Help! How do you stay awake on drive home after night shift?

Nurses General Nursing Nursing Q/A

I started as a new RN 10 months ago, rotating 12 hour day and 12 hour night shifts (4 week rotations) in a busy metropolitan ICU. I actually like rotating days/nights and think it has been beneficial to see "both sides" as a new nurse. I get through the 7p-7:30a shifts without a problem, don't have to nap and have a little coffee at 5a which gets me through . . . but . . . the drive home is another story!

I live 50 minutes away from the hospital. The first 30 minutes into the drive are fine, but once I hit that 30 minute mark, bam . . my body just says "nite-nite". The last 20 minutes of the drive are grueling, my eyes are rolling and even though they are open my mind is wandering and I'm not focusing right. I think I have tried just about everything to keep myself reasonably awake during those last 20 minutes including: loud music, windows down/ac on, drinking apple or orange juice, listening to talk radio, talking and singing to myself, slapping myself on the arms, getting out of the car,walking around and starting again(this keeps me reasonably awake for about 5 minutes). I'm so tired when I get home that I have found myself falling asleep in the shower (no kidding!) and fall asleep so hard once in bed that noise and light are no issue at all (I don't think an atomic bomb would wake me up before 3 pm).

During those last 20 minutes I have had several incidences including veering off the road (even in my own development!), almost running into a ditch and falling asleep at stop lights. But, a couple of days ago, I feel asleep at the wheel for the first time. It was only a few seconds, but when I opened my eyes I was way left of center with traffic coming at me head on. I quickly swerved back into my lane and the fear/adrenaline rush kept me awake for the remaining 10 minutes home (whew). That incident scarred the daylights out of me and convinced me that I must find a job within 30 minutes of the house (in my current job there is no way I could get straight days or even evenings).

I'm now in the process of looking for a new job, but in the meantime I'm still on night shift and will work again in 2 days. So . . . any other suggestions from you night shift nurses about staying awake on the drive home?? I have stayed away from using meds or "power drinks" because I don't want to compromise the precious hours of daytime sleep before going back to work at night. I also have not "napped" in the car along the way because I'm not sure it would work and I'm just sooo anxious to get home to my bed. But I want to hear what works for you . . . safety is definitely the issue here.

Thanks!!

Paula

Drink and snack on the way home. 50-60 minute drive for me. I used to work 10 minutes from home, never had a problem because I don't get sleepy at work. I have had some scary rides home since the new far away job. If I have to, I stop and get gas, get out of the car and walk around it, whatever it takes. (Took me 2 hours to get home one day with all the stops I made!) I won't nap though, I think I'd have to bring a change of clothes so I could sleep the whole day in the car then! But long walk to the parking lot, then drinking water all the way home, and snacking if I need to. Stop for some BK hash browns to nibble on if I need an extra stop and extra snack. Stop for gas. Stop to check the tires. Some days I'm energetic though and music's enough for me.

maybe you need to call someone on your way home, i know that helps me. only do it if you have hands free of course, but i found it really helped to actually talk to someone, rather than singing, because my mind had to work a little bit harder to respond to them. it was great to debrief after a bad shift, but i usually ended up detailing my funniest/most annoying/most labour-intensive patient, becaue that usually made me laugh, and the laughing helps fight sleep too.

the other suggestion i have is to eat an apple on the way home. apples are known to wake you up better than coffee.

other than that, i'd suggest a big stretch and yawn, an ice-cold drink, listening to music you normally wouldn't listen to (listening to familiar music can relax you) really loud (i find nirvana's really good, because it's so offensive to your sleepy system), a walk in the cold air, thinking about a brain teaser (once again, keeps your mind active), or, if all else fails, a nap on the side of the road. people might look into your car and laugh at you, but it's better than the alternative. never, ever, underestimate the effect of a 20 minute power-nap.

someone's post just reminded me of my other never-fail trick. drink a heap of water before you leave work. ever tried to get to sleep when you're dying for a wee?

Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

I just had this conversation with a co-worker the other day. She swears by lollipops. She has about a forty to fifty minute commute. She said it's either a one lollipop or two lollipop ride depending on how tired she is.

Me, I just moved ten minutes from work. I acutally had the opposite problem, though. I would hit my second wind and not be able to sleep when I got home when I lived further.

Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.
someone's post just reminded me of my other never-fail trick. drink a heap of water before you leave work. ever tried to get to sleep when you're dying for a wee?

I do this a lot. My girlfriend always busts my chops though, especially now with being pregnant. She used to do this and wound up with a UTI. Yikes! :eek:

Put a pillow in the backseat. Stop at a busy place and take a nap. Even if you nap for only 15-30 minutes it will help you get home. This is not worth it!!

thanks for the replies!! all of you have made valid, worthy and heartfelt points/comments and I appreciate it. I know I have been irresponsible in my sleepiness/driving and thank the lord that I haven't hurt anyone else or myself. I guess I just tried to convinced myself that my body would "adjust" and things would get better on the drive the more night shift rotations I worked, but that just isn't the case. also, I know of at least a handful of other nurses who experience the same thing I do when driving home from a long night shift. I figured it was the norm and that I would just have to deal with it.

lastly, I really wanted to stay at the current job for at least 12 months because I don't know how it's going to look to interview for new jobs with just 10 months of experience under my belt. it may come off as "job hopping" or not being committed in some way. all I can hope is that the managers I interview with won't think my sleepiness/driving reason is a line of bull. I also feel guilty because I made a "verbal" or "gentleman's" agreement when hired for 2 years of employment at my current position because they provided me with 6 months of orientation/preceptorship. I hate not being able to keep this commitment, but the inability to work straight days or at least evenings is forcing me to look elsewhere.

but after all your replies this is my plan.

  • I am going to call my husband on my cell as soon as I feel sleepy and talk to him until I get home (yes, I have a hands-free headset!)
  • if I still feel sleepy even while on the cell, I'm going to pull over and nap for 30 minutes and then try again (I'll bring an alarm clock and pillow with me).
  • I'm going to find a job within 30 minutes of my house (there are actually 5 hospitals within a 30 minute drive). first up is an RN open house on 8/22 at an ltach/rehab hospital that is just 7 minutes away (wouldn't that be nice if it works out!!).

thanks again for all your replies. you guys are great !!:kiss

Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

Try some ice in the car...once you're feeling "really sleepy"...dump the ice and water down your shirt/in your bra. That'll keep you awake until you get home, I guarantee it.

I've had to do the same on occasion...but it's down the pants that keeps me awake...and my commute is 26 miles (which can take forever in Dallas traffic).

Other's ideas are very good as well...find something closer to home, for your own safety.

Good luck.

I feel your pain. I graduated at age 40 and never could deal with night shift. I would be fine all night and then start to crash & burn during shift change. On the way home I would listen to loud music - really high energy stuff like the Ramones, etc...would sign to Janis Joplin, cold air, cold water on the face, and I still would run off the road. A couple times I would take a catnap after pulling over but then would struggle again.

Finally enough was enough. Because I live in a rural area I faced a minimum. 45 minute commute, and when I was unable to obtain a day position, I left the facility. Its just not worth it.

Perhaps get a letter from your doctor about how you are not adjusting to nights...would that help release you from the commitment requirement?

I chew on ice and carrots, not so good for the teeth, but I stay awake! (esp. when that ice hits a filling!)

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I now have a 30 minute commute to work. I sit on the edge of the driver's seat, roll down the window, put in a cd, sing very loudly, and drink cold water. A full bladder keeps me awake (looking for the closest bathroom).

I used to have this same problem. I was in nursing school during the day and working nights. At the same time I was having to go to my spinal doc in Atlanta once a month. Well, on the way back from Atlanta after dark I fell asleep and woke up in a field. With no streetlights. With my cruise control on 70. I had hit some sort of depression in the ground that jolted me awake. After about twenty minutes of slowly driving in circles while crying hysterically from fear trying to find the road, I found it. The realization that I had fallen asleep, swerved across the median and the other two lanes of traffic and off about a half-mile into a field dotted with trees at SEVENTY MILES AN HOUR was enough to scare me from falling asleep at the wheel, and I haven't since.

Now my husband, he's a different story. Nothing puts him to sleep like getting behind the wheel, and we have had several very close calls where I averted tragedy by screaming and waking him up.

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