Exhausted

[danceyrun]

I've been a nurse for about 6 months working rotating shifts. Regardless of the shift, I find myself completely exhausted after. 3 shifts in a row. I sleep for about 7 hours in between shifts and drink boatloads of water and eat healthy. I've always considered myself a healthy individual and exercise on my days off. But I just find that I cannot drag myself out of bed that first day of the "weekend" and when I do I always have to take a nap. I'm not seeking medical advice but want to know am I alone in this or is this something that other new nurses struggle with too?

[HappyWife77, BSN, RN]

It is what I call a work hangover, my friend.

No you are not alone. The scheduler at work gives me grief when I tell her I am not interested in full time 12s along with full time school and 12 hour clinicals. Seriously I can't even do homework on my days off because I am recuperating!

[danceyrun]

That's crazy! I worked part time as a PCA in nursing school but there's no way I could have handled full time. Thanks for responding, it makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one with the "work hangover"!

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Everyone gets it where I work even the RTs. I think you just keep going and going to get through your shifts not realizing the physical, emotional and often spiritual toll it takes. Just plan for it and allow yourself the luxury of that recovery day if you can. I try not to plan too many things on that first day off after a stretch of work or I plan things later in the day. If I need to go to the doctor or dentist I make a late afternoon appointment. Give yourself permission....have no quilt in doing so!

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

I think that it is totally normal. Sometimes you need to take that whole first day to decompress from the work week.