Sleep during day
-ear plugs
-fan (white noise)
-sleep aid (benadryl, don't use it every time though)
-eye shield
-TURN YOUR PHONE RINGER OFF
-stay up as long as you can the night before your first shift; go to bed when you begin to get sleepy, wake up around 9 or 10 and run some errands if you have any, then head for a nap between 2-3 and sleep until 4:30 or 5 or whenever you need to get up to get ready for work (may want to eat a meal at this time too)
-DON'T EAT OR DRINK PRIOR TO LAYING DOWN..KEEPS YOU FROM HAVING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM
Stay awake on night shift
-eat throughout your shift (My lunch box is usually packed to bursting w/ small snacks to munch on, just slip it in your uniform pocket or if you're allowed food nearby)
-caffeinated beverage, but cut off intake about 4:30 to 5 am, otherwise you'd have trouble getting to bed in the morning
PM me and I can tell you more; thats all I can think of off the top of my head. I work night shift for almost 5 years (w/ occ. day shifts) and these things I found have worked. Because I've been doing it for so long, I've had to find new ways to get to sleep though and stay asleep. The staying awake part isn't too difficult if you work in an ICU setting. Sometimes if you have a busy assignment, you'd be to occupied to even think of staying awake..but you may hit a slump after 4 am. If you can grab a 10 or 15 minute power nap (with charge nurse approval first and you patient(s) are adequately covered). Some hospitals give nurses a 30 rest break in addition to the meal break, or you can use your meal break to grab a nap...it's your break time and you use that time however you like.
Hope some of these tips help...they don't work for everyone..like I said these are things I've done..you may find something that work better for you...lot of it is trying different things out.
Good luck and have fun working nights