Can't sleep the night before I go into work

Nurses New Nurse

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I am a new RN working in a PICU at the only level 1 trauma center in this area. I love my job and I love all my awesome co-workers but as a new nurse I am stressed out and have a lot of anxiety, especially the night before I go to work (I work three 12's a week). I am literally up ALL night long , tired, but can't sleep. Any other new grad shave this problem??

Any tips? If it doesn't get better I'm going to have to go to the dr to get something to help me---I can't keep going to work so tired like that.

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Thanks so much :) I'm glad to know I am not alone in this no sleep before the first shift horror. I bought some OTC sleepaids that I am going to try tonight (knock on wood). Even if all I get is 5 hours I will be thrilled! LOL

I'm about to go take a nice shower and then take a pill and see how the night goes.

I hope everyone can find a solution for their insomnia. I'm thinking about going to see the dr though if this doesn't work for something just for anxiety (cause that is what my problem is) that I can take prn (once or twice a week). I just hate to go asking for that type of thing but I think I might need to.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Deleted - didn't realize I was in the first year of nursing forum

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I don't think there's a nurse alive that can't relate to what you are saying about sleeplessness and anxiety before a shift. Here's some of the things that I do.

First, I acknowledge that anxiety is the state of "living in the future" about something. For me, it usually involves a feeling that somehow my needs won't be met (in that future scenario) or that there's just not "enough" for me in the world. (not enough support, help, resources, breaks, wisdom, back up, etc., etc.)

My solution?

1) Write about it. Write a letter to "the universe" and hash it out.

2) Talk about it with a professional (and I DON'T mean an M.D. Perhaps a counselor of some type. Release some pressure. Don't do it alone!

3) Have some spiritually nourishing (or just plain entertaining) reading materials right at your bedside and start reading if you can't sleep.

4) Affirm what you need in your life with pen and paper. An example of how I do this is: "I have all the help I need at work. I build teamwork at work. I serve my patients well at work. I practice good self care at work. I take regular breaks. I am efficient at work. I leave work on time regularly."

I don't know about you but these are SOME of the things that I can potentially worry about enough to lose sleep over.

So basically, I take all my worries and I ask "the universe" to specifically help me with those things.

Believe it or not, it helps tremendously and is somewhat empowering!

Good luck! I blog a lot about stress relief for nurses. Stop on by. My blog is listed in my profile. :)

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Specializes in NICU Level III.
I have been an RN for two years, but I can completely relate... my mind races non-stop when I try to sleep before a shift. I am also a clock-watcher. If I work days and cannot fall asleep, I am always looking at the clock to see how much time I have left before I need to get ready.

I have tried OTC sleep-aids, as well as Ambien and Lunesta. Ambien helped, but I need a refill. Even though I felt fine when I woke-up, I hate feeling I 'need' to take something to get to sleep.

I am just starting a new position in Telemetry and know the stress of a new job is making things worse... hopefully it will improve!

This is me to a T.. but w/ one year exp and i just started a new position, too...making it even worse! I think it's time for me to start rx meds..

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I've had insomnia for years, and I've tried all the usual remedies. I get the worst sleep when I have to get up early, and I'm orienting on days. Before getting a scrip, definitely try all the usual "sleep hygiene" things - eliminate afternoon/evening caffeine, use bed only for sleep and sex, if you can't sleep after 20-30 minutes get out of bed, read in a chair until tired, then try again, etc. Mix in some exercise if possible, use anything you know relaxes you...there should be a long list in some of your nursing textbooks, if you haven't already tried all these.

Then you can try OTC sleep meds. I personally don't like Sominex or anything in that category - I've gotten really bad "hangovers" from it, especially if it doesn't actually knock me out right away. I take valerian pretty regularly, others like melatonin (better for changing to regular sleep schedule than just getting to sleep once). Occasional use of benadryl or tylenol PM is OK, but don't take them daily just to sleep. I also got a scrip for a low dose anxiolytic (my insurance doesn't cover any of the name brand sleep meds) last year, and I take it on nights before work if I feel like I'm going to have problems. As long as you limit it to a few days a week and don't mix with alcohol, these meds are fine to use if you need them.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Thanks for all the advice!

I'm now on the night shift and loving it and getting a LOT of sleep!

I can't go back to days where I work....too much stress.

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Specializes in NICU.

Do you like your job? Like deep down like it? The reason I am asking is while I was in nursing school I had anxiety much like the kid you described, maybe even worse. And I think it was because I hated the rotations I was doing. I went to nursing school specifically to be a NICU nurse. I wanted to know EVERYTHING about that but couldn't care less about anything else. And my lack of curiosity for other subjects sometimes made me feel unprepared/nervous etc. So I lived with this anxiety for 2 years and then that last semester I started my nicu preceptorship and my anxiety instantly vanished. I guess its different for everybody but just something to think about.

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