I've been a nurse for 20 years.

[Vtachy1]

And the insomnia doesn't get any better with age! It gets worse. Its all the changing of shifts, I NEVER have worked the same shift ever hardly. And with this new job, I'm gonna be working 3 or 4 midnight shifts a month. I've used benadryl for years, (I know bad for my heart). I've tried everything, so I told my doc about it and now, he's gonna call in a script for Desyrel. So for the 3 or 4 midnight shifts that I work, I can try that. I'm at my wits end! How do you deal with the irratic hours??? THere's no routine ever!

[KalipsoRed]

I say get a job not in the hospital. You've paied your dues, get a job with a regular schedule.

[joannep]

I agree, move out of the ward and into the world :)

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

I'm throwing my hat into the ring too--you need a different job with more regular hours. I have worked about 25 years of night shift in my 31 years of nursing. I loved night shift("where the stress is less and the money's best:specs:) but the sleep deprivation eventually broke down my health. I have severe sleep apnea brought on, in part, by years of sleep deprivation. I use CPAP and I take Seroquel to help me stay asleep--and I STILL wake up several times a night!

[3boysmom3]

I vote for a change too, if you're in a position to do it. I finally left the floor about six years ago (I've been a nurse for 25 years) and took a job in a hospital-based clinic. I love it. 8-5 M-Th, and 8-12 on Fridays. No weekends, no holidays. I used to feel a little guilty, but you know, I paid my dues too. Sometimes I get frustrated over various things at work, just like anyone does, but then I think-- give up this schedule? They'll have to pry my cold, dead body from it!!! There are jobs like clinics, private offices, schools, home health agencies, or even within the hospital there are jobs like case manager, discharge planner, etc. Girl, it sounds like you've done your share of shift work!