If you're someone who works night shifts, you know how challenging it can be to maintain a healthy sleep schedule and keep up with self-care. In this blog post, we'll be discussing 5 practical self-care tips that can help you improve your quality of life while working those long 12-hour night shifts. By implementing these strategies, you can take control of your physical and mental well-being, manage your sleep cycle, and improve your overall health. So, whether you're a nurse, a security guard, or any other professional working the night shift, this post is for you!

Welcome to this collaboration blog between Nursing Uncensored and Jami from the popular nursing podcast First Do No Harm. Adrianne joins Jami on her new podcast The Neurodivergent Nurse to share her ADD symptoms and how she deals with them on shift. Product and affiliate links are provided.

This is a reflection I wrote after a very challenging shift. I usually keep my chill at work pretty well. I’m known for my patience and calming effect on patients with psych or anxiety issues. So what you are about to read are my own thoughts after a shift where I didn’t handle myself so well. I hope this message helps some of you reading this feel less alone in your own frustrations and a little closer to being able to control them when it matters most.

I want to share my recent experience with getting my COVID-19 vaccination, so I’m going to read my journal to you (with some edits, of course). I have a lot of strong opinions about the COVID vaccine and the way my state and country are handling this ongoing pandemic, but this isn’t that kind of episode. This is just my personal vaccine experience.

It’s no secret - I am not a fan of the New Year’s resolution. I think there’s a lot of pressure and hype to make broad, sweeping changes to our lives starting January 1 . I decided long ago that resolutions are not for me. Resolutions, no. Resets, yes. So what’s the difference? Keep reading to find out.

Food is fuel and nurses definitely need fuel during busy 12-hour shifts. Adrianne presents her 15 favorite on-the-go work foods in hopes of inspiring you and putting some fun back in your lunch bag.

Cheers to another “Pandemic Edition” of the blog. As a direct result of the complete upheaval of day to day life in a post-COVID-19 world, Here are the professional and personal goals I have set for the year ahead of me.

In this little ramble from Adrianne, she confesses to some bad behavior and vows to make it right.

It took me a long time to design my perfect get-ready-routine, but I’ve learned through trial and error what makes me feel good and what doesn’t. I encourage and of you newbies, or any healthcare worker to pull any steps I’ve laid out that may smooth out those pre-work hours. As your shifts roll on, pay attention to what things have the most lasting positive effect on your work and dump anything that doesn’t.

Year round, I get so hot when I'm at work, I can't stand it. I'm always on the move, turning patients, running for bed alarms, lifting, bending....and sweating! Others have told me they have a similar problem and are tired of looking gross and smelling bad after only an hour on shift.

So I have a few tips for all of you sweaty nurses.

On days like today, when I've screwed up my sleep schedule heading into three consecutive overnights, the game becomes one of minimizing damage.

A Sentence Journal is a no muss, no fuss system. Learn more about it here.

I felt like the night, in some small way, belonged to me and how dare they trample it with their daytime voices and fresh coffee smells.

People are gross. You are gross. I am gross. People - all people - are gross.