Does the exhaustion go away?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Hi all,

I just started a new job last week and I have to get up at 345 am to be there for 7. I don't drive, I take public transit because of the traffic. Anyway I noticed even on my days off last week I was kind of exhausted despite getting a full night sleep on those days. I only get about 6 or 7 (only 5 if I am on back to back shifts) on the nights before I go to work because I am just not someone who can fall asleep early. I actually hate the morning and prefer to sleep until 7 or 8 generally. The shifts are 12 hours, so by the time you factor in the long commute time it ends up being a 16 hour day!

My previous job was a ten minute commute and I woke up at 6 am.

Anyone have a similar scenario and adjust to the change? I am just a little concerned, as I really want to keep this job, but not if it means I will be a zombie on my days off!

Annie

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Specializes in ICU.

It didn't get any better for me when I was in a similar situation. I ended up changing jobs to one closer to home and I'm so much happier.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Ok, thank you for your input. Anyone out there have it improve?

Annie

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Can you sleep on the transit?

I once had an hour and 20 minute driving commute once. It didn't get better, unfortunately. It probably got worse after the novelty of the job wore off. Sorry. Hope you have better luck.

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Why did you make the job change and take this new one?

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
Why did you make the job change and take this new one?

I absolutely HATE caring for adults as a nurse and this is the only pediatric only hospital in my state or the one next to it. I was working full time as a medic and have been for 14 years because I literally hate adults and couldn't tolerate caring for them as a full time nurse. There are very few pedi jobs closer to my house and then competition is fierce and even then low census equates to being moved to an adult area etc. Unfortunately my back jusg cannot tolerate lifting all the over weight patients and carrying them down flights of stairs, not do I have the desire to be carrying people through the snow in the middle of the night when its 30 out.

Anyway I guess I will give it another few weeks and decide what to do. Maybe in the meantime I will apply to closer nursing jobs if I find any. Like I said I hate adults and believe me I wish I did enjoy caring for them, because it would be 1000 times easier to find a job closer to home, but I don't.

Annie

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
Can you sleep on the transit?

I once had an hour and 20 minute driving commute once. It didn't get better, unfortunately. It probably got worse after the novelty of the job wore off. Sorry. Hope you have better luck.

Ok thank you for your onsite! I guess the positive side is I am not driving! I have tried sleeping but it's kind of awkward and if I miss my stop I would be pretty screwed !

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.
Ok thank you for your onsite! I guess the positive side is I am not driving! I have tried sleeping but it's kind of awkward and if I miss my stop I would be pretty screwed !

Set an alarm clock. Generally transit runs on time or late. So, set an alarm clock for a few minutes before expected stop. When I take transit, I often fall asleep on the trip home.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Can you move closer to the job?

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
Can you move closer to the job?

No, to move anywhere within 20-30 minutes of this city I would be looking at probably 400K, and that would be for a dump of a house or one in the ghetto! No thanks to that. Probably 330K for a 1 bed condo and then you factor in the condo fee and you end up around the equivalent of a 500K house.

I own a house in the country and that is where I prefer to live, and if that means I have to give up this job I will. When I am ready to sell my house, which I love, I will be moving out of this area more then likely and to someplace where the cost of living isn't so ridiculous. I am a single person so that doesn't help, you basically work your ass off here just to afford to live.

Annie

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
Set an alarm clock. Generally transit runs on time or late. So, set an alarm clock for a few minutes before expected stop. When I take transit, I often fall asleep on the trip home.

I did that the other day, but still couldn't fall asleep. I am hoping once I get used to sharing space so closely with strangers it may be easier to sleep!

Annie

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I would think about renting a room or moving closer to work that way you cut your commute time. I'm not really one to talk as I can walk to my job.

Hppy

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