jazzyrn1

Hey Everyone, I'm a fairly new nurse. I graduated in December '08 and have been working in the Medical/Cardiac ICU at my hospital for a year. I've been on night shift ever since I started (3 12 hour shifts/week). I wasn't having any issues whatsoever. For the past 3 weeks, I've had some issues. When I work 3 nights in a row, I have no trouble getting to sleep the next morning (at around 9 or 9:30), but I wake up at around 1 or 1:30 and can not get back to sleep. I end up going to the bathroom and just not falling back to sleep. I end up getting really anxious and frusturated, crying, etc. I've tried relaxing music, benadryl, tea, etc. The benadryl relaxes me, but I still just lay in bed with no sleep. I did travel out of the country about a little more than a month ago, and it might be a form of "jet lag", but I don't know what to do now. I'm also planning a wedding, which is kind of stressful. My job is also stressful. I've talked to my unit director about possibly switching to days (even though I don't want to), but it's going to be very hard for her to switch me. I'm going to my MD on February 22nd (the earliest I could get in). I'm just really worried that it could start effecting my patient care. Any thoughts or suggestions?

I'm a new grad that started off in the MICU about 7 months ago. I had no prior hospital experience, let alone ICU experience. My director asked me questions about solving conflict, my stregths and weaknesses, and other common interview questions. Good luck!

Hey everyone, I'm a new nurse to the ICU and am wondering how you adjust to night shift, in particular having one day off between shifts. Like working 1, having 1 of, and then working 2. Do you just stick with your night shift schedule and stay awake at night on your day off? Just looking for suggestions/comments on what others do when in this situation. Thanks.