Rotating Shifts

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The one thing that has helped me survive NOC

I have a trick for making myself stay awake, avoid snacking, and feel better throughout my whole shift.

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NOC – The adjustment period

My body and mind are dealing with the fact that I’m now an independent nurse – who stays up all night!

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NOC Wear and Tear

A coworker told me recently, “So what if NOC takes 7 years off my life–working with the day crew would probably take off ten!”

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7 tips for dealing with doctors…at night!

I think #7 may be the most important: Develop a thick skin. But the rest of these ideas will serve you well when handling MDs during the evening shift.

19 ideas for shift nurses to get more sleep

19 ideas for shift nurses to get more sleep

Your body knows what it likes. It likes to sleep when it’s dark. And quiet. At night. Unfortunately, you may not have that luxury. Fortunately, your body can be tricked. And here are the ways to do it so you can get the rest you need.

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Getting ready for NOC

I’m getting ready to switch to the NOC shift, and am pretty anxious about what to expect and how to prepare myself for a new kind of all-nighter.

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The ideal rotating shift?

It seems that there is now a better formula for rotating your day and NOC shifts.

Top 10 ways to survive NOC

Top 10 ways to survive NOC

This new nurse is now a night shift pro…thanks to the expectations she set with her friends, her family, and herself. Get her invaluable advice.

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End of shift guilt

Ever have tasks that spilled-over into the next shift? I know how it feels to be on the receiving end. I’ve taken shift report from some pretty horrible nurses. Nurses who failed to chart meds from the beginning of their shift (8 or 12 hrs). I’ve cleaned up messes in patients rooms that were made at the beginning of their shift or even a previous shift. I’ve gotten my rear-end chewed out by a distraught family member because they weren’t called and updated properly on something I wasn’t even present for!

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Murphy’s nurse

You’ve heard of Murphy’s law, right? We think Murphy must have been a nurse. Click in to see if some of these scenarios are familiar to you…

Are you a vending machine sinner?

Are you a vending machine sinner?

You want to be an angel, but there are some devilish treats lurking in your break room. Here’s how to spot them.

Checklist: 21 smart vending machine snacks

Checklist: 21 smart vending machine snacks

You have limited time, patients calling for you, and you’re starving! Grab your stack of quarters and this “best foods to choose” checklist.

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5 ways I get my ZZZs

I’ve been a night nurse now since 2007 and have been trying all kinds of “Sleep Tricks.” As proof that my tactics are working, I will submit that I have never fallen asleep at the nurses station (!) or in my car on the way home (!!)

Is it just me?

Is it just me?

So why is it when I’m NOT at work – work follows me home?? Do you hear EKG monitor alarms when you’re home, too?

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Eating plans for overweight shift nurses

Unfortunately, as you nourish your patients, you might actually overnourish yourself, consuming too many calories and packing on pounds. Here’s how to outsmart the nurse-specific challenges that stand between you and your thinner self.