The average amount of time that an adult will work a day is 8 hours. However, in the line of healthcare, it is not uncommon to find yourself working 12-hour shifts.
In fact, not only is this uncommon, but it is often expected, especially for full time nurses.
12 hours is a very long time, especially when those hours are spent inside a hospital, constantly on your feet.
Working one of these shifts will mean that you will have spent 50% of your entire day in work, which can be exhausting and, at times, overwhelming.
There is only one thing worse than working a 12-hour nursing shift… and that is knowing that you’re going to go home, relax for approximately 2 hours (if you’re lucky), and then go to bed early ready for tomorrow’s shift.
If you’re finding it difficult to cope with these long shifts, you’re not alone. Luckily, there are ways that you can make the shifts easier to handle, both physically and mentally.
In this article, we have listed 6 tips that’ll help you get through even the most challenging shifts that you’ll have to face during your time as a nurse (see also ‘How Do You Survive Your First Night Shift As A Nurse? Here Are 12 Great Tips‘).
So, let’s get into it. Here are 6 helpful tips to get you through a 12-hour nursing shift (see also ‘Are 12 Hour Shifts Safe? Patient And Nurse Safety‘).
Tip 1: Stay Comfortable
No matter where you are, staying comfortable is an essential component of remaining happy and satisfied. You will be considerably more able to focus on your job if you are not hungry, cold, or irritated.
Wear comfortable, non-rubbing shoes (see also ‘Best Operating Room Shoes‘). After all, you’ll be standing for at least a half-day and occasionally longer.
Consider whether the additional clothing you are wearing, such as your socks, underwear, and uniform, are comfortable. If not, think about purchasing that particular item in additional sizes.
Additionally, be sure to eat dinner the night before or breakfast the morning of your shift (see also ‘Are Nurses Allowed To Sleep On Night Shifts?‘). If it’s a particularly busy shift (see also ‘Struggling To Handle Busy Shifts? 7 Time Management Tips For Busy Nurses‘), it may be a while before you get to eat again.
This is an obvious tip, yes, but one that often gets overlooked. Stay comfortable throughout the day, and your shift will feel a lot easier to get through.
Tip 2: Bring Snacks
You might not always be able to take a breather when you would like to during your 12-hour workday, as we touched upon in the previous section.
You might have sporadic rest breaks due to emergencies or increased patient counts, so you never know when you’ll have time to eat a good meal.
Pack snacks in your pockets for when you need to recharge, rather than letting your stamina drop when you haven’t eaten in a while.
An apple, or a granola bar, is the ideal size for your scrub pouches and are simple to eat whenever you have some free time.
Tip 3: Leave The Ward During Your Breaks
Spending your lunch break on the ward can be too easy and simple, making it more convenient to return to work right away after finishing your sandwich.
However, you should take advantage of the chance to relax whenever you get one by leaving the ward, and taking a few minutes to yourself before returning. You’ll be able to unwind and enjoy your break more if you leave your unit.
Even if you take a walk around the hospital, or eat your lunch in the café downstairs, you are at least giving yourself a moment to refresh.
By remaining on the ward, you are not really taking a break, as you are still within your work environment. It can be really difficult to switch off your brain if you haven’t moved away from your area of work.
If you drive to work, you could even sit in your car for a little while as you eat your lunch, listening to some music, or reading a book.
You will appreciate this break so much more than sitting in the staff room, counting the seconds before you have to get back to it.
Tip 4: Get A Good Night’s Sleep Beforehand
According to statistics, nurses who nap—even for brief periods—are more apt to be active and attentive throughout the day than those who do not.
The need of sleep for nurses to provide improved care to patients is covered within the same publication.
Instead, ‘adaptive sleep strategies’ help nurses feel better mentally and have fewer medical issues.
According to these studies, lack of sleep has a detrimental impact on productivity and increases your likelihood of making errors regarding patient safety.
In order to prevent accidents, it is crucial to maintain a healthy sleep pattern despite working a 12-hour shift.
Your best bet is to prepare everything that needs to be prepared the night before your shift – ironing your uniform, preparing your lunch for the next day, etc., – so that you can get a little extra sleep.
It may be tempting to want to stay up a little later, especially if you are working several shifts in a row and feel that you haven’t had any time to yourself.
However, you would be much better off having an early night, and grabbing some Zs while you can. Your body will thank you for it the next morning!
Tip 5: Keep Hydrated
You are already aware as a nurse that exhaustion, nausea, and disorientation are symptoms of dehydration. Maintaining proper hydration is crucial, especially if you work long hours and are frequently on your feet.
You won’t be able to focus as intently on your patients, paperwork, or any other crucial facets of your job if you’re feeling faint and ill at work. Work must be carried out correctly, or there may be serious repercussions.
You must therefore remember to drink enough of water all through the shift. Despite the fact that this advice is so basic, it is far too easy to go for hours without remembering to drink even a single sip of water.
It may even be worth purchasing a water bottle specifically for your shifts. This way, you can carry the bottle with you, or leave it in a safe place, and remind yourself to take a sip whenever you see it.
Tip 6: Don’t Stop Moving (Unless You’re on Break)
While you shouldn’t let yourself burn out by working non-stop, you may find it easier to power through your shifts.
You should definitely sit down for a brief moment if you find the time, but try not to sit for long, or else it’ll be so much harder when you try to stand back up.
The longer you keep active, the easier it will become after a while. The best part is, when you get home, you’ll find it so much easier to get a good night’s sleep when you’ve been active all day.
Again, we do not recommend that you push yourself to extreme lengths.
However, it’s important to remember that the longer you stay immobile, the harder it will be when you have to drag yourself back to work. It’s best to just get it over with so you can relax later!
Final Thoughts
The ‘secrets’ to making it through a 12-hour shift are actually just truths that we frequently overlook in the midst of the moment.
Sometimes we can get caught up in taking care of patients that we forget to take care of ourselves.
The only thing you can control is how you feel, how well-fed and hydrated you are, and how well you take care of yourself prior and during the day (or night) of the shift.
By looking after yourself, you can ensure that you will be on top form to take care of others while you’re in work.
Everyone benefits from you taking the time to take care of your physical and mental health, especially when you work in the healthcare profession.
We hope you found this article helpful.