Does the exhaustion go away?

Nurses General Nursing

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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

If you like the country, doesn't get much more country than near Dartmouth Hitchcock in Lebanon NH, and they have a children's hospital. Brattleboro Retreat has a peds psych floor.

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Is is possible for you to relocate closer to your new job or stay closer on the nights you have to work back to back shifts?

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I wont hold punches here: your commute is nuts. You're going to have to suck up your current problem or make a choice to move to where a job is closer.

How much are you spending on your monthly transportation costs vs. moving to where you job is closer? Even doing the hotel/AirBnb/roommate idea would take how much from your paycheck? Now apply those monetary costs to how much you would spend on an apartment in a "good" part of the city and figure out the difference. Also think of the cost in time on your four hour commute. It would almost make more "sense" if you start doing a different crazy commute, flying out to California for a job and back.

If you do decide to stick out your commute, after a while I think you'll find that you wont care about who else is on the public transport when you're sleeping. Try not to drool on the person sitting next to you.

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A friend has that issue. Drives in day one and stays somewhere close with relatives so its only a 5-10 minute drive for her. Maybe rent a room or stay with a friend on the nights you need to get in early? You might be able to get a few more hours sleep that way.

I can sympathize. Today I got up 2:15 to get in for 4. Luckily not 12 hours though... Thankfully no traffic that time of morning.

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Specializes in NICU.

Get a car service and sleep going in... for awhile anyway,give it time.watch the caffeine.

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

I'd like to say it gets better, but it does not.

Once the "new" wears off - my energy faded even more.

I've had a commute of over 3 hours for 3 different jobs. I also did several 2 - 6 week contract spots of greater than 2 (usually 3) hours commute. All sucked. Of the 3 staff spots, 2 were short term commutes until I could settle & the 3rd and last was unsustainable for more than a few years. Period.

For my staff spots - these were all 24 hour shifts. Even so, I grabbed a hotel where I could justify and would try my best to schedule 24 on, 24 off, 24 on & if necessary sleep in my vehicle if I needed a catnap on the commute home. I'd suck up a hotel if necessary.

Same for the contract spots as much as possible. These were 12 hour shifts (that we all know go 13). I'd work as many as 3 in a row F/S/Sn (hotel on these days - hotels often struggle to fill weekend rooms away from convention sites, so rates are more flexible - I also spoke to the manager & worked it out so I paid in actual cash and got a regular sweet rate) then do W/Th & M/T -- this way you only have that 2 day stretch.

Alternately, my advice would be a Baylor or just do weekends if I could figure out a hotel. Look to the 'burbs with a reasonable commute or room rental.

Other than that, just be selfish about "pre-shift" rest, stress & activity and always practice good sleep habits. Make exercise, nutrition & self-care a priority.

This seems like a tough haul.

I do get the desire to want to work in your speciality.

I really hope something works out for you.

Good Luck!

:angel:

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Specializes in OMFS, Dentistry.

Hi Annie,

Be cautious of the E line, it is a total nightmare in the winter time. Not sure where you commute from but depending on which commuter you take, there is the LMA shuttle from JFK. I find this has the least worries and the most reliable service.

K

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Specializes in Pedi.
Hi Annie,

Be cautious of the E line, it is a total nightmare in the winter time. Not sure where you commute from but depending on which commuter you take, there is the LMA shuttle from JFK. I find this has the least worries and the most reliable service.

K

Is the D line really any better in the winter? Is ANY line of the MBTA really better in the winter, actually?

Annie, do you have a plan for the winter? The MBTA sometimes shuts down completely in bad snow and the hospital will not hesitate to send out emails to remind you that you are essential personnel and expected to be at work come hell or high water. I walked to or home from the hospital more than once during particularly bad snow storms because of how unreliable the T is and didn't see a single train on the way. At the time, I only lived 3 miles away. It has taken me 2+ hours to drive the 6 miles to the Longwood area in snow before.

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You have to make lifestyle changes to better accommodate. Getting to bed asap would probably be your best bet. But if it doesn't work out, its definitely not worth the job if it affects your life negatively that much!

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

Hi,

Just an update. The exhaustion DOES in fact go away. My body has adjusted to the change in my sleeping and shift length/activity and I feel a ton better. It only took a couple of weeks to not feel so groggy all day. I also love caring for just kids (with a very occasional adult thrown in).

As far as the commute goes I am taking the bus still for day shifts and that is working out great, I do have to try and run for the night bus though when I am working a back to back shift, but that is just one time a week, so no big deal. I will take the bus for nights as well until I know how sleeping I will be after, and if it will be safe to drive home. I will have to drive for our mid day shift, so I am hoping the traffic wont be so bad, BUT I will be thrilled that I can actually sleep until 8 am!

I am going to give this job 6 months and get through the winter, if the commute ends up just being to much to handle then I will look for something else. I don't want to leave the "kids" though, because I truly love working at a place that I can care for them, and very few adults (which i totally dislike caring for).

Thanks everyone for the great advise!

Annie

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Best wishes, Annie. Rest well.

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