Shift Work Disorder is Eating My Brain

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Greetings friends & colleagues,

I work as a CNA on a dayshift / eveningshift line. My goal is to sleep at least 7 to 8 hours every night. Lately, I am frequently tired, irritable, anxious, and depressed. I think shift work disorder is eating my brain.

What are your best practices for getting good sleep on a rotating shift schedule? What are your strategies for coping in the best way possible? Could you recommend any online resources or publications? Could you recommend any OTC medications?

Thank you!

Specializes in retired LTC.

caliotter3 - Gotcha'! I understood you point. Way back in the 'dark ages', we nurses all really knew how disruptive shift work was, esp in re to sleeping. But back then, was BIG SCIENCE going to listen to a bunch of women whine?!?! Only now in more recent times, has attn been directed towards the deleterious effects of shift sleeping. Wonder what has been the motivating impetus for real study? My guess it would have to be because of money or about male-dominated work-force.

I was lucky in that I never really had a problem adjusting. But then I only answered to & for myself.

But I think I'll do some more readings.

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