[dosamigos76]

I work 1800-0700 on a surgical floor. I am amazed at how many patients think we actually sleep at night. :icon_lol: I've even had them apologize for "waking me", and "gee, honey, I hope you can get some sleep." Explaining to them doesn't usually change their perception.
Not a biggie, but surprised me when it first happened.

Cheryl

[nursemike]

It was my understanding when I applied for night shift that we would mainly be drinking and playing cards all night.

[Tweety]

We just sit around reading magazines, surfing the net and eating. No sleeping allows.

[HannasMom]

I get that form of comment almost every night at the LTC I work at. Some believe we live there also. Sometimes, it feels like I live there.

[ladytraviler]

Here I thought they were joking when they issued my jammies and blanket. I don't know about yall but I run my arse off. Same number of pts but 1/2 the staff if not a 1/3. Women don't wait till day light to have babies ya know.

[Hairstylingnurse]

You know what, I hate to say it but I worked 11p-7a at a LTCF, and the nurses that had been there for years did just that for and 1hr and a half q night. And one of the main ones to do that was the night supervisor for the entire buiding. They said there were usually enough staff running around that were hyper to catch the lights. I quickly became one of those hyper nurses. I worked there a total of 35 nights and on the morning I quit I notified the DON of the nightly activities or (lack there of)and suggested she make a suprise visit on that next night . She seemed quiet shocked so I imagine there isn't much sleep these days.

[SmilingBluEyes]

well someone Puuuuhleeze tell the PATIENTS to quit ringing their lights and asking for things, like pain meds and bed linen changes...they are interrupting my nap!


roflmao, what a joke. Frankly, I hear it more from other nurses than patients. The day nurses in many places really do think we sleep all night..... Well how do they think the restocking, med checks, discharge packs got done (that is, if patients are not ringing all night?) Elves??? sheesh.

[Mulan]

I've heard that a few times too.

However, I also have been places where some of the staff would sleep, a nursing home where the aides would sleep between rounds, a hospital where the nurses would sleep supposedly on their break but it's funny how the halfhour break extends to hours (they expect someone else to wake them up), a Navy hospital where the Lt (who was going to school) would sleep in a empty bed (she was the only RN on).

Then too, there are the people that just can't stay awake and doze off at the desk or wherever, even though they probably had no intention of sleeping on the job.

[RN4NICU]

Originally Posted by Hairstylingnurse

You know what, I hate to say it but I worked 11p-7a at a LTCF, and the nurses that had been there for years did just that for and 1hr and a half q night. And one of the main ones to do that was the night supervisor for the entire buiding. They said there were usually enough staff running around that were hyper to catch the lights. I quickly became one of those hyper nurses. I worked there a total of 35 nights and on the morning I quit I notified the DON of the nightly activities or (lack there of)and suggested she make a suprise visit on that next night . She seemed quiet shocked so I imagine there isn't much sleep these days.

Experts actually recommend that employers do just that - provide employees with a place to nap for about a half hour to an hour on the night shift. Their rationale is it lessens the ill health effects of night shift work and it also deters errors due to fatigue and car accidents from driving home while sleep deprived. Too bad most administrators and supervisors have their heads stuck too far up their posteriors to heed such advice - they would rather take the risk than do what is best for their employees.

[MultipurposeRN]

Originally Posted by RN4NICU

Experts actually recommend that employers do just that - provide employees with a place to nap for about a half hour to an hour on the night shift. Their rationale is it lessens the ill health effects of night shift work and it also deters errors due to fatigue and car accidents from driving home while sleep deprived. Too bad most administrators and supervisors have their heads stuck too far up their posteriors to heed such advice - they would rather take the risk than do what is best for their employees.

I agree totally. If there was a way to keep it from being abused, it would be the best thing a facility could ever do for night shift workers. I worked nights for years, and sometimes just a cat nap of 15-20 minutes would've made all the difference in the world. far better than trying to ingest caffeine at levels incompatible with life.