Advice on handling multiple 12's

Hello my future coworkers! (hopefully...) I'm almost finished my BScN and I'm looking for any tricks of the trade or advice you guys have on handling multiple 12hr shifts back to back. The majority of my schooling that has had consecutive shifts were 8s with a 12 sprinkled in here or there (never more than 3 shifts total in a row).

However, my preceptorship is starting up soon and I'm a bit anxious for my rounds of 3-4 back to back 12s. I'm nervous about med errors, documentation errors etc as a result of being tired and losing focus (clinical is still a draining experience..). Any de-stressing, unwinding or sleeping tips from the pros?

Or am I being the typical stressed out, slightly crazy nursing student they've programmed me to be and just shouldn't worry about it?

Edit: thanks to all your advice, I am surviving! Once I get to day 3 I'm pretty toast and sleep really well that night, but you guys were incredibly helpful. Many thanks reddit nurses!

Posted Apr 15, 2016, 12:56 AM UTC · edited

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