How many hours of sleep do you require

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Feb 29, 2012

I am the same way. I can limp by on less sleep for a night, maybe two, but I am feeling it and cannot sustain sleeplessness long term without some serious issues. For me, lack of sleep is physically painful. That is the only way I can describe it. This is one of the reasons I had to get off the night shift, and actually get away from 12 hour shifts at all.

I think the schedule you describe is madness...is this a one time thing? Can you talk to the manager and try to get a schedule change? You probably could power through with lots of caffeine, but are you really going to be at your best? Are you going to be at a higher risk for making mistakes? Tough call, I hope it works out for you!

♑ Capricorn ♑ · Mar 1, 2012

I feel like nothing if I don't get adequate sleep. My whole day sometimes can be a blur. If I am pressed for time, I can get by with fewer hours of sleep but by no means can I do that consistently. I'd say, 7+ hours is what I need to honestly be fully functioning.

I hope you'll get the required rest you need soon enough. :)

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2012

I'm the type person that needs eight hours how about you? This week I am on the schedule to work Friday night until 10:30 and then come back in by 6:00 on Saturday morning. It takes me an hour or more to wind down when I get home and I live 45 minutes from my place of employment. I'm figuring I will get about 4 hours of sleep and a little concerned about it.

4 hours before a shift is the minimum I need to avoid zombieness.

elprup, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2012

I need ten. I am such a sleep lover.

RainMom · Mar 2, 2012

If allowed to wake up w/o an alarm, I'll sleep about 8-9 hrs. But while working nights, I usually get about 6 hrs since I wake up in time for my grade schooler to walk in the door & then get my baby from the sitter's. My schedule is supposed to be 24-32 hrs/wk, but we've been running short on RN's (imagine that), & my manager has started scheduling me 40 hrs/wk with only one night off at a time except for my weekend off. I often try to take a quick nap in the evening after putting my youngest to bed. Severe lack of sleep almost makes me feel like being hung over.

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · Mar 5, 2012

I have found that if I get less then 4 I am good to go or if I get more then 8 or 9 Im good. It is when I get between 4 and 8 that I have issues.

vontarkeyjoe · Mar 6, 2012

I work nights from 7pm-7am usually schedule myself 3-4 days in a row. With my work week I often try to get 8-9 hours of sleep... that's by trying but I normally get just 6-7 hours and that stinks.

lovetosleep · Mar 6, 2012

I need a minimum of 7 hours a night to function. I do better with 8-9, but 7 will do. If I don't set an alarm, I will easily sleep 12-14 hours straight.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Mar 8, 2012

4 hours minimum before a shift, but I can't do that long term. I need at least 7-8 hours.

msjellybean · Mar 12, 2012

I can get by on 4, but only in a pinch. Generally 6-7 is good for me before I go to work. On my days off, I typically sleep 8-9. I worked Sat/Sun this weekend and losing that hour of sleep really messed with me.

When I was on nights, I worked the fall back time change once & vowed never to do it again. Guess I forgot to think about the spring one as well. Oops.

guest563546 · Mar 13, 2012

I'm good on about four hours per night. The more I sleep, the groggier I am when I wake up. My Dad was the same way.