Day/Night Rotation and Sleep!

[sam1998]

I am at my first nursing position, on day/night rotation, 8 hr shifts, 8 days a pay period. Days are the majority of my schedule. However, recently I've been flip-flopping fairly frequently, and it's starting to take its toll on me. It's always been difficult for me to fall asleep at night, and it's gotten much worse since I've started working more nights, and then switching to days. After my night shifts, it's pretty easy for me to sleep during the day, and I would eventually like to get a straight night schedule. However, being low on the seniority list means this may not happen for awhile.

I've gotten desperate and tried sleeping pills (I know, not a good idea), a herbal mouth spray, relaxation exercises, and lavender scented balms and lotions to try to help this. Sometimes these work, sometimes they don't. I'm at a loss as to what to do to get more than 5 hours of sleep before my day shifts. I'm not enjoying my job as much because of this. I know if would be ideal to get away from rotating, but that is not feasible at the moment. Does anyone have any advice to offer?? I'm open to trying anything to help me fall asleep at night!!

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Do you have any control over how often you rotate? Would it be possible to do 2 weeks of days, then 2 weeks of nights?

[azxyrn]

I agree with the previous post, if you can try to move your shifts around so you are not alternating your shifts from one extreme to the other you'll do better. Worst case, try chamomile tea, don't knock it until you try it. I personally wouldn't recommend meds to help you sleep. But I've tried benadryl in the past, just not successfully as the side effects of being drowsy made my night miserable.

[TexasER_RN]

With the nursing shortage in such the state that it is, a job change might actually be a suggestion, barring that I do use sleep medication and it absolutely does not affect me negatively, however I also have diagnosed insomnia so it takes alot to put me out........I am a nightshift nurse but often flip flop secondary to shortage of staff to change from day to night I work my dayshift 7a-7p then go home and stay awake until I am literally slobbering on myself and then sleep as long as possible, same when I switch from night back to day 7p-7a, but this is very taxing on the body..........hope this helps!

[marie-francoise]

Too ironic that hospitals emphasize the utmost care of the human body when it comes to patients, yet feel free to abuse the circadian rhythms of their own nurses. Day/night rotations mess with your pineal gland, metabolism, mental health, and overall health. They shouldn't be legal.

[Pepperlady]

I work a schedule of 2 12 hour day shifts followed by 2 12 hour night shifts (then 5 days off). On my first night shift I have a late afternoon nap in my bed, in my pjs, with the blinds pulled. When I come home from my first night shift I go through my whole going to bed routine as normal, read a bit if I like, etc. I sleep til about noon, get up and have something to eat and go back to bed til about 5 pm. After my second night shift I do the same but I stay up after I get up at noon ..... I keep myself busy with house work, etc. and I go to bed about 10 pm. That usually flips me around okay.

The key, for me, is a comfortable spot for day sleeping, cool environment, room darkening shades, phone off, ear plugs if I need too .

I have been working this schedule for years.

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

Doxylamine is an OTC antihistamine that works for me. Try half a tab first. From what I've read, users don't complain about feeling drowsy the next day as often as users of benadryl claim. You can find it in the same area as Benadryl in stores.

You could also try camomile tea with valerian root and Melatonin.

If you don't get an improved schedule with rotating shifts, you may need to see a doctor for insomnia meds.

[kcochrane]

I love nights, but I do straight nights. I don't know how anyone can flip flog like that and I actually don't think its such a great idea for facilities to utilize the day/night rotation - unless its in blocks. I did day/eve with no problems.

I know in our facility some people have successfully switched from day/night to day/eve because it wasn't working well for them. I do have to switch to sleeping at night - or at least try before I have clinical. I try to wake up around 2 hours early that day and utilize melatonin to get to bed by at least 11 or 12.

Good luck!

[sam1998]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I will have to try some of those other ideas (melatonin, etc). I bought some tea that is supposed to help make you sleepy, however I don't like tea much and this stuff smelled awful to me... I couldn't even bring myself to taste it. Sigh. I am working to try to get on straight nights... probably won't happen for awhile, but maybe something will open up. It's not an option to do a stretch of days, and then a stretch of nights... those of us who are day/night just sort of are filled in where we're needed I think. And switching jobs isn't an option either... there is no nursing shortage whatsoever in the area I live (in fact, no hospitals are hiring). Plus, I love the hospital I'm at... like the unit too. Rotating is just too much! It's easier for me to sleep after my night shifts, so I requested more nights than days. Which has worked great - until I switch to day shifts. Ugh. I am supposed to work this morning (after a stretch of nights) as I type this. My alarm goes off in 2 hours. I am exhausted but yet cannot sleep. My poor body doesn't know what it's supposed to do anymore!! I've been feeling sick, depressed, etc. from this rotating business. It's messed me up much more than I thought it would. I am just PRAYING for the day I get switched to straight nights, so I can finally be on a regular schedule. Does anyone else think that evening/night rotation would be easier than day/night? Why is it that evening/night is not used instead? It seems to me it would be at least a little easier. Does anyone know the answer to that? I've been curious for awhile. Sorry if I'm rambling... I've been up for almost 24 hrs.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

ambien works for me. but nothing else does. i'm getting too old for this flip flopping nonsense!