nurse with mask and cap on sitting in light cast only by computer

Night Shift Nursing: How to Create a Better Work-Life Balance

Night shift nursing can be difficult. There may be days you feel as though life is passing around you while you recover from a long night shift. 

There may be times – especially when you first start out – that you may suffer from extreme lack of sleep. There may also be difficulty in balancing your work and home life. 

However, with intentional practices, you can reap the benefits of this schedule and learn how to adjust to night shift nursing. 

Make sure you are intentional with the below tips and tricks to get the most out of your professional and personal life.

Search Nursing Jobs

4 Tips On How To Adjust To Night Shift Nursing

1. Consider Grouping Shifts Together

To maintain a sense of normality, consider working longer, such as three twelve-hour shifts. A twelve-hour schedule allows your body time to get into a working rhythm during night shift nursing. 

Grouping shifts in a two- or three-day cycle allows for longer periods of time off to enjoy family, friends, and personal time on a normal schedule.

While three twelves may be tiring, the time off may just be worth it. Experiment with your schedule to find a pattern that maximizes the benefits of the night shift so that you learn how to adjust to night shift nursing.

See Also
How Travel Nursing Can Grow Your Career

 

2. Prioritize Self-Care

Be intentional about taking care of yourself. Night shift nurses can suffer from shift disorder, which occurs when you swing between night and day shift lives. 

Sleep

One of the best self-care techniques for night shift nursing staff is getting a good night's – or day's – rest. Make sure that you sleep at the same time each day – keeping the room cool and limiting technology will help you obtain a peaceful rest. 

The use of darkening blinds or curtains creates a peaceful nighttime environment that will help sync you with your natural circadian rhythms.  

Once you are sleeping well, make sure you are getting plenty of exercise every day. (And running up and down the halls of the unit does not count!)

Diet and Fitness 

Join a fitness club, class, or simply go for a walk. Just thirty minutes of exercise that uses both arms and legs will help with sleep, decrease stress, and increase mental clarity.

Maintaining a healthy diet is also very important. We teach patients every day about eating a well-balanced diet. When adjusting to night shift nursing, heed your own advice! 

Small meals with frequent, healthy snacks are best. Try to stay away from the vending machines at work, as they are loaded with snacks containing sugar and empty calories that will leave you feeling sluggish. 

Try these power snack ideas for nurses. Resist using caffeine on days you are tired. And, while alcohol may relax you, it will not add to a peaceful sleep. Instead, drink water, and lots of it! Staying hydrated is very important to your overall health.

3. Schedule Quality Time

Schedule quality time with friends and family on your days off. Schedule days off to coincide with important events in your family and in your children’s lives. 

Night shift nursing staff often find that quality family and personal time is easier to fit into their schedule. 

Whether you get home early enough to get the kids off to school, meet friends for breakfast, or attend a late-night yoga class, you can schedule quality time into your night shift life. Practice intentional scheduling to reap the best benefits.

4. Focus on the Positive

Keep a positive outlook. Focusing on the best parts of night shift nursing is a needed mental practice. 

Once you learn how to adjust to night shift nursing, you may find that the night shift offers a slower pace and a small, close-knit, family-like staff that adds quality to your professional life. 

Some nurses enjoy working when there are less management and administrative activities going on as well. Finally, receiving a nice shift differential may be an added bonus to working the night shift.

Work-life balance for night shift nursing staff has long been an issue. 

If you need some extra training on how to make the best of this shift, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health created a program in 2015 specifically for nurses who work night shifts and long hours.

Apply Now

Additional Nursing Resources:

Latest News

How to have the Best Travel Contract Experience
Travel GuidesApril 23, 2024

How to have the Best Travel Contract Experience

Being a traveling healthcare professional means having the incredible opportunity to explore new places, get to know new people, and enjoy things you haven’t experienced before.

How to Spend Your Weekends on Assignment in Atlanta
Travel GuidesFebruary 09, 2024

How to Spend Your Weekends on Assignment in Atlanta

You landed an allied contract in Atlanta, congratulations! With the whole city at your fingertips, you may not know where to start when deciding how to spend your weekends.

Maintaining Healthy Habits While Working as a Travel PT
Travel GuidesJanuary 23, 2024

Maintaining Healthy Habits While Working as a Travel PT

Finally, staying in touch with and connected to friends is important, as traveling can sometimes feel lonely.

A Traveler’s Guide to Palm Springs, CA
Travel GuidesJanuary 22, 2024

A Traveler’s Guide to Palm Springs, CA

I could live here for the rest of my life and still not have tried every restaurant in the valley because it has SO much to offer.

Advice For First Time Travel Nurses
Travel GuidesJanuary 22, 2024

Advice For First Time Travel Nurses

Securing the ideal travel assignment requires a significant amount of effort and consideration.

The Healthcare Professional’s Guide to Northern California
Travel GuidesOctober 03, 2023

The Healthcare Professional’s Guide to Northern California

There’s no better state for healthcare professionals than The Golden State; California truly has it all!

The Healthcare Professional's Guide to Washington, D.C.
Travel GuidesAugust 14, 2023

The Healthcare Professional's Guide to Washington, D.C.

Famous for its monuments, museums, and rich history, Washington, D.C. is also a mecca for healthcare professionals.

The Healthcare Professional's Guide to Richmond
Travel GuidesAugust 14, 2023

The Healthcare Professional's Guide to Richmond

One of America’s oldest major cities, Richmond offers a combination of rich history and modern-day amenities.

Article search

Take the first step to starting your new career.

* Indicates Required Fields

 

I agree to receive emails, automated text messages and phone calls (including calls that contain prerecorded content) from and on behalf of AMN Healthcare, and affiliates. Show more I understand these messages will be to the email or phone number provided, and will be about employment opportunities, positions in which I’ve been placed, and my employment with AMN companies. See privacy policy or cookie policy for more details. Show less

* Indicates Required Fields

 

I agree to receive emails, automated text messages and phone calls (including calls that contain prerecorded content) from and on behalf of AMN Healthcare, and affiliates. {{show_more}} I understand these messages will be to the email or phone number provided, and will be about employment opportunities, positions in which I’ve been placed, and my employment with AMN companies. See privacy policy or cookie policy for more details.

Complete Your Application!
Continue to NurseFinders to complete your application and profile.