Going home from night shift

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi guys, I work night shift and I just wanted to ask for tips on how to stay awake when driving home from working nights? Anything would be helpful...

Thanks!

Thank you very much for all your responses!

Specializes in NICU.

I don't know your family situation, so I don't know if this would work for you or not...

I don't go to sleep right when I go home - run errands on the way home from work, play on the computer, watch TV, cook, etc. Then I go to bed around 11am or so, and wake up at about 5:30, just in time to shower and go to work. That way, when I'm getting off at 7:30, my body isn't that tired yet because it's used to being up until 11. Just like a day shifter - they don't go home and fall into bed! They have dinner, watch TV, excercise, etc. and then head to bed sometime around 10 or 11pm. You don't see a day shifter going to bed at 8pm and waking up at 2am if they don't have to work until 7am! So it makes sense for a night shifter to keep the same kind of schedule, just switch the AM and PM around.

Of course if you have to pick up the kids from school, cook a big dinner, etc. then it won't work. :o

When I was in school, I had a pretty long commute and I worked nights. I have also had the experience of being sleepy at the wheel- and finding myself doing almost anything to keep awake. In fact a friend of mine and I used to drive behind each other and one day she must have completely fallen asleep- because she was headed right for a truck... I kept blowing on the horn and the truck did too and eventually she pulled into the correct lane. :uhoh3:

Chat shows do seem to keep me awake better than music. In addition, a snack of some type and a drink that I have to keep drinking.

Now I always try to live relatively close to the hospital I work at... makes things easier.

I also find that getting enough sleep prevents this- often nightshifters are taking care of soo many day time obligations (call the repair man, change the oil, go to the dentist etc) that they really do not get enough sleep.

I drink regular coke right before I leave to go home and one for the road too. I also blast the radio with some of my favorite tunes and if I am really tired the windows are down as well. I also always try to take the stairs down to the car so that I also get a little exercise before hopping into my car for my 35 minute drive home, hope that helps. stay awake and stay alive.

Deb:nurse:

Specializes in NICU.

I also find that getting enough sleep prevents this- often nightshifters are taking care of soo many day time obligations (call the repair man, change the oil, go to the dentist etc) that they really do not get enough sleep.

DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!

That really seems to be the problem, at least the vast majority of the time. Way too many night shifters treat it like a magical shift where they can be full-time wives/mothers and full-time employees - stay up all day long and work all night long. It's dangerous and scary. I know, I know, when I have kids, I'll understand. That's what they say. But I know for a fact that if I was a patient in the hospital, I would not want a night shift nurse that has been up since 6am with the kids and has been running all day long! You can never convince me that it's okay for a night shift employee of any kind to be up for 24+ hours.

JMHO

Specializes in M/S, OB, Ortho, ICU, Diabetes, QA/PI.
That's the one I use! Nothing like waking up the whole parking lot with AC/DC blaring out the window!

The younger folks at work are surprised this Granny listens to AC/DC!

Little do they realize...

how funny!!! I first tried listening to Black Sabbath but the extended guitar riffs were too hypnotic when I was tired so I switched to AC/DC!! There's nothing like good old Australian rockers to keep you going for the drive home!!! I know what you mean by "little do they realize" - I'm a singer in a rock band and that always freaks people out!!

"'Cuz I'm TNT, I'm dynamite.............."

:coollook: :coollook: :coollook:

I used to buy a bottle of orange or grapefruit juice as I was walking out the door of our facility. That extra boost of glucose got me home. Also, kept the car COLD and sang to radio. Once you relax it is all over.

Specializes in ER/PDN.

I live an hour away from the hospital I work at. I talk on my cell phone to my grandmother all the way home. That way I know she is okay (she IS 75) and I get home without falling asleep. The days I can't talk to her, I listen to music and practice the songs I sing.

I still have my days though that I get very sleepy and have had my share of near misses as well.

Melissa

Specializes in Home care, assisted living.

Neal Boortz is a good person to listen to while trying to stay awake (his show doesn't start til later in the morning, though).

His talk show is so inflammatory that you can't help but listen and get riled up. That should keep you occupied for awhile.

I work day shift now, so my problem isn't going home anymore--it's trying to wake up for the hour-long drive in the dark to get there!

Hello,

I also work night shift and have had some diffucult situations driving home. My best advice would be start singing in the car. It may sound silly, but it works for me.

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