From Sunset to Sunrise: Working the Night Shift as a Travel Nurse

Onestaff Medical provided this article.

Nurses are needed in various forms 24 hours a day. For those in the hospital needing care, nurses are essential caregivers at all times—day or night—providing medications, compassionate care, and even life-saving measures. While many businesses don’t require constant staffing, hospitals, and some other healthcare facilities always need nurses on staff.

The good news for nurses is that overnight shifts can offer a lot of opportunities, including higher pay. But what does it really mean to be a night nurse—especially as a travel nurse? Let’s find out.

What Specialties Need Dedicated Night Shift Travel Nurses?

While night shift options won’t be available for every nursing specialty, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of opportunities for overnight nursing work. Below are the specialties that need the most overnight nurses.

ICU/ NICU

Patients of all ages in critical care will need round-the-clock observation. These patients often need regular vital checks, medications, and other services that night nurses fulfill. Night nurses may also perform the following tasks on the ICU floor:

• Respond to emergencies, such as any codes
• Feed patients
• Bathe patients
• Administer medications
• Check vital signs and fluid levels
• Set up and monitor equipment, such as ventilators and pressure lines
• Fill out paperwork
• Provide comfort and emotional support to patients and their families

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it is very clear that nurses who work the night shift have a lot of very important responsibilities in the ICU wing of a hospital. When hospitals can’t fill the need for overnight ICU nurses with staff from their area, they will begin looking for travel nurses to fill the void.

Emergency Room

Emergency room (ER) nurses are vital to their patients, and since emergencies can pop up day or night, ER nurses are needed at hospitals regardless of the time. ER nurses perform many of the same tasks as ICU nurses, but they are also triaging new cases that arrive.

ER nurses are taking care of patients (and their families) during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives, so night travel nurses often provide companionship as well as compassionate care.

Labor & Delivery

Babies make their way into the world on their own schedule. While this is often not convenient for their parents, it should make no difference at the hospital because there will always be nurses in the labor and delivery ward.

3 Benefits of Night Shift Travel Nursing

Although many people avoid working the night shift, there are benefits of night-shift nursing and working overnight. Below, we will outline a few of the benefits that nurses seem to value the most.

• Higher Pay

Travel nurses are typically paid better than staff nurses, but travel nurses can get another pay bump by working overnight shifts. For some, this increase in pay can be significant and very enticing. A night shift travel nurse’s salary can have a dramatic range. Pay varies drastically depending on the specialty and location.

• Flexible Scheduling

Nurses who have families may benefit from working nights. While everyone else is too busy working for things like doctor’s visits, haircuts, school events, and more, you can likely easily schedule your appointments during normal business hours without missing any work.

• Reduced Crowds

If you are looking for a slower pace, night shifts could be your golden opportunity. While not every night will be slow, you are likely going to see less patient turnover, and many patients will try to rest for the night.

Risks of Working as a Night Shift Travel Nurse

Working as a night shift travel nurse can be both rewarding and challenging. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks associated with this career path. Here are some of the key risks to consider:

Physical Health Risks

• Sleep Disorders: Disrupted sleep patterns can lead to various sleep disorders, such as insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and circadian rhythm disturbances. These conditions can negatively impact your overall health and well-being.
• Increased Risk of Chronic Diseases: Studies have shown that night shift workers are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. This is partly due to the disruption of circadian rhythms and increased stress levels.
• Weakened Immune System: Working nights can compromise your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and illnesses.
• Gastrointestinal Issues: Irregular eating patterns and stress can contribute to gastrointestinal problems, such as acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome.

Mental Health Risks

• Increased Stress: The demanding nature of night shift work can lead to increased stress and anxiety. This can affect your mood, concentration, and overall quality of life.
• Social Isolation: Working nights can make it difficult to maintain social connections and engage in activities with friends and family. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
• Depression: The combination of sleep disturbances, stress, and social isolation can increase the risk of depression among night shift workers.
• Compassion Fatigue: Over time, travel nurses who are overexposed to stressful environments can develop compassion fatigue, especially as they care for suffering patients.

Safety Concerns

• Increased Risk of Accidents: Fatigue and sleep deprivation can impair judgment and reaction time, increasing the risk of accidents both on and off the job.
• Exposure to Hazards: Night shift workers may be exposed to hazardous materials or situations that are less common during the day.

Career-Related Risks

• Limited Career Advancement: While night shift work can offer opportunities for specialization and experience, it may also limit career advancement compared to day shift positions.
• Difficulty Finding Childcare: If you have children, finding suitable childcare can be a significant challenge.

It’s important to weigh the potential risks and benefits of night shift travel nursing before making a decision. By understanding the challenges involved and taking steps to mitigate these risks, you can increase your chances of a successful and fulfilling career.

6 Tips For Working the Night Shift as a Travel Nurse

Transitioning to a night shift role can be strenuous. If you have consistently worked during daylight hours, it is going to take some time to get used to working the opposite schedule. This can be even more challenging if you are a travel nurse and are also getting used to a new locale. Here are a few of OneStaff’s expert tips for night shift nursing.

• Adjust Your Sleep Schedule

As you prepare to work the night shift, you will want to start prepping as early as possible because transitioning to the night shift is never easy.

You will want to aim for at least six or seven hours of sleep during the day. To do this, you may want to get blackout curtains or an eye mask to ensure that any ambient light doesn’t arouse you from sleep too early or prevent you from getting to sleep in the first place. And, if it is too hard to sleep during the day at first, you might want to try sleep aids like melatonin or get a prescription from your doctor.

Some night shift workers also choose to take a nap a couple of hours before their shift. This could help you rejuvenate enough to get by, especially on the days that you haven’t gotten enough sleep yet. We recommend sticking to a short period of about 30 minutes to prevent grogginess, and napping between 1 and 3 p.m. is the best time for most night shift workers.

You will want to find a routine that works for you, so it may take a little time to find the right formula that allows you to work overnight without feeling fatigued. Once you find this routine, keep it even on the days that you aren’t working. If you are constantly bouncing back and forth between routines, your body is never going to adjust fully.

• Eat for Energy & Stay Hydrated

It can be hard to stay awake, and many nurses new to the night shift make the mistake of running to the vending machine for a quick snack. While that may be a quick and easy solution, foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar cause blood sugar surges that can leave you feeling tired and irritable.

If you need quick snacks during your shift, you may want to consider the following healthier alternatives to the vending machine:

• Protein Snacks: Eating foods high in protein can keep you fuller longer and keep sleepiness at bay. Beef jerky, boiled eggs, cheese, nuts, protein drinks or bars, and yogurt are all good options for a quick snack that will keep you full. There are also numerous protein snack options on the market now that you may enjoy, such as protein chips, crackers, and cookies.
• Fruits & Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are always better than candy and chips. Apples, bananas, carrots, celery, and cucumbers are super easy options, but you could eat any fruit or vegetable. If you have extra time, you could include dips such as a light fruit dip, hummus, or ranch dip for a little extra something special.
• Whole Grains: Whole grains are another healthier option for your overnight nursing snacks. You could make yourself a sandwich to eat for both healthy carbohydrates and protein. Whole grain toast, crackers, and other snacks may be the right choice for your overnight shift munching.

Finding snacks that you enjoy and that keep you alert during your shift is vital. With a little trial and error, you are sure to find the ones that work best for you.

• Embrace the Quiet

As most nurses know, it isn’t often that there is quiet in a busy hospital. If you are working the night shift, you are bound to have a few quiet nights. While it may feel like your shift will never end, you should try to embrace the peacefulness of a quiet night. 

• Stay Active

While nurses don’t usually have a ton of downtime, there are bound to be quiet shifts. During these lulls, it is even harder than normal to stay awake and alert. On these days, it is a good idea to keep yourself moving.

If you start to find yourself getting sleepy, you can walk the unit to get your blood pumping again. This may also be a good opportunity to do quick little check-ins with some of your patients or chat with those who appear to be in the mood for conversation.

Some nurses also choose to do light cleaning tasks or stock carts to be better prepared for future cases. You might also find other small tasks that will keep you on your feet and moving during slow nights.

• Make Friends with Other Night Shifters

Working overnight is tough for numerous reasons, but making connections can be challenging when you are awake while most people are asleep. One way to remedy loneliness, both personally and professionally, could be to make friends with the other night shift nurses, doctors, and staff members.

Not only will these connections make your shift go by more quickly, but forming these connections could mean that you get help with difficult tasks more easily, have people to talk to on slower nights, and have people to spend time with outside of work who are on a similar schedule.

• Be Mindful of Your Health

For some, working the night shift can have significant health ramifications. As a nurse, you know how important it is to keep your health. Those working the night shift are more prone to insomnia, high blood pressure, diabetes, colds, weight gain, menstrual irregularities, drowsiness, and more. Even though taking care of your patients is the job, you also need to take care of your own physical and mental well-being.

What Is the Best Night Shift Schedule for Nurses?

Night shift nurses face unique challenges regarding sleep. Their work schedules often conflict with natural circadian rhythms, making it difficult to achieve quality rest. However, there are strategies to optimize sleep patterns and improve overall well-being.

Key Considerations for Night Shift Sleep

• Consistent Sleep Schedule: Try to maintain a consistent sleep-wake cycle, even on days off. This helps regulate your internal clock.
• Dark, Quiet Environment: Ensure your sleep space is dark, quiet, and cool to promote restful sleep.
• Limit Screen Time: Reduce exposure to blue light from electronic devices before bed, as it can interfere with sleep.
• Napping: If possible, take short naps during the day to supplement your night’s sleep. However, avoid long naps that might disrupt your nighttime sleep.

Potential Sleep Schedules for Night Shift Nurses

While individual preferences and circumstances may vary, here are a few potential sleeping schedules that night-shift travel nurses might consider:

1. Split Sleep:
   • Work from 7 PM to 7 AM
   • Sleep from 8 AM to 2 PM
   • Nap from 6 PM to 8 PM
2. Extended Sleep:
   • Work from 7 PM to 7 AM
   • Sleep from 8 AM to 4 PM
   • Nap from 11 AM to 1 PM
3. Flexible Schedule:
   • Work from 7 PM to 7 AM
   • Sleep from 8 AM to 3 PM
   • Nap as needed

Additional Tips for Adjusting to a New Sleep Routine

If you are struggling to acclimate to a new sleep schedule, you may want to consider the following tips.

• Exercise: Regular physical activity can improve sleep quality, but avoid intense workouts close to bedtime.
• Diet: Maintain a healthy diet and limit caffeine and alcohol consumption, especially close to bedtime.
• Stress Management: Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing to reduce stress and improve sleep.
• Consult a Healthcare Professional: If you’re struggling with sleep despite these strategies, consider consulting a doctor or sleep specialist.

Remember, finding the best sleeping schedule is a personal journey. Experiment with different options to determine what works best for you. It may take time to adjust to a new sleep pattern, but consistency is key.

For extra tips on getting good sleep, read our article: 13 Tips: Healthier, Happier Sleep for Travel Nurses.

If you are a nurse or nursing student considering night shift travel nursing, contact OneStaff Medical today. Our dedicated team of recruiters will help you find the role that’s right for you. The travel nurse recruiters at OneStaff will help you land a spot based on your desired location, facility, shift, and specialty.

OR check out all of our top-paying opportunities (here) today

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