Do you get shift insomnia? Worried about it!:(

Published

Hi everyone! I'm a nursing student at the moment.

I was talking with a few nurses about how they had night shifts and started that way so I was excited about it and began searching it up online to hear others' experiences but I noticed many people also began to develop insomnia because they'd get home during the day and work during the night!

I have been waiting so long to be a nurse but a worry began to develop in me that the same would happen to me and I woulddevelop insomnia or have a hard time falling asleep knowing how sleep is so important and then messing up at work and losing my license or something! :(

Does anyone else experience this and have any advice? The more I worry about sleep is what prevents me from getting sleep so lately I've just been not caring about it or the future too much and it does help me cope with it. I hope I don't become hooked on any sleeping pills or anything like that b/c I am a very active person always exercising and taking care of my diet and all!

Do you guys use Valerian Root or melatonin? I hear small doses of melatonin is not addictive or something? If you guys do have insomnia, how bad has it affected your patients? Have you ever done something life-threatening?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi everyone! I'm a nursing student at the moment.

I was talking with a few nurses about how they had night shifts and started that way so I was excited about it and began searching it up online to hear others' experiences but I noticed many people also began to develop insomnia because they'd get home during the day and work during the night!

I have been waiting so long to be a nurse but a worry began to develop in me that the same would happen to me and I woulddevelop insomnia or have a hard time falling asleep knowing how sleep is so important and then messing up at work and losing my license or something! :(

Does anyone else experience this and have any advice? The more I worry about sleep is what prevents me from getting sleep so lately I've just been not caring about it or the future too much and it does help me cope with it. I hope I don't become hooked on any sleeping pills or anything like that b/c I am a very active person always exercising and taking care of my diet and all!

Do you guys use Valerian Root or melatonin? I hear small doses of melatonin is not addictive or something? If you guys do have insomnia, how bad has it affected your patients? Have you ever done something life-threatening?

How about you worry about nursing school. Then once you pass NCLEX you can worry about shift work insomnia. Not all NOC nurses have sleep issues. If you happen to be one who does changing to day shift is possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

You will learn that using medications properly does not cause addiction. Taking a sleeping pill as directed does not cause you to become addicted. Same with pain meds.

I have been an insomniac for as long as I can remember. Some nights I sleep well, some I don't. I work night shift and if you prep properly, you will sleep well afterwards. I adjust between days and nights. Sometimes though, I take an Ambien. It's not really a big deal.

I agree reed with the PP that you are putting the cart before the horse. Get through nursing school. Graduate, find a job, pass NCLEX. Working night shift and how it will affect you should be the last few f your worries.

But it amazes me that you know up front you are getting into a 24/7/365 profession and people have issues with it. It's the profession. A 9-5 job usually requires a desk, cubicle job. Those are the trade-offs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I worked 3rd shift on a job a few years ago, and when I got home I took an ambien to help me sleep. I never got addicted and I only used it until my body adjusted to going to sleeping during the day. It took about 2 months for me to sleep well without it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion