Night Shift 1 hr commute: tips to arrive home alive

[babblingbrook]

Interviewed for a job that turns out to be night shift (ad didn't specify). It would be a big pay increase so I'm considering it even though night shift was hard for me when I tried it almost 2 years ago. It was hard for me to stay awake driving the 1 hr commute home as it's pretty barren (no stores, etc to enliven the scenary and perk up your brain). Any tips on how to arrive home alive? I had a friend pass away recently who was a night shift nurse driving home from work w/a 1 hr commute. They are not sure what happened to her, but I bet she fell asleep at the wheel as I'd done that many times driving home on the same boring interstate and fortunately for me I woke up in time to not cause harm.

I'm considering just taking a 1-2 hr "nap" in my car prior to heading home so maybe I wouldn't be as sleepy driving. I'd tried all the tricks about windows being open, eating, listening to loud music, etc but found out if your body is tired it's just tired and will give out on you.

P.S. - I can't move closer as my husband has a 40 min commute north and mine would be 60+ min south. So where we live is right in the middle and has good schools for our kids.

Thanks

[opossum]

I'm glad you posted this because I too drive an hour to work and will be doing night shift more often in the upcoming weeks. I worked night shift once so far (I'm per diem) and found myself swerving a bit on the way home - I had to concentrate on literally keeping my eyelids from closing...very scary!

I like the idea of calling someone on the ride home; I have relatives on the opposite coast so it will be 3 hrs ahead for them...thanks for all the advice :)

[princess pickles]

I have been doing a lot of driving lately. Getting ready for a job that I will have to commute to, too. Sunflower seeds are amazing!! I think the brain wakes up because you have to figure out how to open them before you can eat them. Anytime I feel like my eyes are crossing because I am getting sleepy, I start munching on them and I am awake. I need to look into a low sodium variety though.

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

I've had such a commute for over 10 years now (first when I lived in the South, now in Michigan). I've found as long as I get my sleep during the day, I'm fine. I have never had a problem falling asleep on the way home, for me it's just a part of the day. I pretty much function on a night shift schedule, stay up most nights when I'm not working.

So I guess my advice would be to make sure you get your rest as much as possible. I also listen to talk radio on the way home. Good luck to you.l

[Butterfliesnroses]

For some odd reason I don't get tired on the way home! Maybe it's bc at the end of my shift I'm STILL running. In fact that's when the majority of my running happens! I'm not saying the rest of y'all don't run at the end of your shift. I do find that the drive TO work is when I have a hard time staying awake! I think it's bc I have just eaten and just woken up! It's a 30 min drive with 25 of it being on the highway. I just alternate the heat and cold and play some loud music! I eat usually 6 hours before I get off shift, so I'm usually hungry. But I don't like to eat and then go to sleep, so I usually go to bed hungry. This means the drive home I'm usually hungry. That keeps me awake! So does drinking something ice cold.

The owner of the nursing home where i work owns apartments right next door. He lets a few ladies stay in some rooms for free. They aren't actually full sized apartments. They are just some rooms off the laundry room. Also there is a hotel across the street that a few employees have been known to rent. I know this would NOT work for me though as I have a 3 year old and not seeing her for 3 days (I work 3 12s) is NOT an option. However I just suck it up as it's only a 30 min drive and I KNOW it could be much worse. Also I've not ever felt unsafe. I guess I'm a lucky one!