Nodding off...

[jodyangel]

Ok so a few months ago I was nodding while sitting with a group of nurses at 3am. I had no patient assignment at the time.

I work nightshift. Another employee .. Instead of tapping me, called the coordinator who then called me into her office and scolded me. Asked if I wanted to go home. No I do t want to go home...I'm so sorry!

so I'm more than upset that a fellow coworker would throw me under the bus. I figured out who it was and kept an eye on her.

A few weeks ago it apparently happened again. My head was nodding. The ANM called me into her office and said " don't Do that!! Be careful! If someone sees you they will report you and you could lose your job on the spot!" I was mortified and immediately went out and washed my face and made coffee.

So I come to work weds night and get pulled out of report to the NM office. The big boss is there and she reads me my termination letter. Then asks for my badge.

im beyond devastated. I moved 8 hrs from home for This job. I don't know a soul here and haven't felt a real part of the unit since I started. So here I am. In a house I've only lived in for 9 months so I can't just sell it and move on.

I know have been told that several secretary's and nurses have been found asleep and no ones been fired...just warned.

The secretary sits at the desk with her arms crossed. Several of the ST's have been found back in the empty OR totally asleep.

i feel very unjustly treated. IMO there is a huge difference between head nodding and laying out over the desk or hiding in patient rooms sleeping.

At this facility they also turn all the lights in the hallway and nurses station dim. Yeah crazy!

so this week I will arm myself with my argument and have a meeting with HR. This manager has been horrid to people and caused many to leave for other places.

am I way off base?

[jodyangel, RN]

Treat everyone the same then . That's not happening here.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Dang, that's harsh. The first job I worked (also L&D), we slept regularly at night if there was no patient assignment. We were usually quite overstaffed. There were nights, working triage, when I didn't have a patient all night.

[kaydensmom01]

Do you have documented proof that others nodded off and were not fired for it? If not it will just look like a game of tattle tale. I hope you do not plan to go in there saying "why was I fired and no one else" if you don't have any evidence, and it is all hearsay.

[WillyNilly]

Ive worked all shifts. I understand. Ive caught a few during all shifts nodding but I relieve them so they can walk it off. What would having a say with HR solve? If you file a grievance and possibly won, would you really want to work with those people again? Find a day shift or afternoon shift somewhere until you can find a place you like.

[Caffeine_IV]

I'm sorry that it ended that way. I don't see the need to speak with HR. They are on the employers side always. Lots of managers and directors are unfair and play favorites. I've seen it time and time again. It doesn't make I right but there is usually little recourse without good solid proof. It does catch up them at some point whether we know it or not.

[Bill E. Rubin]

I agree with those who say to let it go. No winning those battles, unfair as the are.

Who would want to work on such a unit anyway? As one poster said, it's one thing to sprawl out with a blanket and pillow with your tongue hanging out and snoring, vs just nodding off while charting or when you don't have anything to do. Working nights is unnatural and most of us have demands that keep us awake part of the days in between as well. Even at best, it's rare that a night shifter is getting 8 hours of quality sleep in between shifts.

So you proved that you are a human being. If you worked with actual human beings as well, they'd have simply prodded you awake, or if appropriate, suggested you take a break or something.

And yes, I work mostly nights and, thankfully, I work with human beings.

[loriangel14, RN]

Are you not given the opportunity to take a break? Where I work the hallway lights are turned off and the staion lights are dimmed. everyone gets a break and we usually nap.

Yes it does sound like they were out to get you.Best of luck with your next job.

[SleeepyRN]

Can you say you were taking your legally entitled break? I don't know. At this point you already admitted wrongdoing by strongly apologizing. If you could turn back time, Id say I was taking my break and meditating. I'm sorry this happened. I nodded off once (like 3 minutes) when I was a sitter in the ER for a patient who was knocked out on Ativan and had soft restraints on. I was caught. I felt terrible. The nurse turned the light on, showed her dismay, but mercifully did not report me.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Oh I know I'm done there. But will still have my say. It's the right thing to do. People should all be treated equally.

Write out your "say" on a piece of stationary, then seal it in an envelope. Don't mail it..."just sit on it." After a couple of weeks, you may see things a little differently.

Giving them a piece of your mind might make you feel better temporarily, but in the end it could cause you even more trouble. Nursing is a small community, and people talk. Don't give your former employer even more reason to speak poorly of you.

Sometimes, you really do get a job that's a bad fit, and nothing you can do will change that. If you somehow magically got your job back. believe me, you would have a giant target painted on your back. Move on, and let it just be a bad memory.

[jodyangel, RN]

Documented proof? Lol no. But a few were moved to day shift. Not fired. Hell yeah I'm claiming that the policy is Not enforced equally. I'm not whining about being fired. I'm saying the policy is not being enforced equally. Discrimination

[jodyangel, RN]

I'm not giving them a piece of my mind. I'm asking what the exact policy is and why it's enforced at will and not across the board. I wouldn't work there again for a million bucks. And I feel most nurses allow themselves to be treated unfairly and don't feel they should speak up when unjustices are done.

I am moving on..but I won't be going without trying to make things better for the nurses I Did enjoy working with..

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Oooooooh-kay. Don't say you weren't warned.