Can't sleep at nights

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2008

I had a hard time sleeping as a new grad too, just because I was so stressed out with my new job. Is that the case for you? Are you not sleeping because you're up thinking about things related to work?

I worked nights, so it was even a bigger adjustment trying to sleep during the day. I took melatonin there for a while to help me sleep. After a while I just didn't need it anymore and now I take nothing to help me sleep. If I were you, I would try some over-the-counter stuff first (before going to prescription) like melatonin or Simply Sleep (the sleep aid component of Tylenol PM). It'd be better to take those for a while and wean yourself off than to keep getting no sleep.

Good luck to you!

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jun 28, 2008

I was the same way as a new nurse. There's so much you're absorbing and learning (by trial and error) as a new grad, that you take it home with you. Your brain takes advantage of you, and your mind races all night.

My advice is to try to "shut down" your brain before bed.

-Stop eating/drinking after 7p.

-Avoid caffeine late in the day

-Turn off the TV a while before bed, and just relax or take a hot shower before bed.

-Practice emptying your mind once you are in bed. I always find myself running through the day's events in my head. Take some deep breaths and imagine yourself floating away from the thoughts running through your mind. Try to make yourself numb...

- I work night shift, and have trouble sleeping on my nights off. I take melatonin (natural sleep aid, works VERY well) and occasionally Ambien. There's nothing wrong with needing something to help you sleep, but I would try the other stuff first. Good luck!

:smilecoffeeIlovecof

Pkkostura · Jun 28, 2008

Im still in school but I use unisom with a benadryl or two, works like magic.

Cursed Irishman · Jun 28, 2008

The sleeping component of tylenol pm is diphenhydramine, which is benadryl.....

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jun 28, 2008

Yep, I had to use benedryl for a while too. I think it's a normal part of being a new grad. Even today, sometimes I come home from work and just can't turn my brain off.

Plus, did you just move here? The stress of being a new nures + moving to a new town is really a lot...

groovy jeff, RN · Jun 29, 2008

Thinking about & dreaming about work, school, etc. happens to me with every new endeavor that I undertake. It seems that when you work all day long and work all night long in your dreams/thoughts there isn't lots of energy left over. For me it last about 2 weeks. If your having trouble going to sleep just pick up and start reading your old textbook on nursing theory!! Zonks me out every time.

silentRN · Jun 29, 2008

I want to take my NCLEX study books I have and take them out to a shooting range and let them have it. :) I slept pretty good lastnight cause the night before I slept maybe 3 or 4 hours. I think at times it's just hard for me to force myself to sleep and force myself to wake up. I used to work night shifts (5 years) and sleep was never a problem. I went to bed when I got home but didn't feel pressured that I had to fall asleep then in order to get 8 hours of sleep, I just fell asleep cause I was so sleepy from being up all night. And when I woke up I woke up on my own time and still had maybe 2 hours till work again. But now that I work the AM shift I have to force myself to go to bed at 9 or 930 AM so I wake up at 530am and get a good 8 hours of sleep. I don't function good when I get less than 7 hours.

RNfaster · Jun 30, 2008

I buy the non-brand diphenhydramine in whatever form that is on sale (capsule or tablet).

Kava tincture is expensive and tastes terrible, but I really think it helps give me more restful sleep. I only use it occasionally.

I agree with the other posters' suggestions, e.g., establish a routine, etc. You might also try journaling your thoughts. I used to do that and should start doing it again. I recall that it used to help me clear my mind and settle down. I also knew that I could relax as my issues were written down and I could return to them at a later time (and as they were recorded, I would not totally lose them.

Good luck!

MsBruiser · Jul 1, 2008

Ever since I've moved to Tucson; I'm having a really difficult time falling asleep at nights. This is my first nursing job I've had and I've been at it for 3 weeks (I've worked as a pct/cna for 5 years previous). I just find myself that my mind is just racing at nights and it never used to be that way before. I have never had problems sleeping at nights. Or I'll fall asleep and then wake up like a half hour later and can't fall back to sleep til an hour or hour and a half later. I really hate it cause then I'll have lack of energy at work when the 10th thru the 12th hour kicks in. Did anyone else experience this as a new nurse? I'm thinking of maybe getting a prescription to help silence my mind at night so I can relax and sleep but I don't want to get hooked on that. Well, just writing cause I'm up not sleeping
-David

Don't mess around - go the doctor and get a prescription. Risperdal in low doses is actually an effective way to stop the racing mind - but there are tons of safe options. Don't suffer more than you have to - Benedryl and Tylenol PM did nothing for me...