Ways to Optimize Night-Shift Work
Working at night is an essential part of providing a comprehensive 24-hour service to patients. Here are five strategies for making the night shift work in your favor.
Make yourself more visible.
Stay visible to administrators and get involved. Staff meetings are often an important part of a work schedule. Attend and participate.
Seek learning opportunities.
Don't delay your career success because of the shift you work. Take advantage of your available daytime hours by taking up clinical or leadership classes or trainings to obtain professional certifications. Completing an advanced nursing degree program can also raise your career bar.
Go out and engage yourself in something new.
Spend your time with new activities or things not related to your job. Practicing different skills or doing what interests you can relax your mind. That engagement can take you away from the problems and challenges of work.
Set goals.
Night nurses' life may be challenging. Communicate with your night-shift colleagues, set goals and standards for your team to create positive impression about shift workers.
Maintain Personal Interaction
Do not forget to take time for your social interactions. You may do this before going home in the morning, as the day-time nurses come in. Catch up and have a little chat to make them feel the caring colleague in you.
Published at: 05/23/2015
