Why can't I sleep?

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Specializes in Birth center, LDRP, L&D, PP, nursing education.

I've been on nights, and a nurse for a year and three months. I worked last night. I go back tonight. I don't drink caffeine after 2AM, I don't drink booze after work, I work out fairly regularly and I keep this crazy kinda night shift for the most part on my nights off (stay up til 3 or 4am, wake up at 11 or noon on nights off). My room is very dark. I don't have a tv or computer or anything distracting in there.

WHY CANT I sleep? I just want to crash so I can make it back to work tonight!

I've been laying in bed for 3.5 hours just hoping to catch a few Zzzs. Back to bed to pop a melatonin, and hopefully, crash.

Just looking for a little advice :redbeathe

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

While I love working night shift, be aware that it throws a person's circadian rhythms out of whack. When I worked nights, I never got a full 7 or 8 hours worth of sleep between shifts. The most I could ever sleep uninterrupted was 5 or 6 hours.

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I was the same way. If I got 4 hours sleep, I felt lucky. Some people just can't sleep during the day. I insisted on days because of two incidents in the same week. I was driving home and woke up to the sound of an 18-wheeler's horn because I was going straight at him in his lane. The next day I was driving home again and woke up 30 miles past my house.

It wasn't worth it to me. I went to days and won't do night again.

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I loved nights and worked them for years. I started having problems with sleeping (I got older). I had times that I couldn't remember how I got home from work, whether or not I gave report etc. I had a serious accident due to falling asleep after work and running a stop sign. Just like the OP, it wasn't worth it and I came off of them.

Try melatonin BEFORE you try to sleep.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I come home, shower, eat, and as I'm eating take my medicinal sleep aid of choice. By the time I'm done eating and brushing my teeth, I'm usually ready for sleeping. I have two fans that I crank up all the way to drown out shrieking kids/lawnmowers/neighborhood parties, and I'm pretty good to go.

Doesn't always work, but usually it does. Try not to look at the clock either. It just makes you more upset, which makes you less able to sleep. Been there done that many times. Worst case scenario, if you feel that bad, don't be afraid to use a call-in. I've done it before and would do it again if I had to. And, I'm sorry you are having sleep issues; they are no fun on any day. :(

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i am glad you called in. Not a nurse yet just a patient.....i would not want a sleep deprived nurse taking care of me. Just saying :)

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You can't sleep because you're messing with your body's natural sleep cycyle. I would recommend going to your PCP and see which medication would be right for you.

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I know many people who have trouble sleeping during the day after a night shift. I am lucky in that I can get in bed and crash as soon as I get home. I think in some cases, nights just don't work for some people...or stop working for some people.

You could try a couple calcium with D an hour before you go to bed. It helps you relax and it actually good for you. Meletonin works for me too, but like blueheaven suggests, take it at least an hour before you TRY to sleep.

If nothing works and you continue to have trouble...I ditto see the dr for an Rx. You need to sleep.

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Specializes in OR, Informatics.

Last summer I worked an internship in the OR and had to be in at 6:30am Monday-Friday. In order to get my eight hours of sleep, I needed to go to bed around 8:30pm. I was not used to going to bed at that hour. I went to my primary care provider and got a prescription for Ambien. That really helped me for the first few weeks to adjust my sleeping schedule.

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I have the exact same problem. When I worked nights I could hardly stay awake and when I came home I couldn't sleep properly. I've tried black curtains, wearing eye masks, staying awake until 10am, no caffeine. In the end I was having to take strong sedatives and even then I only got 4 hours if I was lucky.

I've noticed that some people are just not suited to working nights shifts. Many of my fellow nurses can sleep fine with no problems, others can't.

I stopped working rotating shifts because my body cannot function without a normal routine. I only work Mon-Fri 8-4:30. If for some reason I was told that I had no choice but to go back on nights, rotating shifts I would probably stop nursing because I don't want to live my life having to take prescription drugs to suit the crappy hours they give you.

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Specializes in Birth center, LDRP, L&D, PP, nursing education.

Thanks everyone. I like the shower, eat, sleepaid idea :) I was fine with nights for a while, they're just harder on me lately and I'm not sure why.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Some people just cannot adjust to night shift. You may be one of them. Have you wait-listed for days? If not, consider it.

There were days I slept 2 hours and just..."dealt"....I think having children (they were really small then) helped because as a new parent, you just don't get any sleep so my body functioned like that and got used to it.

I personally do not recommend taking meds because you end up treating one problem and causing another--but that would be my situation...

Good luck to you....

Jo

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