Don’t let tasks pile up. Time management and multitasking are key skills at night. Take care of clinical issues as they arise. Finish documentation as you go along. Don’t let things pile up throughout your shift and then spend significant time after your shift to catch up.
Know your staff. The staff around you are your eyes and ears. Get to know your clinical and nonclinical staff’s tendencies. This can be immensely helpful in picking up any different patterns when interviewing and observing patients.
Know your limits. You may not be able to solve everything or obtain the ideal collateral at night. Don’t get caught up in definitively trying to resolve things and end up wasting precious time at night. Let it go. Don’t overthink. If all else fails, hold the patient overnight.
Prioritize self-care. Night shift work has been shown to negatively impact one’s health.1-3 If you choose this type of work, either part-time or full-time, maintain your own health by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, obtaining adequate rest between shifts, and seeing your health care team often.