Got into a car accident after working a night shift

Nurses General Nursing

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My worse fear has come true. I recently got into a car accident after working a night shift. Thank God, the accident only involved myself, and I did not get hurt. However, it has really shaken me up and I'm petrified of having to drive from work after doing nights. The scary thing is that, I didn't feel myself getting sleepy or anything, it just happened so fast. I didn't even close my eyes. All the "what ifs", keeps playing through my mind. It would have been a nightmare if I caused death of a family or myself due to my inability to stay alert while driving home.

I'm in a tough predicament. I just started this full time nights position and I'm afraid to switch my schedule or ask to go to another unit that has a day shift avail. I've only been on the job for 2 weeks. Right now, I'm so petrified of driving after a night shift. I've tried cool air and loud music before and it does not help. My husband cannot take me to work and pick me up so that isn't an option.

I sometimes call my husband on the way home as a safety line, but he drifts off to sleep which is no help. I also don't drink coffee. I'm at a lost.

For those of you who have ever experienced this, how did you move forward? Did you quit nights all together? Find a closer job? Or did you continue to drive home but use different strategies?

I live outside of New Orleans, by about 45 min. In bedroom communities, it is not uncommon for people to commute to work, and I am no exception. I used to work evenings awhile ago, and my route home includes a 24-mile bridge over a lake (the entire way!), so road awareness was the number one priority. My very best advice, and I can certainly promise on this one, is to find music you can sing to (pop music) and sing all the way home. Sing LOUD. If there isn't any good music on the radio typically, then be prepared and have a CD or mp3 at the ready, filled with music that gets your blood going! You have to physically participate, and do things that are tactile, like slapping your hand on your knee with the rhythm. HARD (not like a massage at the Ritz, you know, lol).This will keep you active and stimulated!!! Your brain, AND your body, have to wake up, to do these things. Good luck ;)

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I bike commute after night shift and often it wakes me up. Could you have a little sprint outside to get your SNS thinking your need a little fight of flight before driving? I gave up coffee for nights for a while and ICE cold water helped perk me up. Good luck

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Specializes in LTC, Float Pool, Ortho, Telemetry.

I've worked nights for 13 years. In the past I have pulled over someplace safe and napped. My strategy for my 35 minute drive now is chewing ice. My co workers wondered why before I leave, I fill a large cup with ice and I had to explain that all that crunching keeps me awake plus it's cold!

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

If I get sleepy I pull over for a nap, run around my car twice for a boost.

I have just started taking a caffeine tablet about 530 or 6 and it gives me enough boost to make the 45min drive home.

Riding with windows down doesn't work for me but listening to upbeat music or talk comedy does.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

The adrenaline rush I get when I nod off and wake up riding in the emergency lane works for a good 10 minutes.

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Specializes in ICU.

Thats why I dont do nights. I havent worked nights in 3 years, and I picked up an extra shift to help with coverage a couple months back in the summer. I have an hour highway comute. I was so tired, I didnt realize I was speeding- I dont tend to speed too much- going 80 (limit 65) untill I looked at my spedomoter and saw and was like oh crap gotta slow down--too late, light in my rearview mirror. I didnt dare say I was tired from night shift and get a DUI. Because remember you ARE impared at that point. I would also recomend eating a snack like pretzles and sipping on something because it gives you something to do. Sometimes you HAVE to pullover and nap. Usually a 30 minute nap will be all you will need to get the rest of the way home safely. But yes its scary that feeling of you "snapping out of it" and realizing you probably, although briefly did just fall asleep.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
I think the trucker meant that if you want to hang on to your money, you'll stay good and awake.

Yes, that is exactly what he was telling me.

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Specializes in L&D.

-Take small sips of ice water on the road

-Pull over and take a 20 minute power nap

-Call a friend or relative

-If you get at least a 30 minute break at work, set a timer and try to sleep for twenty minutes or so. I know this will not work or be possible for many people, but I found when I was working nights if I was able to sleep for twenty minutes on my break it made a big difference for my morning commute home.

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I love nights but if I ever got into a car accident because of it, I would stop nights in a heartbeat. However, it's never good to leave a job without having another one. Drink a coffee 2 hours before your shift is over to stay awake on the road. Make it a small coffee and do other things to help you fall asleep at home. I personally, when am having a hard time falling asleep, take a hot shower, take some Benadryl, make sure my room is dark, and play some white noise.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
I used to work evenings awhile ago, and my route home includes a 24-mile bridge over a lake (the entire way!), so road awareness was the number one priority.

Ah the Causeway. I know it well. Back and forth from Covington to Metairie a billion times it seems!

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Specializes in Med/Surg and Wound Care, PACU.

what always helped me is chewing gum , or eating small things like nuts , berries ,

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Specializes in NICU.

I worked nights for over 20 years. You have a legitimate concern. Nights was my preferred shift, but there were still times when I left work praying I'd make it home in one piece, I was so tired. It really is scary driving home when your body has not yet adjusted to your change in sleep patterns. Are you getting enough sleep after you get home? Would it help if you lay down for an hour before getting ready for work? Could you take a short nap at work while you are on break? I never could, but some nurses would go to a quiet spot and set an alarm for 20-30 minutes. Just closed their eyes and put their feet up.

If I were tired, I would splash my face with cold water before I left work. I also always had a snack and a cold drink in the car; usually a diet soda. Do you tolerate caffeine at all? Our local supermarket (Krogers) sells their brand of caffeine drink mix called "In an Instant Morning Boost"- a caffeinated powder, individually packaged, that you just add to a bottle (17 oz) of cold water. Available in different flavors. Each packet has 160mg caffeine, but you can use half a packet to mix with water.

How long is your commute home? This may be a bit extreme, but could you place a timer in your car and set it to go off every few minutes? The loud ringing will wake you up if you were drifting off. How about a bag with some ice in it? A cold wash cloth to the face while you are in the car may wake you up.

Also, is it possible that maybe you didn't fall asleep? That the accident could have happened even if you were awake? Sometimes after a traumatic event, your brain goes into a "protective mode" so you don't remember what happened leading up to the accident.

Are you on 8 or 12 hour shifts? Depending on where you work, they may be OK with your asking to be put on a waiting list to go to day shift. Especially if you explain the reasons why you can't work nights.

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