Absences - Insomnia

[6244444]

I hope you all are having a good day. I was looking for some friendly advice. I was diagnosed with OCD and severe insomnia 6 years ago. I became an RN a year and a half ago. I find myself laying in bed wide awake until 4:30-5am. My physician is aware and we have tried just about everything. I practice good sleep hygiene. I turn my lights off at 9pm, stay off of my phone, keep the room as dark and quiet as possible but I still cannot fall asleep some nights. I find myself calling in a lot sometimes once a month. I’m worried that if I go into work with no sleep I will put my patients at risk. My managers are aware that I have insomnia but I do not qualify for FMLA until February. To top off my anxiety I fear greatly that I will lose my job over this. I have never been warned about my attendance but I know it has to be an issue. I would give anything to be able to fix it. Does anyone have similar experiences or advice? I could really use it. Thank you so much for your time. 

Sincerely

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

You don't need to worry needlessly, there should be a clear policy about call outs. If you haven't received a verbal or written warning you are probably not near the level of callouts to put your job at risk. However, depending on the organization, they may not have to give you those warnings- but you should be able to find the policy.

You are doing what you can to get the sleep you need. I can't tell you what would happen if you were to go to work, but there's a chance you may have to do so at some point if you don't have your FMLA before you accumulate too many callouts. Sorry I don't have any personal experience or advice, but I hope you can at least reduce your stress if you know the expectations. 

[6244444]

Thank you so much for responding. There is a clear policy but they have never come to me with a verbal warning. I have reached the verbal warning point so that’s my concern. I worry that they may ignore the policy entirely and fire me. I suppose it’s unnecessary to worry about that. They would have to follow their own policies I would hope.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Even though you don't yet qualify for FMLA, your organization may have a intermittent medical LOA option. Talk to HR about what your options are.

[6244444]

Thank you so much for your reply. I will definitely do that.

[CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN]

Maybe you're a night nurse. I hate sleeping at night. I hate working days. I hate going to bed "early" (before midnight). When I worked nights, I had no problems getting ~4-5 hours of sleep midday and feeling refreshed for my shifts. I don't have insomnia, but I tend to want to stay up later in general.

[6244444]

I wish that I was. Unfortunately my insomnia is related to work anxiety. I sleep really well on days that I don’t have to work. When I know that I have to work the next day, I’m very anxious. I work bedside in a hospital where it is very fast paced. I’m always scared of what is going to happen. I’m currently working on my NP so I can get out of bedside nursing. Unfortunately I signed a 2 year contract. I’ve tried night shift and it made my circadian rhythm even worse. 

[londonflo]

When I was a new nurse I had terrible anxiety and insomnia. I worked evening shift (3P to 11P) and would come home wound up. Sometimes I would not get to sleep before 4 AM - 5 AM. I am a 10 hour sleeper. Sometimes I would sleep in until 2PM and rush to work with 'pillow wrinkles' on my face. I can totally empathize with you. I started doing crafts with my hands when I got home - anything to get my mind off work when I came home. It helped but what helped the most was acclimating to the stress of the job. I wish you the best resolution to this - lack of sleep sure can take a toll on you. 

[6244444]

Thank you ?? 

[londonflo]

PS. You may want to change your sign-on name to something more anonymous.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

3-11 is definitely the shift for you. I hope it is available. Have you talked to your provider about meds for this?

[6244444]

15 minutes ago, londonflo said:

PS. You may want to change your sign-on name to something more anonymous.

Way ahead of you. That is not my real name. But man, that would be terrible for healthcare professionals to use someone’s struggles against them. I’m in active treatment for OCD and my employer is well aware. Thank you for the advice!