Taking a sleep aid when on call?

[boquiabierta]

I'm wondering what you all think about taking sleep aids when on call. I'm not talking about call where you might have to actually go in to work, but call for outpatient care where you have to manage patient complaints overnight, possibly call the doctor/pharmacy, and possibly refer to the ED.

What do you think?

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I know that I am FAR more dangerous sleep deprived that on a little benadryl or something similar. But I guess we're all different. When I don't sleep enough I have a very hard time thinking/driving. And I believe that studies have indicated that being sleep deprived while driving is just as dangerous as driving drunk.

Here's a site discussing how sleep deprivation compares with blood alcohol levels: Driving While Drowsy Can Be As Dangerous as Driving While Drunk - National Sleep Foundation

Bottom line, sleep is very important. More important, I think, than many people realize or like to admit. I think it's because people feel like they are being somehow tougher or that they have more willpower if they can push through while sleep deprived. But it's straight-up dangerous.

It's possible, depending on the person, that this isn't either/or. Two things could both be a bad idea. It could be a bad idea to take calls while sleep deprived AND be a bad idea to be on call while having sleeping medications on board. I personally would not take a job that caused me so much anxiety that my only choices were being very sleep deprived *or* under the influence of sedatives while on call for a pretty vulnerable patient population.

[Orion81RN]

I wouldn't do it. If taking call is causing you so much anxiety that you either need to take sleeping pills or function with a severely sleep deprived brain, perhaps this job is not a good fit for you.

Not necessarily. I have anxiety over ANY job. I was working a side job at a department store for 2 days, while a nurse, and quit due to anxiety. I also quit Disney World bc of anxiety about work. And so on, and so on. The issue is me, not the job. When I was 18, I quit 45 minutes into working at a skating rink.

[Orion81RN]

It's possible, depending on the person, that this isn't either/or. Two things could both be a bad idea. It could be a bad idea to take calls while sleep deprived AND be a bad idea to be on call while having sleeping medications on board. I personally would not take a job that caused me so much anxiety that my only choices were being very sleep deprived *or* under the influence of sedatives while on call for a pretty vulnerable patient population.

Just bc something makes you anxious, doesn't mean you should avoid it. In fact, exposure therapy is incredibly helpful. I'd go so far as to say it's the best treatment....in my opinion, of course.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

I'm not talking about something like Ambien, btw. I'm talking about Benadryl or doxylamine, a low dose of a med I am used to where I am confident I would still wake up and my clinical judgment would not be impaired. Are we not allowed to take NyQuil if we have a cold while on call?

The job is a great fit for me; it's call that's not a good fit, and I'd hate to give up the job just because of a call requirement every 6 weeks or so. Did I mention it's my first time? No one wants to try to reassure me that maybe I'll get used to it or suggest any non-pharmacological coping strategies?

Melatonin 10-20 mg.....been great for me....

[Farawyn]

Nope.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Just bc something makes you anxious, doesn't mean you should avoid it. In fact, exposure therapy is incredibly helpful. I'd go so far as to say it's the best treatment....in my opinion, of course.

I know about exposure therapy. My D is getting her Ph.D in clinical psychology, specializing in anxiety disorders, and she has done research on exposure therapy. Her studies have shown it to be very effective. The OP says she has had anxiety her entire life, so I figured she must have already tried to seek help for it. But it's possible that she hasn't, so good post.