Sleep

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2003

7 to 8 hours. If I don't get that eventually I get sick......

renerian

ladyjane · Jan 2, 2003

I need 7-8, but in reality only get 3-4. There have been nights where I didn't close my eyes at all. I had this discussion Monday with co-workers, found out we all worry about the next day at work. I call sleeping my second job, it a job for me to fall asleep, and sleep well.

eltrip · Jan 2, 2003

I need 7-8 hours, but usually get around 6. I have trouble getting to sleep...always have. I've been getting up & exercising in the morning, though, & it helps tremendously.

These days, when I'm having trouble falling asleep, I've been employing either Nighty-Night tea by Traditional Medicinals or Valerian capsules. Of course, a glass of wine every now & then doesn't hurt either

Little One2 · Jan 2, 2003

I need at least 7-8 hours of sleep. But when I work nights, I only sleep 3-6 hours during the day. It is usually not straight through. I usually wake up after 2-3 hours. Have something to eat. Then go back to bed. Its hard to adjust to.

Stargazer · Jan 2, 2003

Well, I don't do shift work anymore, but that's been the biggest adjustment for me in going to a desk job. I used to work 3 - 11 or 11a - 11p in the hospital. I am sooo not a morning person. I've managed to "flex" my hours a bit so I don't have to come in until 0930 (as opposed to 0800), but I tend to hit the wall around 3 or 4, whereas normally I would just be beginning my productive hours. Early evening tends to find me running errands on the way home from work, yawning so often in the grocery store that strangers jokingly chide, "Stop that--you're making ME yawn!"

I need at least 7 hours of sleep and rarely get more than 6. Try to catch up on weekends.

adrienurse, LPN · Jan 2, 2003

It's feast or famine for me. I need at least 8 when I work days, more when I work nights. Now do I actually get that? Hardly.

OBNURSEHEATHER · Jan 2, 2003

I work day shift, but I should be a 2nd shift person. Just can't do it with Brian in school...

Anyhoo... I never get into bed before 11pm, usually closer to midnight. On the days I work, I'm up at 4:50am. What helps is that I'm only part time, and uaually only work 2-3 days per week.

I can function, but I'd like a nappy-poo when I hit my slump around 1pm.

Heather

New CCU RN · Jan 2, 2003

The more sleep the merrier for me!!!! However, I am not such a morning person WHATSOEVER :) I work rotating shifts on Baylor plan but since it is self scheduling I try to avoid those early AMs as much as possible. My days off that I;m not in school (which this semester will be one day a week) I try and catch up....sleep in ...etc...

We do have an 11a-11p so I try and sneak in a bunch of those....just so I don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn....

My days that I do work at 7a....it is pretty bad... I usually fall asleep around midnight or one..... SOOO BAD!! Generally after my morning Starbucks run I am good to go. At work I run around so much I don't usually have the time to think about sleeping.

My advice would be to try and see if doing your days in a row vs spread out works best for you. Some people do better one way or another. Try your hardest to get to bed at a decent hour. If it all fails at least catch up when you can...when I do to day shifts in a row, the night before the second I defintely can fall asleep by 9pm and usually do!!!!

Oh....and coffee...haha...does wonders :)

Good luck to ya!!!!! And welcome to the day time... :)

RNonsense · Jan 2, 2003

I NEED 7 or 8...I get only about 6 average. Shiftwork and small kids makes for big bags under the eyes!

sjoe · Jan 3, 2003

I try to keep in mind the fact that sleep is like a bank. Overdraw and you will pay the penalty.

oramar · Jan 3, 2003

There are two ways of experiencing sleep depravation. One is the way a pyschologically normal person does. With chronic sleepyness and altered judgement maybe a little moody but not overboard. These people usually fall asleep anytime given the chance. However, if you have a genetic predisposition to mood disorders or out and out psychosis sleep depravation can flip you right into a acute episode of whatever your genetic makeup leans towards. Once a person like this begins the slide they have trouble sleeping even when given a chance. Take it from one who know from personal experience. I can flip myself right into a serious depression with no other predisposing factors just by going on night turn. I get 7 to 9 hours nightly because that is the way I am wired. I like to stay mentally and physically sound so that is the way I have to live.