Rotating Shifts

Lack of sleep contributes to sub-standard nursing care

Lack of sleep contributes to sub-standard nursing care

Rotating shifts, nights shifts, 12-hour shifts — nursing can wreck havoc on your sleep schedule!

Why this nurse couple both work the night shift

Why this nurse couple both work the night shift

Coffee? For Joseph and Christina, it’s a life necessity. They met in nursing school, married, then made a surprising choice: Raise their two young children during the day and both work while the kids sleep. Sound complicated?

She works hard for the money…

But there is the perk! The perk is that now I have Monday off. And if you haven’t checked it out yet, check out the new Scrubs Magazine that discusses the many merits of having off shift hours. There truly is nothing so peaceful as Costco on a Thursday afternoon or hair appointments on Wednesday. These perks make my Sundays at work more bearable.

Quiz: Do you have shift work disorder?

Quiz: Do you have shift work disorder?

Shift Work Disorder can affect your own health and also your ability to take care of your patients. Take our quiz to see if you have the symptoms.

Image: Hemera | Thinkstock

16 tips to spot and help sleepy nurses

Be especially wary when the clock strikes 4 a.m…that’s when you’re most likely to goof up. This tip, along with many more ideas (and a bonus shift scheduling plan) will help you be a better nurse.

How 12 hours can fly by!

Are you ever amazed with how much you can get done in a 12 hour period when you aren’t at work?

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE working 12 hour shifts because then I get more days off (theoretically). But sometimes I am off, cruising about town, running this errand or that and I look down at my watch and think…hmmm…I’d only be going to my first break right now.

For example, the other day I woke up, went to three different stores

The ‘skinny’ on hospital food

The ‘skinny’ on hospital food

So the question remains, if I am going to eat the cafeteria food offered at the hospital – what are my most health-conscious choices?

Nurses working hours

Nurses working hours

We aren’t late because we forgot, or we just got lazy. We are always late because we love our job, and we do our best to take the very best care of our patients. And even in the most ideal conditions, that is sometimes not enough.

How to be a well-rested nurse

How to be a well-rested nurse

We know how difficult shift work can on the body, and oftentimes sleep during the day is not as fulfilling as a night’s sleep. Here’s how to trick your body into getting more rest.

You can thrive on the night shift

You can thrive on the night shift

How to sleep, stay connected with your social circle, relieve stress, avoid the “hangover feeling,” and enjoy the perks of working when everyone else is slumbering.

A nurse’s favorite sleep and stress relief remedy

A nurse’s favorite sleep and stress relief remedy

When you’re on your feet all day you can find comfort by combining aromatherapy and a nice long soak in the tub. Try this excellent and affordable oil mixture.

How do I deal with rotating shifts?

How do I deal with rotating shifts?

Nothing is harder than flip-flopping from days to nights. It messes up your circadian rhythm—and your life.

A gift from a patient

This week I received a gift from a patient: really the 1st gift I’ve ever received from someone I’ve cared for as a nurse. This came at a time when I have been contemplating my current job satisfaction. You see, [...]

The hardest weight to lose – how these nurses did it

The hardest weight to lose – how these nurses did it

A nurse dietitian did her own version of “Biggest Loser” at her hospital. Here are her great ideas to help nurses lose that stubborn weight.

May I please have your attention. The hospital will be closing shortly.

May I please have your attention. The hospital will be closing shortly.

The hospital never closes. It operates in some capacity 365 days a year, 24 hours a day (and yes 366 days a year on leap year). It doesn’t have ‘Holiday Hours’. The doors are always open. Some departments may not be operating during certain times, but as a whole, the hospital is always ‘open’.