working 3rd shift, raising small children, and sleep..how??

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  1. when you try and sleep after a long night at work and you cant, what do u do??

    • 7
      keep trying!
    • 5
      get up and try later
    • 2
      get up, drink coffee and take energy pills till you feel like a super hero
    • 7
      smack your husband/wife because they wont wake up and help with the kids so u can sleep
    • 3
      u never have this problem

24 members have participated

I work 3rd shift 11p to 9a. I have 4 and 5 yrd old boys at home. When am I supposed to sleep? How do u set a schedule and raise kids and be a wife? I'm like a fish outta water...I'm floundering. Any ideas

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if your spouse isn't working, smack em! That's their job too! If they are, put the boys in day care at least half day so you can sleep.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Just so you know, I can barely read your third response (it shows up in a bright yellow font on my iPad).

When i was on nights years ago, I would lay there and force myself to try to sleep. This was before herbal remedies were used by the masses, boy I wish I knew about them then.

My advice: if it is a scheduling issue (no one to watch the kids), you need to find someone who can watch them. Put your pride aside, ask a friend, relative, find someone in the neighborhood who needs some extra cash who you trust. Find the money in your budget if you are strapped for cash.

If you don't get the sleep you need, you are useless to your children and your patients.

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Cant you put them in school?

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Specializes in TELE, ICU.

Of course mostly you never want to be useless to your kids, you cannot get those years back, I hope you can find someone to watch them in your home while you sleep.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Um if your husband isn't working and isn't sleeping from working nights as well, he needs to do his part. It's only fair. I don't have kids, but the nurses I work with who have kids and whose husbands are working during the day put their kids in day care a few days a week. It's the only way for them to have enough rest to be responsible at work and with their kids.

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Specializes in PCCN.

most of the people i work with in this situation dont get any sleep. maybe an hour or two. I get report from them, and they are falling asleep midsentence. just the way it is where i am.

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Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

My hubby gets them to school/daycare in the morning before he leaves for work. Then I'm able to sleep until school's out. On weekends, he takes care of them & I usually get an extra hour or two of sleep. Works great for us!

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