I've been working nights for a little over a year now and have not had a problem until now. All of a sudden it seems like my body has rejected working nights. I find it difficult to sleep during the day now and increasing harder to get through my shift. I work from 7pm-7am. Anyone else have this problem? Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.
Summerbride04
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Re: Anyone else work the graveyard shift?
Nobody else works nights?
DaniRN
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Re: Anyone else work the graveyard shift?
I work 8pm-8am. Lots of coffee usually does the trick for me.
Imagin916
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Re: Anyone else work the graveyard shift?
I do, I do!
When you get home do you go right to bed or do you stay up? When I get home if I have to be back at work that night I make myself go right to bed even if Im not that tired because then you will be up until 11 am and will get like 4 hours of sleep before you have to be back. When you get home take a warm shower, and get your butt right into bed. If your room isnt dark, get some heavy curtains or something to darken it, it really makes a difference. If I am off the night before I have to work and I have slept through the night, I will get up around 8 am and then take a short nap from like 11 until like 3. Oh yeah, and dont take any sleeping aids because you will feel so groggy when you get up it will make you feel worse.
I can see how you are falling asleep when you are in the ICU, I felt the same way when I spent some shifts there. The environment is relatively quiet and dark, there are not a lot of family members there talking with you in the middle of the night, and often your patient isn't able to communicate with you so either.
I think once you start L+D you will have an easier time staying awake because you will be so busy you wont even have time to think about being tired. The constantly being on your feet, making constant rounds on your laboring moms and dealing with family members will keep you awake, even on the most exhasting nights. Plus the fact that your patients load will be changing frequently, and all the paperwork that goes with L+D, you will be wide awake. If you still feel really tired, you can always sleep on your break if you need it. I dont like to because I usually feel worse when I wake up, but sometimes if I am completely and utterly exhasted, I do and it helps.
