Ever Get Insomnia B-4 Work?

[Furoffire]

I know this is a common issue and I am affected by it too. For years I have fought the pre work jetters and not sleeping well, even when things go well and after a 12 hour shift I am emotionally so worked up you'd think I'd just drop off into a deep sleep.

Just wondering if I am not alone. Does it ever go away???

Now with most shifts 12 hour, starting so early, are there any clock watchers out there too? I do use OTC sleep aides and sometimes Ambien several nights a month for a special treat but I hate taking drugs. Its not like we can exercise when for example, I am up at 4, leave at 5:A.M. and home hopefully by 7:30 P.M. if no OT. Sound familiar?

[Cheyenne RN,BSHS]

this may sound absolutely crazy, but even after 20 plus years i cannot sleep the nights before i go in the next day.

i have been that way regardless of where i worked or the shift. i have accepted it as a normal pre-job stress.

lol

[Ms.RN]

a lot of my patients are taking trazadone(desyrel) to help them sleep. since this medication is not habit forming, i wonder if this is something you can try? :sleep:

[military spouse]

My coworkers and I used to discuss this all the time. Had great difficulty sleeping before a hospital shift. I now work in a prison infirmary and NEVER have trouble sleeping I'm surprisingly content!

[epiphany]

If this is not evidence that nursing is indeed a very stressful job, I don't what is.

[rach_nc_03]

I've had intermittent insomnia my entire life, even as a young child. I used to travel a lot on business in a former career- if I had a really early flight (prior to 7AM), I'd be so worried about missing my flight that sometimes I'd just drive to the airport around midnight, and sleep on one of the benches at the ticketing counter until they opened. I'm sure I couldn't get away with that post-9/11, though.

We did rotating shifts in my hospital positions, and I absolutely despised it. I think that's the most cruel, unhealthy thing to do to your body. I rarely slept more than 3 or 4 hours before a day shift, and usually 5 or 6 before a night shift. I was chronically sleep-deprived, and miserable.

When I worked PRN nights at a clinical research facility, I never had trouble sleeping during the day- I rarely got more than 6 or 7 hours, but I slept like a rock! I guess it was seriously low-stress.

I start a new job next week in DC (corporate-type office job) and I live far enough away that I'll need to take a commuter bus, then the subway. I'm hoping that the fact I *can't* be late for that bus will help....who knows, maybe I'll stay up worrying about *that*!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I mainly get insomnia when i know that i'll be dealing with extremely expensive implant at work (ex. orthopedic implants).

But i also remind myself that i need the sleep to be better alert, to do the job efficiently. For some reason, that works for me.

[catlady, BSN, RN]

a lot of my patients are taking trazadone(desyrel) to help them sleep. since this medication is not habit forming, i wonder if this is something you can try? :sleep:

i had a horrible response to desyrel. i got so dizzy i had to be lying down within five minutes, or i would have been on the floor. once i couldn't move, even to call 911, and finally focused on wiggling my toes and working my way up. the doctor didn't believe me because my s/s weren't in the literature, but i stopped taking the med and never had the s/s again.

[SandraJean]

I get stressed out before my shifts, too. (I didn't used to, but then was out of hospital nursing for 20 years and went back) I walk on the treadmill for 30-60 minutes before I leave for work, which helps me A LOT. I'm hoping that as time passes, I won't feel this way. Benadryl sometimes will help me sleep, but not always.

[AM-RN]

I've been nursing for 2.5 years...and it is getting less as time goes on. I've had intermittent insomnia prior to my nursing career.

I find that keeping a routine is key to me sleeping before my 12 hour shifts...even on my off days. I use benadryl regularly. I try to take a bath after dinner and get into bed early...even if i'm not sleepy. I'll watch tv or read. I recently bought a mask to wear on my eyes and that is helping, too.