Hello! Fellow night shift worker here. I work 11p-7a, in a long term/rehab facility.

Just wondering if there are any other night shift nurses out there? I am in a kind of unique nursing position. I work alone in an ambulatory setting and respond only to emergencies. It can be very boring and of course I turned to food and packed on the lbs over years and now am struggling back to lose and refocus with proper habits.

Boo to having to work alone! ) I am an ER nurse and usually work by myself the last 4 hrs of my shift in triage which is why I turn to the message boards and crystal light energy!
I love coffee, but I only love it if it is so sweet it could cause diabetes so I try to avoid it. lolol The key to night shift is self-control and planning meals ahead of time. It took me a looonnggg time to develop the discipline to plan and pack my meals.



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I'm an LPN in a long term care facility. Twelve hour nights. 40-50 residents per floor, and from 11-7 it's usually just me and 2 CNAs (on a normal night). Sometimes I only have one aide for part of the shift, and sometimes I have to take half of a second floor. And despite what people seem to think, the residents do NOT sleep all night. In fact, they seem to sleep more during the day than they do at night :-P.

Oddly enough, I find the dementia unit to be the most "fun", as it were. More people up wandering, and you never know what to expect ;-). They keep me on my toes more. It's the residents who are alert on the other floors who seem to get to us the most!

I'm an LPN in a long term care facility. Twelve hour nights. 40-50 residents per floor, and from 11-7 it's usually just me and 2 CNAs (on a normal night). Sometimes I only have one aide for part of the shift, and sometimes I have to take half of a second floor. And despite what people seem to think, the residents do NOT sleep all night. In fact, they seem to sleep more during the day than they do at night :-P.

Oh I can definable relate! I also work in LTC 3 12hr shifts a week. 7p-7a and work with 2 CNA's from 10pm on. I too have a hard time with my eating at night. I try to bring low cal foods with me to work and half the time I don't get my supper until after midnight, so yes it has been a struggle especially now that the weather is getting cooler and I don't get in as much walking as I did. And your right, they don't sleep at night and when I have a day nurse that says "oh we had a good day, no troubles with so an so, I just want to scream and tell them they "try working my shift!" "They don't sleep!"

Hi there, I'm a night shift nurse (1900-0730) and work on a cardiac/clinical decision unit. Good to see other nurses out there. I have often tried to contact some of the "experts" with help regarding diet, activity, etc giving out unique lifestyle. Most plans are designed for the 9-5'rs who sleep nights and don't work weekends. Definitely not us.

I got serious a year ago and have finally made some progress. Always looking for new folks to help motivate and keep me motivated.

Good luck to you all as we all work on becoming healthier folks (and practice some what we often preach!)
Kasey

Hi I am new to the group, am an RN 36 hour nights 745p-815a, I float around in an acute care hospital. I did this per diem for years and back in April I became full time. before I became full time I lost about 13 lbs going to gym and using this website. Once I became full time I had a hard time adjusting to my schedule and stopped going to gym and gradually reverted to my old dietary habits. I am not new to weight loss in fact back in 2003 I lost 50 lbs and I maintained good eating habits for years, I divorced 6 years ago and managed to somehow gain 20-25 lbs....in any event, on the nights that we work how does one use the tracker. I find that meals eaten are more so ovr a 24 hour period versus a 10-15 hour day because I only get in 6-7 hours sleep on days that I work but am awake for the rest of it....what do you guys do? I also found this book called the new abs diet and want to try it because I like what I read.....not sure if any of you guys have ever heard of it??

Hi I am new to the group, am an RN 36 hour nights 745p-815a, I float around in an acute care hospital. I did this per diem for years and back in April I became full time. before I became full time I lost about 13 lbs going to gym and using this website. Once I became full time I had a hard time adjusting to my schedule and stopped going to gym and gradually reverted to my old dietary habits. I am not new to weight loss in fact back in 2003 I lost 50 lbs and I maintained good eating habits for years, I divorced 6 years ago and managed to somehow gain 20-25 lbs....in any event, on the nights that we work how does one use the tracker. I find that meals eaten are more so ovr a 24 hour period versus a 10-15 hour day because I only get in 6-7 hours sleep on days that I work but am awake for the rest of it....what do you guys do? I also found this book called the new abs diet and want to try it because I like what I read.....not sure if any of you guys have ever heard of it??

Hi, Welcome back.
I am returning poster myself, I really like MFP, it keeps me motivated but I must be consistant, I get bored very easily I have been pretty good about posting since I returned. As far as my tracking goes, I work straight 8 hr /Midnights 2400-0800 so whether I am home or work...When I eat....I track, sometimes it appears that I haven't made enough calories for the day, but that's because of short period between getting off work and my sleep period.

Yes I have seen the ABS Diet, it seems pretty straight forward if you need a guide to follow. I don't do diets anymore, I generally only use them for meal ideas, since I have a book shelf full of every diet know to man..Lol....Currently I am just monitoring my calories and follow Dr.Oz Recommendation of 80/20 ---Eat healthy most of the time, without depriving myself. This is working best for me right now, and although I still have my Pepsi several times a week and some unhealthy choices as well. I am still losing so this works for me. I am learning discipline in some areas..."A work in Progress" For example I eat light at work, and have begun exercising. No matter how bad my eating habits are I track it, if lets say I eat fast food, I make sure I eat better for the remainder of the day. No guilt here, I just enjoy and keep it moving. I also have a huge DVD collection of every workout program, infomercial types made. So I have no excuse, I like working out at home; it's very convenient and when I feel the need to get out, I will go to the gym or take a live Zumba class.

This is a new facebook page for night shift workers.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/108197372645760

We are a roudy bunch on this page, but we sure do have fun.

Hello gang, it is so good to hear others have the same frustration. I used to be in such great condition in previous years and even during nursing school. But has night shift really put a kink in my eating and exercise! I feel so much better when I work out and eat good but it only takes one really bad night and then you think to yourself "well I deserve to stop at hardes on the way home and eat 3000 calories in one meal". Then I really feel like ****.

Hi everyone I am an LPN working 12-8 5 days a week every weekend at the VA hospital. I have more than 100 lbs to lose and its been very hard. I been working nights for 17 years. Ive only been successful at losing a lot of weight between 04-06 110 lbs but had insomnia the whole time. I would be up for 3-4 days in a row then crash. I know thats not healthy but working nights I could never get any regular sleep. Needless to say I gained it all back plus some. Its is so frustating. This is my third attempt at trying to get this weight off.Feel free to add me I could definitely use some support and motivation especially from people who understand the struggles night shifters have.

I am an RN working in a Canadian Neuro/Trauma ICU. We work a 12 hour 2 Day/2 Night, 5 off rotation which I Love, but I usually pick up two or three part-time shifts in a rural hospital ER on my "days off"!! After 13 years, I still haven't learned great sleeping or eating habits. If I am working Day shift I eat well and follow my eating plan but then by the time I get home I am hungry again and end up snacking on junk. On Night shifts, my daily calorie count is done but I get so hungry that one again I end up nibbling all night. I have 25-30 lbs that I would like to lose and would appreciate any support and suggestions.

I am a long term care nurse nights and day shifts .....i understand the sometimes boring nights depends on the patients we have if they sleep or how much care they need......for me sandwiches and cheezies are go hard to stay away from and even tho we are sitting around (sometimes) waiting to be needed its so hard to do 10 sit ups or some kind of excersize cause its 2am and we are tired from not sleeping /eating right