Night shift

Adding, we work 12.5 hour shifts with 3 shifts being considered full time. I have to maintain the kids insurance as per child support court order. Going part time is not an option.

If you're having issues getting to sleep, I recommend all of the usual "good sleep hygiene" things. Use an eye mask, keep the room dark, run a fan for white noise, etc.

If you're having issues getting up, I recommend looking into a light box or a dawn simulator. We night shifters don't get enough sunlight and so our melatonin levels get screwy. Either of those options can help you be more awake and alert while OOB and probably sleep better.

I've never heard of a dawn stimulator. And when I'm that tired, I don't want to open my thermal curtains. I know my Vit D levels are dangerously low. It's part of keping vampire hours. I slept until about 4 today off and on. I know I'm going to have a hard time sleeping tonight. I think I may try to clean a bit (my house is a disaster due to my exhaustion levels) then take some melatonin in hopes it resets my circadian rythm.

I sleep better when I can sleep 8-4, which is 8 hours which is recommended. I sleep with a fan running and it helps a lot. I also fall asleep to a Netflix television program and the fan prevents other noises from waking me up. Trying to jump around does mess me up but I try to block my schedule such as I work at the end of the week and I take classes in the middle.

Also, there are some programs that do offer night options. I know of one in the southern state and my school kind of offers night classes (5-8 but only one or two 2-11 clinicals so you may have a clinical at 6:45 am). They also offer online but you still need to go for your clinical component.

Waoh, Your experience is a lot more like mine.

I started nursing school with three kids and a full time night job. I couldn't get enough sleep or study as I should. I managed to pass my nursing classes the first semester, but had a low GPA that prevented me from enrolling in the next semester nursing classes. If I had done my pre-requisite from this University, it would not have been a problem. But I transferred here from a college. As a result, my prior grades were not used to calculate my GPA. My GPA is calculated based on what I make in this school. My DON advised me to take other university classes to bring up my Gpa and then enroll for nursing classes the next semester. I made it and continued my nursing program. Along the way through all this stress, I found out I was pregnant again! I was devastated. My spouse became less supportive, away most of the time, and the bills started piling up. Coupled with this, I could not afford day care for my kids. Since I had already been given one strike by my school, I didn't want to get another one. so I withdrew from my BSN program to care for my kids. While at home, I did a lot of thinking, research, and praying. I re-applied to my former college for an ADN program and got the admission. I stopped working few weeks before I had my baby, enrolled for NCI child care assistance with the work source solution, when my baby was 6 weeks old, I went back to school. Today, I am very proud to inform you that I have my ADN and RN license. I am about to start working and doing my BSN online. Don't give up! Things happen, and people don't know what you go through. You alone know it all. Put it in God's hands and do your best. Look for every resources that you need. Your children are a blessing to you. The blessings of God added no sorrow. I don't regret anything whenever I look at my kids. Love them, hug them, kiss them everyday. You will make it if you are determined. And when it is all over, you have God only to thank, and everyone would want to be your friend, including your spouse. Good luck dear.

You poor thing.

1st of all, get a new PCP ASAP. What a horrible thing to say.

After some odd yrs....I'll share what I've got. But I'm still struggling too.

Do not exercise before sleep.

Try melatonin. (It worked well for me for at least a yr, but some other life things happened, and for me it was no longer enough)

Now I am on Trazadone. Which is an antidepressant (when taken in higher doses), however, in low doses (25-50mg) it is a sleep aid that takes advantage of its sedative properties. It is safe for long term.

I also sleep with a Fan on (if I'm too cold it points away from me) and a video of some kind playing on my phone. But this is more for my own anxiety/mind doesn't know when to shut up reasons.

As far as battling fatigue.....find a sleep regime that works and stick to it, making no exceptions at all. Consistency is what will save you here.

I sleep at 8 and wake up at 12. If I do not work the next night, then I just stay awake. If I do work that night, then I take a nap from 6-8. (I am not a nap person, but this works for some reason).

Alternatively, I have coworkers who do things like stay up until 1-2 and then sleep until 9-10 (shift starts here at 11).

Absolutely seek advice about it from your fellow night shifters, and find things that work for YOU. Unfortunately, everyone is different.