is 5 hours-ish of sleep enough time while on night shift?

oceanblue52 · Feb 14, 2017

I've worked 11p-730a shifts, and honestly did not feel safe functioning on less than 6.5-7 hours of sleep, even with sneaking a nap in myself. Everyone is different though. Living by the beach does indeed sound like a dream, but going from a 10 minute commute to a 60-90 min commute? Each way? In Los Angeles traffic? Sounds like a nightmare :dead: and a lot of extra stress. Not to mention the added stress of a commute like that if you don't get enough sleep. Dream house and dream job together though...can understand why you are having this dilemma. Have you scouted out potential jobs closer to the house?

kaylee. · Feb 14, 2017

I can speak to this kind of commute. It was through LA rush hour to a night shift job. I was a new grad and I was SOO grateful to have been hired. But I had to leave the house at 430 pm to embark on the traffic. The freeway in question was the 5 North. So unpredictable that I had to leave that early. Lets just say the traffic/commute stress took a tremendous toll on my stress. I would try to sleep till about 4 pm if lucky.

And I honestly would say it wasnt as much just a lack of sleep that was the problem: it was a combo of that with the stress of the commute.

That was me...a dream house is hard to come by too...also my job ended up being toxic so that added to the hardship. So maybe not being a new grad in a good work environment would have made the whole thing not as bad...

caliotter3 · Feb 14, 2017

When I work night shift (11 to 7 or 10 to 6) I have always found myself going to bed immediately after getting home in the morning, sleeping for however long (until something in the environment wakes me up after about four hours), then I do some day stuff. I will lie down for a nap in the early evening about 7 or 8. Don't often work 12 hour nights. When I have in the past, the entire off time was spent in bed whether I could sleep or not.

lindseylpn · Feb 14, 2017

I work 13 hour night shifts and my commute is 45min-1hr. I usually get between 5-6hrs of sleep. To feel my best I'd love to get 7hrs but, I prefer not to cut out eating or showering, lol. I do get sleepy from time to time but, I have a job where I can step outside in the cold for a breather and wake myself up. I've gotten sleepy driving on occasion and that's where things get scary, I'd be afraid that if I were in stop and go traffic I'd fall asleep behind the wheel.

stargirl018 · Feb 14, 2017

thank you for the suggestions everyone! In terms of relocating, I actually make more at my current hospital compared to the hospitals within my area. In order to afford my mortgage, staying would be the best option financially. I also am a new grad that just got off residency so I dont think it would be very professional to back out this quickly lol. I'm thinking that maybe three in a row's would be a good option, I'd get enough sleep the first day, but then I would have to really trek the second and third days.. Currently, at my apartment- getting 6 hours is enough for me to feel very rested. I think at this point it would just be the commute that would be the issue

scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 14, 2017

I lived an hour away and was working 12 hour nights as well. Once i sat in my car, it was all over, I could easily fall asleep! I used to make it to a truck stop about 1/2 way home and always pulled in the parking lot to sleep for a bit, usually would wake up at 11 am ish! Then I could make it home and sleep until 5 ish. Crazy! But if you can do it, go for it, a house by the beach is awesome! I would go and sleep on the beach most days!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2017

In regards to lengthy commutes, I once lived in Bakersfield and commuted 120 miles one-way to my workplace in Oxnard. During off-peak times, the commute was about 90 minutes.

I worked 12-hour shifts at a non-nursing factory job back then and was chronically tired due to the lack of sleep. I slept from 9:00 to 2:00 and left the house at 3:00 to report to work by my starting time of 5:00.

cocoa_puff · Feb 15, 2017

thank you for the suggestions everyone! In terms of relocating, I actually make more at my current hospital compared to the hospitals within my area. In order to afford my mortgage, staying would be the best option financially. I also am a new grad that just got off residency so I dont think it would be very professional to back out this quickly lol. I'm thinking that maybe three in a row's would be a good option, I'd get enough sleep the first day, but then I would have to really trek the second and third days.. Currently, at my apartment- getting 6 hours is enough for me to feel very rested. I think at this point it would just be the commute that would be the issue

Some of the nurses where I work live rather far away from the hospital (night shift RNs), and they schedule their 3-12s all together, and sleep in the hospital between those shifts. My hospital provides a private sleeping areas for staff who need to spend the night. Maybe you could see if that is an option at your hospital? Then you have plenty of time to sleep between shifts and only have to make the commute twice/week rather than six times. Also, living by the beach sounds amazing! Best of luck!

BeckyESRN · Feb 17, 2017

If you are able to stack your shifts and do 3 in row, maybe you could stay with a friend that lives closer to work? My drive was an hour and there were plenty of times that I crashed a friend's place on my 3 day stretches because I knew I'd not be able to stay awake for that drive.