still at it.

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, . So here's the update,im still working up to 16 sometimes 18 hour days 5 days a week. The past 2 months I've slowly started to get more and more stressed. Also taking more sleep medicine (bemedryl)(melatonin) the last month and a half I have been a little depressed,very anxious. On edge. I am known as a great worker but at least 99.9% of people who know me. The only one not impressed with the care I give is myself. I still get 2 days a week off but feels like almost too much rest for me. I'm still getting o average 5 hours of sleep a night, but off days I sleep almost all day. I am getting amazing overtime and paychecks almost to the point now where I don't need the money AT ALL. Ithink I am slowly becoming more greedy. Anyway. My back has felt like it's broken for about a week now. I don't wanna sound completely negative but I'm just putting it all out there since from my last post I got GREAT advice and I thank you guys for it. It took me a while to read the comments but I was surprised at how good the feedback was from you guys. Anyway, good news is I have amazing family and coworkers who have kept me positive and happy on days I was feeling down. I recently had an EKG done and my heart health is perfect , the only thing is I'm not feeling like myself. I've also had blood work,which came back perfect. I also took the advice from you guys on taking care of myself better. I'm eating alot healthier ,more protein and vegetables. The only bad thing is I love alcohol after a long day at work. The past 3 weeks I was feeling terrible but I'm feeling better this past week. I love the people I take care of but the ones I have like I said are in their right state of mind so you CANNOT show your stressed which is very stressful.so I'll be back it ,probably 28 hours Saturday and Sunday. I really appreciate you guys and the comments. Please feel free to give any advice, like I said, the advice from the last post was awesome. Ill still keep trying to take better care of myself. Thanks again

It really has. I'm feeling alot better the past couple days. 9 hour days the past couple of days is feeling good. I'm happier at work and more relaxed. Thanks for your advice. I honestly didn't realize how crazy the hours I was working really is till you guys told me. I'm still getting asked to stay over but I'm learning to say no.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Step-Down, Med-Surg, LTC, PACU.

Hey. I sound a lot like you... and I work a 40 hour week but usually end up doing 45 without adding it up having to stay after and finish charting and deal with issues that arise (since we chart right there at the nurse's station, uh!) and I am really thinking about asking to go part-time even if that means 3 days a week versus 5... because I am feeling SO much of what you are feeling. I've never been so exhausted and feel sick once or twice a week (due to not eating for 9 hours... poor eating habits... BAD work/life balance! Uh!!! lol)

I agree with a lot of the peeps here... cut back on hours and do things when you aren't sleeping that you love... and I think at the first of the year I am going to be doing the same... but I feel like it makes me seem like I can't handle it or I'm a bad nurse, etc etc... but I my health is suffering.

Best wishes!

nurseburst

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I understand that. I'm wanting to do part time or 3 12's a week or something just for a month or 2. Still been working less and what's crazy is I think I'm getting more tired from it. Idk if going part time or prn is the only cure for being burnt out or what. And I went back to the poor eating. I'll eat a protein bar with cereal for breakfast and not even get hungry till after work than binge eat from being stressed.

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I understand that. I'm wanting to do part time or 3 12's a week or something just for a month or 2. Still been working less and what's crazy is I think I'm getting more tired from it. Idk if going part time or prn is the only cure for being burnt out or what. And I went back to the poor eating. I'll eat a protein bar with cereal for breakfast and not even get hungry till after work than binge eat from being stressed.

If you reduced your hours, AND ate better quality meals, slept more, and got some good exercise on your days off, you would become stronger, more rested, and more energetic. While your body is becoming more fit, you might have a short period of being more tired, but soon it would pay off with increased strength, endurance, and vitality.

Eating crap and not taking care of your body is what is making you feel tired; reducing your hours is not the problem.

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One of the hardest things to do on that list is sleep. It is so difficult for me to get more then 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I know alot of it is anxiety related but I refuse to take any anxiety meds after when I used to take them I was a zombie and could never stay awake

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One of the hardest things to do on that list is sleep. It is so difficult for me to get more then 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I know alot of it is anxiety related but I refuse to take any anxiety meds after when I used to take them I was a zombie and could never stay awake

I've gone through periods like that when I couldn't sleep. I found it helpful to get on a short term regimen of sleeping pills that are non habit forming. My problem was not falling asleep, but staying asleep. Once I re-established my healthy sleeping patterns, I was able to discontinue the medication.

Additionally, becoming physically fit is a known sleep enhancer.

You're going to have to take some responsibility here for your health by taking the steps you know will improve it: reduce your hours, get some exercise, quit eating non food, and figure out a way to get more sleep. I believe if you actually commit to the first three, the last will become easier.

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Also, studies have shown that exercise can reduce your sensitivity to stress over time, particular moderate to high intensity aerobic exercise.

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If your self help efforts are less than successful after a period of time, seek help from your physician. May be more going on here than the obvious.

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If your self help efforts are less than successful after a period of time, seek help from your physician. May be more going on here than the obvious.

Second that.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
One of the hardest things to do on that list is sleep. It is so difficult for me to get more then 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I know alot of it is anxiety related but I refuse to take any anxiety meds after when I used to take them I was a zombie and could never stay awake

You mentioned you like alcohol after work. Alcohol can actually make your sleep worse. I would advise to stay away from alcohol. It doesn't solve any problems. Take it from an expert...I watched my ex-husband spin out of control with alcohol, and he was working as a nurse, too. Not a good idea.

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Well it might not be any different but I'm not a nurse unfortunately, I'm a nurse assistant. Where I work nurses pass pills, and the assistants do all the lifting, bathing,showering,toileting with no help. And see with me I'm doing this for 9 to 12 or 14 hours than go home and drink till I fall asleep. It's a terrible habbit, I know but I'm just so used to it that I don't think about it.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Your drinking isn't a habit---it's a problem. And unless you deal with it, nothing else you do is going to help much. You need to find out the root cause(s) of the drinking and either stop, or learn to control it. Please consider seeing a counselor and/or going to a couple of AA meetings...you may not be an alcoholic, but AA can help you figure it out.

In the meantime, I think reducing your work hours would be of benefit because you're getting burned out. You cannot pour from an empty vessel. You must take better care of yourself. Adequate sleep is paramount; do whatever you have to in order to protect your sleep (and that doesn't mean drinking---alcohol actually impairs sleep). And of course what you eat and exercise are important too. Your patient care will suffer if you continue in your present state. Best of luck to you.

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