Recurrent Nightmares About Work

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in NICU.

Hi all,

I'm just curious if anyone has recurrent bad dreams about work. I have this dream about once a month - that it's 0300 (I work 1900-0730) and I haven't done my initial assessments or passed out 2100 meds yet. I haven't even seen a patient yet, and I always think, "What the heck have I been doing for the last 8 hours?!"

I've recently started working Couplets, and had a dream last week that I dropped three babies during my shift. I totally forgot about this dream until I was actually working and a dad was handing his baby to me. It was a frightening flashback to have right at that moment!

And one more... My dream job is to work in the NICU, and I had a dream that I was working there and lost twin patients. It is extremely morbid but the sight of their gray lifeless bodies was so disturbing to me, and in my dream I thought, "I can't do this." When I woke up I was fine, and I realize that these things are most likely going to happen. My husband said it was ironic of me to have a nightmare about my dream job.

I'm typically a very happy and positive person, but I am extremely critical of myself and wonder if this has anything to do with it. Anyone else have weird work-related dreams?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

I have been a nurse for almost eight years and I continue to have work dreams. My typical ones are that I am given a crazy assignment (people bleeding to death, falling, or being jerks), that I forget about a patient for the entire shift or that I'm pulled to some area in which I have no business being!

A lot of us have dreams about work. If you search around, you'll find the threads devoted to this subject. It does sound like you're a bit of an anxious person. I am also, and I believe this is a big reason why I have these dreams.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you've been extra stressed lately for some reason then it might have something to do with it. Are you taking time for relaxation before/after work?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

Yes, I had recurrent dreams about work. I would hear the bong and bing of the Tele monitors when I tried to sleep. For this reason I left bedside nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I am an anxious person in general (not to the point of having to be medicated, I've never taken a benzo in my life.) But I think it can be a good stress that drives me to do a good job at work, to always reassess and let MDs know if I don't feel right about something, and to always ask questions if I am unsure about something. I am the queen of "better safe than sorry." The thing is, I used to work on a high stress neuro unit for over 2 years. THAT job was stressful. Couplets is absolutely wonderful in comparison. I take time to relax on my days off.

I just thought it was interesting that they're recurrent. I'm not stressing or afraid to sleep over it, I just wondered if anyone else had a similar experience. I'll have to check out the other threads. Thanks for the responses!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

Yes, I do! I have nightmares about going through a whole shift, and forgetting to see one of my patients. I also often dream that I've gone through a whole shift, and not gotten vitals on any of my patients! I haven't even worked bedside in a long time. Yet, I still have those dreams.

Then again, I still have nightmares about being in high school, and forgetting my locker combination... And yes, I am an anxious person! LOL

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

It's funny, but I never have dreams about my job, until after I've quit and moved on to something else. My UPS nightmares still haunt me some 25 years later. UPS! :sarcastic:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

All the time. I have ones where I showed up for day shift at 10 am and I have to get my am meds given and none of my patients are up and washed.All are in bed and been incontinent. In my dream I am just paralyzed and I don't know where to start.I also have the " haven't been near one patient the whole shift" dream.I had one about a doc helping me change a patient and he got poop on his shirt.After a bust shift I will go to bed and hear call bells all night in my dreams.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have them and they are always different.

The other morning I had one and in it I was working at a hospital that I haven't worked at in 19 years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I do all the time! In fact, it happens so often I had a bit of a stomach churner when I was at work last week and my personal phone rings-it's in my pocket but my phone announces who is calling. "WORK CALLING" is what I hear. Now I'm at work, just finished the first assessments and I swear for a few moments I thought "OMG I overslept, WORK is calling and I'm just dreaming (again) that I am at work!" Heh. I answer it, it is the scheduler calling. I tell her I am here now and she says "No, you're not on the schedule." Again with the queasy feeling-but I am walking down the hall and pop into her office. She looks startled then admits she was looking at the wrong day and yes, I really was at work :sarcastic:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Oh yeah, that's another one I have all the time,I dream I wake up and I am supposed to be at work.Although that HAS happened so that dream isn't all that far fetched.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Oh yeah I have had the dream where I wake up a discover I should be at work. Although that actually HAS happened so the dream isn't that far fetched.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment