Page 21 - Time of the Nurses Magazine_Hyper Linked_Compressed

THE OUTSTANDING NURSE
THE OUTSTANDING NURSE
COPING THROUGH THE NIGHT SHIFT
COPING THROUGH THE NIGHT SHIFT
COPiNG THROUGH NiGHT SHiFT
COPiNG THROUGH NiGHT SHiFT
“Nightshift is good, you can catch up on your studies during the
“Nightshift is good, you can catch up on your studies during the
day, and still make good time to rest.”
day, and still make good time to rest.”

Under normal circumstances, our bodies during the day.”
Under normal circumstances, our bodies
during the day.”
know that we should be sleeping at night. “it boosts self-esteem as you learn to
know that we should be sleeping at night.
“it boosts self-esteem as you learn to
Night-shift is tiring and a lot of our daily life
Night-shift is tiring and a lot of our daily life handle emergencies without much
without much
handle emergencies
changes when we work at night. Therefore,
changes when we work at night. Therefore, assistance at night.”
assistance at night.”
one should make plans and ways to cope
one should make plans and ways to cope There are many different versions of how
There are many different versions of how
through.
through. people feel about night shift, and I have
people feel about night shift, and I have
The various areas of one’s life that get
The various areas of one’s life that get noticed that to others at is advantageous
noticed that to others at is advantageous
affected by working at night include, among and to others it is a disadvantage.
affected by working at night include, among
and to others it is a disadvantage.
others: altered sleeping patterns: you get
others: altered sleeping patterns: you get The important thing is that you need to rest
The important thing is that you need to rest
used to sleeping during the day, so you
used to sleeping during the day, so you adequately when you are off duty. Some
adequately when you are off duty. Some
might struggle to sleep the night after your nights can be really busy and stressful, so
might struggle to sleep the night after your
nights can be really busy and stressful, so
last night on duty mainly because of day
last night on duty mainly because of day use your time off profitably so that you can
use your time off profitably so that you can
naps. Some colleagues have reported
naps. Some colleagues have reported come back revitalised on the next shift.
come back revitalised on the next shift.
experience of altered digestion. Eating at
experience of altered digestion. Eating at Make sure your coping skills are tailor made
Make sure your coping skills are tailor made
night may generally cause a feeling of for you.
night may generally cause a feeling of
for you.
bloatedness. It is therefore very important
bloatedness. It is therefore very important
to choose your food carefully. High fibre diet
to choose your food carefully. High fibre diet
is usually good for enhancing digestion,
is usually good for enhancing digestion,
therefore think towards those foods. Also
therefore think towards those foods. Also
drink adequate fluids throughout your shift
drink adequate fluids throughout your shift
as this will keep you hydrated and healthy.
as this will keep you hydrated and healthy.
During hot seasons, falling asleep during the
During hot seasons, falling asleep during the
day is sometimes problematic. Besides the
day is sometimes problematic. Besides the
heat, there may be noise in the neighbour-
heat, there may be noise in the neighbour-
hood, and you may be tempted to push
hood, and you may be tempted to push
house chores before resting, which may
house chores before resting, which may
compromise the amount of time for your
compromise the amount of time for your
sleep. Make a way to get to the coolest spot
sleep. Make a way to get to the coolest spot
in your house and sleep as much as you can.
in your house and sleep as much as you can.
Being deprived of sleep may cause fatigue
Being deprived of sleep may cause fatigue
and affect your look in general. Nursing
and affect your look in general. Nursing
work is so much demanding, so you cannot
work is so much demanding, so you cannot
afford to be tired at the beginning of the
afford to be tired at the beginning of the
shift. shift.
I spoke to a few colleagues about how they
I spoke to a few colleagues about how they
feel about nightshift, and I got different
feel about nightshift, and I got different
responses:
responses:
“Nightshift is good, you can catch up on
“Nightshift is good, you can catch up on
your studies during the day, and still make
your studies during the day, and still make
good time to rest.”
good time to rest.”
“It allows more time to be alone at home
“It allows more time to be alone at home
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