Being Tired at work - How do you cope?

What do you do when you are VERY tired at work? I am Exhausted when you clock in to being catatonic when you clock out? Lately, night shift is talking a toll on me. Coffee helps but only goes so far. I can Micro-sleep on the elevator (12 floors) ride up to my unit.
Sometimes I am so tired that during the change-of-shift, I doze off while giving report - just for a quick moment.
Other times, While charting, I doze off.
Yikes, what you're describing is not safe for you or your patients. How do you sleep at home? Are you able to sleep well during the day?

For tired bordering on dangerous, I asked my PCP for a scrip for Provigil.

you should talk to your nurse manager, this is not safe. You are putting yourself and your patients at risk. How long is your ride home?

Take some walks up and down the hall. We have an excercise bike on our unit for patients but some staff on noc shift sometimes use it for brief periods. Go outside for a brief walk and fresh air.

i have Lunesta sleeping medication - Unlike Ambien, it "holds your hands falling asleep". Lunesta Helps but there are times when i simply can not sleep during the day. Night shift really messes up your internal clock.As far as jepordizing patients, I do not think I am. Its the monotony of charting and re-charting useless un-important crap that makes me dozz off. Lately, I am using Monster energy drinks....they help alot - God bless the man that invented Monster!

This sounds like serious exhaustion. Obviously, you aren't getting enough sleep. I think the idea of going to your doctor and discussing the possibility of provigil is a good one. Also, is the reason you aren't getting enough sleep during the day something that lifestyle changes can correct?At my job almost all the 2nd and 3rd shift staff do 3p to 7a doubles. Several do three or more of these in a row. I have had people fall asleep on me during report...both at the beginning of shift when I am trying to give them report and then at the end of their shift I am getting a report that makes no sense and the person is dozing more than reporting. Even better is when someone that exhausted attempts to sit down and tape report...some of the stuff I've gotten on the tape is both funny but also really, really scary. People snoring on tape, talking about the most random nonsensical stuff...saying the dog in room 500 was walked etc. really crazy stuff.

I used to lay down on the grody bathroom floor for microsleeps.Exercise is the best thing for sleepiness. Walk around the unit. Really whiz around, as fast as you can without running. Ten minutes of this and you'll be alert for a couple of hours.

Better sleep well before your shift, eat healthy, and exercise. Otherwise, good luck.

Quote from abbakingAs far as jepordizing patients, I do not think I am. Its the monotony of charting and re-charting useless un-important crap that makes me dozz off.

I should own stock in Excedrin. I pop a couple every four hours or so on the couple days a week I work (doubles). I try not to take any if I need to be asleep in the next three hours, tho... And there are times I'm so tired that even though I take them, I am still able to fall right asleep. I call myself a sleepaholic.

Quote from OhioRN2007I should own stock in Excedrin. I pop a couple every four hours or so on the couple days a week I work (doubles). I try not to take any if I need to be asleep in the next three hours, tho... And there are times I'm so tired that even though I take them, I am still able to fall right asleep. I call myself a sleepaholic.

First, do your best to stay "on" the night shift schedule even on your days off. This is almost impossible, but it is MUCH harder to try to "swing" back and forth than to stay on one shift all the time. Second, MAKE SURE you get a FULL 8 hours of sleep during the day. Put up dark shades - making the room VERY dark (as dark as possible) or even wearing a sleeping mask also helps. It needs to be DARK. I also ran a fan for "white noise" to help me sleep better.Third, keep moving when you are at work! That helps a lot.Good luck!