New grad night shift sleeping trouble

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a new grad nurse working nights on a progressive care unit. When I first started I would get so exhausted from my shift that I had no trouble sleeping. Here I am over 3 months in and now I have trouble sleeping during the day. I CAN GET to sleep. I just can't STAY asleep. I tend to wake up at about 1230 in the afternoon and can't go back to sleep. I have tried Benadryl, ear plugs, room darkening curtains, a fan for noise. Sometimes I get up and go get a snack and turn on meaningless TV. Nothing works. Sometimes I lay there for 2 more hours not sleeping.

I wonder if part of the problem is now I am also dreading going to work now because of some trouble I have had lately trying to manage time and unit gossip, etc that has started really bothering me.

I will try anything at this point. I can't go to work a 13-14 hr shift with 4 hours of sleep anymore. Any advice?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Please use the search feature - there are multiple threads offering advice on this topic. You can learn a lot from the collective wisdom of night shifters!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Limit or even cut off caffeine intake during the last half of your shift. The coffee/soda/Monster that you're pounding to make it through the last few hours at work could be contributing to your sleep difficulties.

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I only drink 1 cup at the beginning of shift and on my nights off I don't drink any but still have trouble sleeping

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