Tips For Getting Through Nightshift with Urbane Scrubs

This post is sponsored by Urbane Scrubs for Landau. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. #scrublove

Working the nightshift in healthcare is serious business. Here are some tips for getting through nightshift and having a great night at work.

One of the things I rarely mention on the blog is that I work as an ER and trauma nurse two nights a week. The schedule is fantastic, because I can be at home with baby, get the kids to and from school and soccer practices and every other activity under the moon and then still be able to get out of the house and go to work while they are asleep. The Mr. is home with them, so I never need to send the kids to daycare. Basically, I have the best possible and flexible schedule. That being said, working nights in an Emergency Department is not for the faint of heart.

In the ED, on any given night you can see people on quite possibly, the worst day of their life and it’s important to be professional, kind and still not take any nonsense. You never know what is going to come in through the doors, the patient can be as simple as a sore throat to complicated and needing a machine to breathe for them. The level of critical thinking and forethought is very high and there is little room for error.

Taking care of yourself while working nightshift is super important. How can you take care of others if you aren’t in tip top shape yourself? I find that it is necessary to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. I do drink a ton of coffee while working nights, and I find that I need a glass of water for every caffeinated beverage I drink. Don’t forget about snacks. There are often times that a whole 12 hour shift will pass and I find that I never had time for a lunch break. As crummy as that is, I always have healthy snacks in my bag to keep my energy level up.

A quality set of scrubs can make a huge difference in your comfort and your productivity.

Staying in shape is also important when working as a nurse. Oftentimes you need to be quick and you find yourself running. Lifting and moving people happens all the time, and if you ever have to perform CPR on someone, you learn very quickly that it is a heavy duty cardiac workout and your body can tire out in a short amount of time. Fitness is key.

Don’t forget about sleep! Getting enough sleep can be really challenging for nightshift workers. Unless your family and friends work or have worked graveyard, they really have no concept of how tired you can get, almost to the point of being painful. My family is used to me napping during the day when I can and they try to be quiet when I’m trying to sleep between shifts. Getting as much quality sleep as you can is so important for nurses to stay on top of their game.

One of my favorite things about being a ER is the scrubs. Seriously, if I am going to work nights I want to look professional, yet be comfortable. In the ER you are often bending, squatting and walking and your scrubs need to look professional, move like workout clothes and feel like pajamas. That is why I’m in love with these Urbane Scrubs by Landau. As a nurse in my hospital, I have to wear navy blue, and I love the little pink accents on these scrubs that add a punch of personality while still looking great. These scrubs are in a medium tall, so they are long enough for my height. The material is soft yet stretchy, and there is a little panel at the waist, so your pants don’t creep down when you bend over. Most importantly, there are plenty of pockets of different sizes. There is plenty of space for my pens, trauma sheers, stethoscope and for personal items like some lip gloss and my phone.

Do you have any tricks that help you get through a long day at work?

Take a look at more Urbane Scrubs by Landau at Scrub Shopper.

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