Night Nurses-Pts think we sleep?

LoriChr · Dec 21, 2004

Yup, I worked LTC for seven years and heard it all the time. I wish I has a dime for every time I heard "Sorry to wake you, but....." :)

amblessing · Dec 21, 2004

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

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

We have a pole . . .

BamaRN · Dec 21, 2004

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

WHAT??? You mean thats not what ya'll do at night? Well my hospital can just forget me working the night shift when I graduate then. :rotfl: :rotfl:

fab4fan · Dec 21, 2004

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

You know, when I was about 5y I had a tonsillectomy. I remember waking up in the middle of the night with a lot of throat pain, but I didn't call for the nurse because I didn't want to wake her up (this was back in the dark ages when parents weren't allowed to stay overnight).

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 21, 2004

A lot of the patients on the med-surg floor i worked on thought the nurses slept.

Of course, the majority of the pts. were in the frame of mind that Eisenhower was still president.

We'd had this one pt. who use to righ her light because "it looks like you all needed something to do, sitting on your ***es out there" (pt.'s words). The nurse was charting at the computer.

KacyLynnRN · Dec 22, 2004

I worked the night shift the first year I was a nurse and one time, a patient actually offered to share her bed with me!!! LOL Several patients made comments about 'waking me' if they turned their call light on, etc....they were all geriatric patients as well. Maybe that's how they did it on night shift in the 20's and 30's. LOL

nursemike, ASN, RN · Dec 22, 2004

WHAT??? You mean thats not what ya'll do at night? Well my hospital can just forget me working the night shift when I graduate then. :rotfl: :rotfl:

That's what I'm saying. I don't start nights until I graduate, so I was kind of alarmed when I saw this thread about sleeping. If I wanted to sleep, I could stay home.

Actually, I've done some one-on-one caregiving overnight, usually after my regular 3-11. Amazing how I'm never asleep before 0300 at home, but nearly comatose after 1230 at work.

3-11 seems to be my natural rhythm, but I sure like the idea of 3x12's. They run 7-7, so my choices are limited. I'm kinda curious to see how this works out.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Dec 22, 2004

No, no, no! It isn't sleeping it's MEDITATING. However night workers do it in a darkened room, with a pillow and blanket.....MEDITATING. Instead of Ommmmm its ZZZZZZZ.

Headhurt, ADN · Dec 22, 2004

Who has time for a nap?? Usually we are running from the moment we clock in, til we go home.

I'd be happy if I could actually have a real hot lunch, instead of having to reheat it over and over because I've been called away so often. After the 5th reheating, one tends to lose their appetite! :bluecry1:

renerian, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2004

:rotfl: :rotfl: . I don't work nights now but I have and do not recall catching any Zs..........

renerian

Euskadi1946 · Dec 23, 2004

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

AW Shukins Mike!!! I thought the same thing when I got hired on night shift.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Mystery5 · Dec 23, 2004

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 work nights at a civilized small hospital where we take a one hour nap in the night, as long as things aren't too crazy. It really helps! I have no trouble waking up.