - 5pm for night shifts.

If you have trouble sleeping through the day, just give it time! It can take a few shifts before your body accepts the new schedule. But, before you know it, 3am will feel like the middle of the afternoon.

My biggest advice...DON'T PANIC! I see so many anxious posts from people who are positive that working nights will be impossible. I'm sure if you just relax, it will go so much smoother. Plus! People that work nights are SO much more fun! Enjoy the adventure!

My hubby works night shift and we use aluminum foil on the windows. It works like a charm! In the mornings my kids come in my room to wake me up but instead, they end up falling back asleep with me cause its so dark in there. I agree with nursesean, its easier if you set yourself up on the night shift schedule the day before you work. Try to stay up as long as you possibly can so you can crash out in the morning. You'll be all ready for your night shift and your eating pattern will follow naturally.