Seven ways travel nurses can get good sleep
Nurses are often under a lot of stress due to the chaotic environment at work. Discover seven ways you can get a good night’s sleep if you’re a travel nurse.
The role of a nurse requires them to be on their feet for long hours, have little personal space, and often work with people who are sick or injured.
Nurses also spend much time adjusting to different places and working with different people. This is why nurses need to get sound sleep. These tips will help you get the rest you need when traveling as a nurse:
1) Make friends with your new bed
Getting used to a new bed is hard when you travel because of work. You may need to sleep better. The best thing you can do is make friends with your new bed, so it doesn’t feel as strange when you wake up in the morning.
You can lie down on your back while reading a book. This will take time and effort, but sleeping won’t be such a problem once you get used to this.
2) Use your carry-on
Many people like to travel with a big suitcase, but if you’re a nurse returning from an overnight shift, using your carry-on might be the best option. This is because it will be easier to get around with less weight in your arms. You can also place the bag on your lap and use it as a cushion to rest your head while sleeping.
3) Get blackout blinds
If there’s a window facing the sun, it might be hard for you to sleep. This is because the light can enter through the window and keep you awake. It would be best to use blackout blinds to solve this problem. They will block out the outside light, preventing disturbance while sleeping.
4) Bring a sleep machine
A sleep machine can be a great way to help you get sound sleep. It will create white noise that will fade out other noises in the surrounding, allowing you to fall asleep more easily.
There are many sleep machines in the market. You should be able to find one that suits your needs. You can also bring earplugs to block out any other noise that might be bothering you.
5) Use dry shampoo and an eye mask
Dry shampoo can be a great way to help you get some rest. It will refresh your hair to look clean and smell good, even if you haven’t had time to shower recently. An eye mask will also help block out light from outside so that there isn’t any disturbance while sleeping.
6) Keep a routine
It’s hard to keep a routine when traveling for a job, but it’s important to give it a try. If you habitually go to bed at a certain time every night, stick to the schedule. This will help keep your body in sync when you normally sleep and wake up, so it doesn’t take long to get back into the swing of things once you return home.
7) Set up a mini pharmacy
Packing medications while traveling is always a good idea. If you are prone to motion sickness, make sure your bag has some medication such as Dramamine. If you get a headache while traveling, it’s best to have ibuprofen or acetaminophen on hand if they come back and prevent them from getting worse.
Sleep is essential for your health
It goes without saying that getting enough sleep is essential for living a healthy life. This is especially apt for travel nurses since they work around the clock to help the patients. But with some preparation and planning, you can sleep well after your stressful job. Click here to know more about maintaining a sleep schedule as a travel nurse.
