I’m a Nurse, Solution Focused Life and Stress Management Coach, and Entrepreneur.
Kathy Parlevliet, the Nurse who knows. Acknowledging the power of sleep. But foremost, not enough sleep. After working graveyard shift for over 20 years. I have deep appreciation for the words sleep deprivation. Our work friends on nightshift always have conversations wrapped around sleep. How much you are getting today or lack of . How children affect your sleep. Traffic. The lawnmower on the weekends. The neighbors pool. Lighting in your room. Too hot during the summer. No Nap. Almost falling asleep while driving. Having to get up in the middle of the day to do something. Just can’t stay awake during your shift. Too much coffee. Does that ring a bell? I have fallen asleep over a patient while taking their blood pressure. I have walked into walls in the hallway by dozing off mid step. Could that be defined as exhaustion? Recently a friend asked me about my sleeping knowledge. She wanted to accept a nightshift position, but had never worked a night shift. She has children and will have to drive a distance. This prompted this conversation.
Believing that I was doing the best possible thing for my family. I sacrificed sleep so much. I didn’t know any different. Gratefully, I was surrounded by likeminded around me. Meaning we were not thinking about ourselves. But what do you need to know?
Be very cautious about your capabilities. Sleeping isn’t a luxury. It is a necessity. Having heard about many sleep related accidents after working, and my own moments of dozing off at the wheel. And even a few deaths in my personal nursing life. For everyday I worked in a row, I was sleeping one hour less a day. My perfect goal was 6 hours uninterrupted. I hardly ever made that mark. Get the kids to school, eat, think about dinner, and to bed by 9:30am, up by 3:30, to get the kids, and take them to afterschool activities, or start homework. Start dinner to promptly be served by 6pm, dressed and out the door by 6:25 for 6:45pm start time. And then start my job, for 12 hours of working in the ICU. This was my normal.
Your Goal is to make sure you have a nap every day. Even on your days off. It doesn’t have to be long, on your off days. 20-30 min. This is the part will I will say that you must be kind to yourself. Keep your circadian rhythm the same. Ideally the same time of day. Even if you were off the night before, you need to take a nap. Start on the positive.
Drink more water than coffee while you are working. I didn’t realize that I was more dehydrated than needing caffeine. Cut off the caffeine by 4am. If you drink coffee until you go home, you may sleep for a while, but wake up more frequently.
Make a set time to go to bed when you get home. Try not to break it. I used to always head to bed by 9am. So that by 9:30 I was actually in bed. Take out food for dinner, a load of laundry, or who knows what else my tired mind would think about!
We are special people. We easily forget about ourselves. If you need more support. I am here. TheRNcoach.com.
Let’s talk soon.
Kathy
© 2024 The Nurse Who Knows
