Night Shift Nurses - Here Are Some Survival Tips for You

How do I stay awake on my night shift? Do you often ask this question? Well the body isn’t meant to be up during those hours at night and as per the research there are some serious physiological and psychological forces working against you, in simpler words human body releases chemicals at night that induces sleep. So, if you find yourself struggling to stay awake at night here are some survival tips for you.

Get adequate amount of sleep - Working at night interrupts with normal sleeping pattern so to cope up with that it is vital for night shift nurses to get adequate sleep during daytime. Human body clock finds it difficult to adjust to sleeping during daytime, so create a sleep favorable environment by using darker color curtains in the room and eliminate any kind of noises or disturbance like doorbell or mobile phones. You can also make use of earplugs and eye masks to ensure sound sleep without any interruption. Gradually, your body will get accustomed to long periods of sleep during day and you will not find it less challenging to be up during night.

Intake of Caffeine - Intake of beverages that contain caffeine like coffee or tea is a good method to keep your body alert. Besides, caffeine is also known as an effective method to get away with fatigue. In addition, drinking plenty of water increases your oxygenation of your blood level and keeps you awake easily during long hours of night shift.

Keep your mind stimulated - Due to brain inactivity; night shifts often have periods of downtime making it difficult to stay awake during night. So, it is highly recommended to keep your brain engaged in something like organizing medical room, chalking out plans to improvise workflow in the unit. Reading an interesting book, work puzzles and teasers also keeps the mind engaged and reduces the risk of dozing off.

Trying to achieve a perfect work/life balance while working in a night shift is not an easy task however, by following above-mentioned tips and sticking to almost similar schedule even during weekends helps your body clock adjust better. Moreover, you need to prioritize your daily needs like sound sleep, nutritious food, exercise, family time to attain a healthy work-life balance.

Thus, working in a night shift is difficult but not impossible with proper focus and tips you can make it not even bearable rather enjoyable. Do you want to pursue a successful and bright nursing career abroad? Have a look at the top nursing study programs offered by INSCOL and let the transformation from an Indian Nurse to a Global Nurse begin!

DIY Ways for Nurses to Stay Stress-free All Through the Day

Here we are to help the nurses with these DIY ways of stress buster to stay stress-free during the job despite of their busy schedules. Let's take a look at the ways -

Do not sit & stand for long. We know your legs hurt at the end of the day.

Lift those legs while you sit. As a nursing professional, you rarely may get a lot of time to sit but in case you have to sit even for a short while you can utilize it to exercise by doing leg lifts. All you have to do is sit in the chair properly in a good posture and slowly lift one leg, holding it up there for 15 seconds and then slowly lowering it down. Repeat the same with other leg alternatively. Doing it even for 5-6 times will make you feel the pull on your backside, your quads and even your abdominal muscles.

Walk with the Stairs

It’s all about staying fit and maximizing your time. Shun the elevator, of course only if there is no emergency at the moment. You can also utilize your lunchtime to meet up the stairs. For the sake of your health, shape and peace you definitely can avoid surfing the Internet and opt to go up and down a few sets and if you do not find it healthy and challenging enough you can take two steps at a time. Being a nurse, you probably know very well how to talk the talk, though this way you’ll be a pro in walking the walk too!

Befriend with the Water Bottles

Yet again, you might have not even thought of using those water bottles for your exercise well-being. Water bottles do work as weights for you to exercise your arms. Carry full water bottle in each hand and start with raising your arms in front of you until they reach your shoulder height. Holding them there for few seconds, and then slowly lowering them down for 10 to 15 times would be a beneficial enough exercise for you. 

Nurses, if you want to pursue a successful and bright career in abroad, take a look at the top nursing study programs for international nurses offered by INSCOL at and let the transformation from an Indian Nurse to a Global Nurse begin!