Switched to dayshift, now cant sleep at night!

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · May 15, 2008

I transitioned from nights to evenings as a CNA and my doctor suggested not drinking coffee, limiting meal consumption to before 5 pm, and exercise to tire my body out and let me tell you it works.

Dolce, RN · May 15, 2008

I took 7.5 mg of valium...NOTHING.

Houston, we have a problem.....

Boy, I don't know what to tell you. Have you tried chamomile tea?

Valanda · May 15, 2008

If you do find an answer, let me know!

I've worked nights for 19 years.

Once I tried to switch to days and had the exact same problem.

Had to go back to nights.

I even tried staying up all night, all day and evening, then going to bed after being awake for 24+ hours. As soon as the sun set I was wide awake and could not sleep til sunrise.

crb613, BSN, RN · May 15, 2008

It may be like going to nights....it will just take some time to adjust. I have been on nights for almost 2 years.....just now starting to be able to sleep in the daytime......I feel sorry for you, I know how awful it is! Do you think you might be a little anxious....day shift is so different from nights. You are working with different people...all the higher ups wandering around....just a thought. Hope you get a good nights sleep soon!

Jen911 · May 15, 2008

Just a suggestion... I take Melatonin shortly before I go to bed, and if that doesn't have me drifting off within a half hour, I take the over the counter sleep med (just watch the packaging, you don't want the one with diphenhydramine, you want the one with doxylamine). Generally works for me, however I've built up quite a tolerance to it so I now have a prescription for ambien, as well.

Also, really try to set up a routine for when you go to bed. ie, q nice hot bath, read a couple chapters, warm milk or hot chocolate (even better with a little splash of baileys' in it)....

Make sure your room is quiet, perhaps a little white noise if you're used to daytime sounds. I personally sleep with the TV on low volume and turn on a program I've seen a billion and one times so I'm not all that interested.

And if you have kids.....Good Luck! They need a stron reminder that bedtime is bedtime! Even just telling them they must be in bed reading or whatever, it MUST be peaceful so you can sleep.

And most of all, GOOD LUCK!!! :yawn:

Jen911

queenjean · May 15, 2008

I'm sorry, but it's your punishment for your betrayal of the night shift culture. You know of what I speak.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · May 16, 2008

I take a hot shower and cool the apartment with AC. This simulates my body cooling when I get sleepy and stimulates me to get drowsy. I also eat a broth soup about an hour or less before I plan to sleep. I think its more following a pattern than anything but it works for me. I work nights and am a morning person.

CHATSDALE · May 16, 2008

i have always been a late to bed, sleep in in the am

can't do that when you have to get up the next morning with a hard day ahead of you

i have been where you are

sample24 · May 16, 2008

I'm getting ready to be in the same boat. I worked nights for 4 yrs, days for 2, upgraded my credentials (LPN to RN) and got put back on nights because I lost my seniority (nice huh?) Now after 4 months on nights, I'm getting switched back to days. I don't know if I'll ever recover. My favorite shift is 3p-3a. Strange I know, but I like it. If you come up with a decent remedy send it my way, as of now, my body doesn't know which end is up.

Tait, MSN, RN · May 16, 2008

This might be way out in left field, but maybe you are stressed.

I know when I have been off a few days I find it very hard to sleep the day before a new shift for the week. Maybe the new responsibilities of day shift (docs, orders, procedures) vs night shift (charts, monitoring etc) have you stressing more than you need/want to be.

I would look at how work is affecting you in this new role.

Best of luck,

Tait of the NOC shift.

aussiemags · May 17, 2008

I find it very hard to sleep the day before a new shift for the week. Maybe the new responsibilities of day shift (docs, orders, procedures) vs night shift (charts, monitoring etc) have you stressing more than you need/want to be.

I agree. Having worked permanent night duty I found it incredibly difficult to return to day light hours. And I didnt even have perfect sleep whilst on nights so it wasnt as if my body had fully adjusted that way either. I have now been back on permanent earlies for 2 years. Sorry - still dont sleep well. FOr me it was worsened dramatically by menopause. Could hormones be a factor?

I agree that it could be the stress of day shift. COuld it be that you are so busy whilst at work, then busy at the end of your day that you just dont relax enough to sleep? Then plagued by the horror of horrors that all nurses know - watching the clock tick by and thinking things like "Oh no I have to get up in 6 hours....5 hours...4 hours..."

I am at the point of considering returning to nights - although my partner would probably leave me if i did!