Combat Fatigue

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Cardiac, COVID-19, Telemetry.

Any tips on fatigue? I’m getting plenty of sleep at night but I am still waking up overly exhausted. It takes me several hours to truly feel awake. Last night I was so tired, I left the door to my car open! Yesterday was a particularly rough day and I didn’t get home from work until 9:30.

I am trying to eat healthier snacks and drink more water (I’m really bad at hydrating myself) but it is just hard feeling like I have zero energy all day everyday.

I’m less “busy” than I was in nursing school but I feel 10x more tired.

Any advice appreciated.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Vitamins? V8 Healthy Greens juice is wonderful. What about a check-up to make sure you aren't really vitamin deficient?

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Second a proper check up.

You mention healthy snacks but what about proper meals? Are you eating properly?

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I would definitely make getting a thorough checkup from your PCP a priority. And don't let them brush you off (one can tell when their complaint may not be taken seriously) when you describe your problem.

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Specializes in Cardiac, COVID-19, Telemetry.

I just visited my PCP about two months ago with the same complaints about feeling truly exhausted. He did a full panel of labs considering I haven’t been to a physician in quite some time. All my bloodwork came back ok. He did prescribe me Restoril because he suspected that while I was sleeping in the bed for several hours, I may not be getting restorative sleep. I took that for about a week and I noticed no change in fatigue, but I also would not remember anything from the time I took it to the time I woke and would wake up repeatedly with that panicked feeling of not knowing where I am for a minute. I didn’t like waking up like that, so I stopped taking it.

And no about healthy eating. I eat like garbage. I am trying to make changes to my diet by cooking at home more and meal prepping because I’m usually so tired I don’t want to cook, or sometimes I will just skip dinner because I would rather go to bed.

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Specializes in Cardiac, COVID-19, Telemetry.

I didn’t even think about being vitamin deficient though or even taking a daily multivitamin.

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Oh my goodness. This has been me several times. Always "fixed" with some changes - better adherence to a sleeping schedule, eating better, making sure to get some time in the sunshine or where I can see it. Oh and exercise. And catching up with non-nursing friends.

The bit about sunshine: I struggle in the winter, especially in the OR where it's fluorescent and 70F all day every day...it's especially bad when I get called in overnight...

PS - meal prep: I use a day off to make 1-2 items each week. Then there's variety and I tend to freeze some of my leftovers for when I don't want whatever is in my fridge but need to eat "better".

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Well acknowledging that your meals are poor is a start and great work on seeing your PCP.

I would suggest a few things

Meal prep or something like Hello Fresh to increase your diet quality and learn some cooking skills.

Getting outside in the sunshine every day. It is a pain when you are so exhausted but even 30-40 min of a gentle walk or bike ride witll make you feel better. Vit D, fresh air and sun or wind. Start it now and you are more likely to continue as autumn and winter start. I live in Australia and started in Jan (summer) and still do it.

Find a relaxation app and use it at nighttime to help you wind down. I use Calm and mainly listen to the nighttime stories which are just soothing white noise really I have tried the meditation parts of it but no go.

Write down a to do list - this is a big one for me. I physically feel better the moment it is out on the page and that part of my brain is calmed by not having to remember it. I use a pen and paper for my home to do lists and often send my work phone delayed SMS with things that pop into my brain at home in the evening ( stops me thinking about work by being able to forget the issue because it is written somewhere). I also really love the satisfaction of crossing something off the list or deleting the SMS.

A few years ago I seen someone about weight loss. The first week I was told to change no habits but to document everything I ate. It was really interesting to see that. If you can identify the biggest problems e.g. diet, lack of sleep hygiene etc and then work out which is the first priority for you.

Good luck!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Any chance there might be a sleep apnea issue?

Maybe a sleep study is needed?

I was recently hospitalized and rehabbed too. A diagnosis of severe hypercapnia was determined which included the implementation of bedtime cpap/bipap. Boy, I fought the machine at first, but ---

WHAT A WORLD OF DIFERENCE A LITTLE MACHINE CAN MAKE!!!!!

Before, I was noticing 'fatigue' when I awoke and a sort of 'brain fuzziness' as the day progressed, most esp in the evening. Never guessed it was sleep apnea. Now I can't wait until I put on my machine again!

Maybe a consult with a sleep disorder clinician is needed.

Just to mention, I am overweight, so that prob seriously contributes to my sleep apnea.

Just offering an opinion.

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Being excessively tired can be caused by a myriad of problems. Anything from Anemia to lack of ZZZZZZ's. You better get checked out. Nurses are already tired people, but there could be something additional causing this besides having a mentally and physically stressful occupation. Good luck, I hope it is an easy fix.

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I've seen this repeatedly in a number different jobs I've had in various career Fields. 99% of the time its diet and exercise. After a few years in a stressful job, you see a gigantic difference between those who exercise regularly and those who don't.

First too.... exercise 4 to 5 days a week no matter what. Even if you are dead tired...crawl over to a stationary bike and do 20 minutes followed by some 30 second planks and 10 or so pushups. You will sleep alot more soundly. On days you have more time or energy try 30 minutes of yoga.

Also on your days off meal prep. You can even just cook chicken for the week and get microwave brown rice packs from trader Joe's. If you hate veggies....blend them into a shake and scarf it down so you at least get one or two servings.

Also dont eat fast food like burgers ,pizza, burritos French fries more than once a week. It will kill your energy levels.

There is a myth that regular strenuous exercise is optional for healthy living. It's not. Exercise is 100 required. Ill bet a my nursing school tuition regular exercise and nutritious food will make you feel better. Get into a routine.

Hope this helps

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Full disclosure, I initially thought this was going to be a post about the military. ?

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