Nurses working midnights and sleep disorders

[Elisheva]

I worked midnights for two years. Bottom line, I never felt right during that time. My average for sleep while on shift would be 2-4 hours a day, and off shift I never got a routine. I just felt mildly ill and lethargic all the time.

About five years after leaving nursing, I started having real trouble with my sleep. Now I sleep with a CPAP set at a fairly high pressure. I'm wondering if any of you 12 hour midnight shifters are having trouble with sleep disorders?

I'd be interested to hear from you.

[flygirl43]

I have had severe sleep issues for 5 yrs. Resulted in ++++ tachycardia and hypertension. Quit. Looking for straight daysd (dialysis????) Figured out, some of us just can't do shifts! Good luck.

[FredericksX]

I don't have any diagnosable sleep disorders, but I also have no discernable sleep pattern: some nights I can get six hours, some times when not working I'm up until 3 or 4 in the morning, wake until the afternoon, and crash until midnight, etc. It's horrible, and it's part of the reason why I'm moving to days. Some people can and will find the motivation to do night flex but I don't think I'm one of them.