What can the nursing assistants on the day shift do to help the resident sleep better at night?

Oct 30, 2025 4 min read •

senior care Sleep Health Nursing

According to the National Institute on Aging, maintaining a regular sleep schedule is a key component of healthy aging, yet many residents struggle with disrupted sleep patterns. This often leads to a crucial question for caregivers: What can the nursing assistants on the day shift do to help the resident sleep better at night? Their actions during daylight hours are critically important for setting residents up for restful, restorative sleep.

Quick Summary

Day shift nursing assistants can significantly improve nighttime resident sleep by promoting consistent daytime routines, encouraging light physical activity, optimizing light exposure, and managing dietary factors such as fluid and stimulant intake throughout the day.

Key Points

Establish Consistent Routine: Day shift nursing assistants should enforce a regular daily schedule, including consistent wake-up times, to regulate residents' internal body clocks.
Maximize Daytime Light and Activity: Promote exposure to natural light and encourage physical and cognitive engagement throughout the day to help residents feel tired at night.
Strategically Manage Naps: Limit naps to short durations and avoid late-afternoon sleeping to prevent interference with nighttime sleep.
Monitor Diet and Hydration: Reduce or eliminate caffeine, sugar, and heavy meals in the afternoon and evening. Moderate fluid intake before bed to minimize nighttime bathroom trips.
Ensure Seamless Communication: Document daily patterns and resident concerns for the night shift, and prepare the environment for a quiet, restful night.

Establishing a Consistent Routine

Establishing a predictable daily schedule is one of the most effective strategies for regulating a resident's internal body clock, or circadian rhythm. The day shift is responsible for setting the tone for the entire 24-hour cycle. A consistent routine helps signal to the body when it is time to be active and when it is time to rest.

Promote a Regular Wake-Up Time

Ensure residents wake up and get dressed around the same time every morning. This helps solidify the start of their day and reinforces the sleep-wake cycle. While flexibility is important, establishing a consistent wake-up time is foundational.

Encourage Light Exposure

Natural light plays a vital role in regulating circadian rhythms. During the day, nursing assistants should:

Open blinds and curtains to allow maximum sunlight into the resident’s room.
Encourage residents to spend time in a sunlit common area or near a window.
If weather permits and it is safe, help residents get outside for a short walk or to sit in a garden. Even 15–30 minutes of natural light exposure can make a significant difference.

Maximize Daytime Activity

Keeping residents physically and mentally engaged during the day helps them expend energy, making them more ready for rest at night. The day shift can facilitate this through:

Structured Activities: Encourage participation in scheduled activities like bingo, music therapy, or social gatherings.
Light Exercise: Gentle walks, chair exercises, or range-of-motion activities should be encouraged throughout the day. Consistent, light exercise can be a powerful sleep aid.
Cognitive Stimulation: Puzzles, reading, and conversations keep the mind active and engaged, preventing excessive daytime dozing.

Optimizing the Resident’s Environment

Creating a comfortable and functional living space is another key responsibility of the day shift.

Manage Napping Strategically

While some residents may require naps, excessive napping can interfere with nighttime sleep. Day shift nursing assistants can help by:

Limiting nap duration to 30 minutes, if possible.
Ensuring naps don’t occur too late in the afternoon.
Using a gentle wake-up method to transition the resident smoothly from their nap.

Facilitate a Quiet and Dark Sleep Environment

Towards the end of the day shift and in preparation for the night, actions should include:

Ensuring bedding is clean, dry, and comfortable.
Closing curtains and dimming lights to signal the approach of nighttime.
Working with the night shift to minimize noisy disruptions during nighttime rounds.

Dietary and Hydration Management

The food and fluids residents consume throughout the day have a direct impact on their sleep quality.

Limit Stimulants and Heavy Meals

Nursing assistants should be mindful of what residents consume, particularly in the afternoon and evening.

Caffeine: Encourage residents to avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea, and soda after lunch. Caffeine has a long half-life and can significantly disrupt sleep.
Sugar: High sugar intake, especially in the afternoon, can lead to energy spikes and crashes that interfere with a consistent sleep pattern.
Heavy Meals: Heavy, spicy, or fatty meals close to bedtime can cause indigestion and discomfort. A lighter meal or snack is preferable.

Control Evening Fluid Intake

To minimize nighttime trips to the bathroom that disrupt sleep, fluid intake can be moderated in the hours leading up to bedtime. It is critical, however, to ensure residents remain properly hydrated throughout the day.

Effective Communication and Documentation

Clear communication between shifts ensures continuity of care and helps identify individual resident needs.

Documenting a resident’s daytime activities, nap patterns, and fluid intake provides vital information for the night shift team.
Noting any resident complaints of pain, discomfort, or anxiety during the day can help the night shift anticipate and address potential issues that could hinder sleep.

Understanding the Impact of Pain and Anxiety

Pain and anxiety are major disruptors of sleep for many residents. While medication is handled by nurses, day shift nursing assistants can play a crucial role in providing comfort and reporting concerns.

Pain Management: If a resident is experiencing pain, the day shift NA should report this to the nurse so a plan can be established. Simple comfort measures like repositioning or using an extra pillow can also help.
Anxiety Reduction: Providing opportunities for social interaction and reassurance can help reduce anxiety. Knowing a routine and what to expect can also be very calming for residents.

Comparison of Day vs. Night Shift Roles in Promoting Sleep


Action Area	Day Shift Responsibilities	Night Shift Responsibilities
Routine	Establish and reinforce a consistent daily schedule, including wake-up times and meal schedules.	Maintain quiet, minimize disturbances during care, and adhere to established routines.
Environment	Maximize natural light exposure, ensure room is tidy and well-ventilated, make sure bed is prepared for evening.	Ensure darkness and minimal noise. Respond to resident needs quickly and quietly to prevent disruption.
Activity	Encourage physical and cognitive engagement through structured activities and light exercise.	Minimize activity and avoid stimulating residents unnecessarily. Allow for uninterrupted rest periods.
Dietary	Monitor and manage intake of caffeine, sugar, and heavy meals. Ensure proper hydration during the day.	Manage potential needs for late-night snacks while avoiding heavy foods and excess fluids.
Observation	Report daytime behavior, complaints, and routine information to ensure smooth handover.	Observe for nighttime sleep disturbances and report any issues to the day shift team for follow-up.

Conclusion: A Proactive Approach to Sleep

By adopting a proactive and preventative mindset, the day shift can have a profound impact on resident sleep quality. Addressing the root causes of poor sleep during daylight hours—through consistent routines, environmental optimization, dietary management, and good communication—is far more effective than trying to manage sleep problems reactively at night. This integrated approach, with day shift nursing assistants playing a central role, not only improves resident rest but also significantly enhances their overall health, mood, and quality of life. For more information on creating effective care plans, consult reputable resources like the Alzheimer's Association for insights on sleep-related behaviors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Exposure to natural light helps reinforce the body's circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Maximizing light exposure during the day sends a clear signal to the brain that it's time to be awake, which, in turn, helps trigger the release of sleep-inducing melatonin at night.

Yes, short naps can be beneficial, especially for older adults. However, long or late-afternoon naps can disrupt nighttime sleep. The day shift should aim to limit naps to 30 minutes and encourage residents to nap earlier in the day to maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.

Nursing assistants can encourage a variety of activities to help expend energy. This includes light physical exercise like chair exercises or short walks, and mentally stimulating activities such as puzzles, reading, social conversations, and participation in group activities.

Day shift nursing assistants should ensure residents are properly hydrated throughout the morning and early afternoon. Fluid intake can be moderated in the late afternoon and evening. This is a balance, and staff should always prioritize a resident’s hydration needs while mindful of the potential for nighttime disruptions.

Effective communication is crucial. The day shift can provide the night staff with information on a resident’s daily routine, any reported pain or anxiety, and patterns of napping or fluid intake. This helps the night shift anticipate needs and implement a consistent, resident-centered care plan that promotes better sleep.

If a resident complains of pain, the day shift nursing assistant should promptly report it to the charge nurse. Pain is a significant sleep disruptor, and addressing it during the day can prevent it from worsening at night. The NA can also provide comfort measures, such as repositioning, while waiting for the nurse.

Loud noises can easily wake residents and disrupt their sleep. The day shift can assist by ensuring rooms are prepared for the night and by communicating with the night shift about minimizing loud interactions in hallways and around resident rooms during overnight rounds.

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.