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Night Nurse

(3 Posts)
Readandcook Sat 31-May-25 17:51:16

I am a 62 year old nurse and I just work very part time hours now after a 40year old career in nursing.
I plan to retire completely within the next 2 years.
I have been asked to work some nights to help them out as a night nurse is on holiday.
I work in a care home.
The thing is I so struggle with night working and find it particularly difficult after midnight!!!
I am not working anymore than one night at a time so I just wondered if there are any night workers on here especially nurses to give me some advice on getting through the night!

Magenta8 Sat 31-May-25 17:58:18

I have worked night shifts and I used strong coffee to get me through. I also took caffein pills but I was always so busy I did not get the opportunity to nod off. This was in a non nursing setting.

LadyGaGa Sat 31-May-25 18:49:27

I work bank night shifts as a nurse. Only a couple a month to top up the coffers and only one at a time. I think the pastime of night workers is discussing how much sleep they get, how they get through the nights and how much they don’t like them! Everyone has a different strategy - so I just try and muddle through. I lie on the bed for a couple of hours the afternoon before, I may nod off for a bit, but if not I make sure I rest. I have a light tea so that that I can snack through the night to give me some energy. We get a one hour break and we make up a bed on a sofa and have a lie down. Again I might nod off for a bit. I don’t usually drink coffee but I have a strong one before the morning rush about 06.00 and it does give me a boost.
All in all I find it a slog at my age (63) but i don’t want to retire completely and the money for nights is worth it. Good luck!