Questions for Night Shift Nurses

[Tazhaz]

Hi Nurses,

I'm actually doing a Product Design degree at the moment and for my thesis/ final year project I'm thinking of doing something to improve the condition of night shift nurses, especially regarding fatigue and performance.

In order for me to fully grasp the needs and design opportunities, however, I'm going to need all the help from you guys! So, I'd be extremely grateful if you guys would answer my questions so I can get a better feel of what happens during your night shift and factors affecting it.

Here are the questions:

1. What is it like to work nightshift?

2. Can you tell me a little about your sleeping habit before a night shift?

2. During night shift, are you allowed to take a short nap during breaks by the hospitals?

3. If you are and you do, how long do you usually take a nap for?

4. Do you feel groggy after? If so, how long does it take you to recover?

5. Where do you take a nap? Is there a special room provided by the hospital for nurses to take a nap in?

6. What do you think are the barriers on having a nap on night shift?

7. Do you have any concerns about driving home during night shift?

8. If there is an especially designed 'Nap Room' available at the hospital, would you use it? What feature would you like it to have?

*Also, do you mind if you specify which country or city you work in?

I know it's quite alot, but I'd really appreciate it if you guys would answer them. Also, sorry if my English isn't very good/clear as it isn't my primary language. Again, thank you very much!

[Sparrow91]

1. What is it like to work nightshift?

I love night shift! It gives the opertunity to work independantly everyone on nights are usually a lot of fun and very helpful when things get sticky. It is difficult especially if there is a lot of sickness going around, fevers, vomiting and diarrhea seem to be at its worst at night and a lot of the time you are alone.

2. Can you tell me a little about your sleeping habit before a night shift?

I usually get out of work at 6:30 and I usually go to bed around 8 am and sleep till some where between 2-4pm, then I am up till I get out of work the next morning. If it is my day off then I usually keep a similar routine and stay up till 3-4 in the morning.

3. During night shift, are you allowed to take a short nap during breaks by the hospitals?

I work LTC but we are not given oppertunites to sleep on breaks, some nights however some of us really need to rest so some tell who ever is watching the floor for them while o break that they will be naping and where and we will come wake them when their break is over.

3. If you are and you do, how long do you usually take a nap for?

I do not chose to nap but when people need it, it is durring the 30 min break.

4. Do you feel groggy after? If so, how long does it take you to recover?

Many feel groggy after but once 4am comes we all get our secound wind!

5. Where do you take a nap? Is there a special room provided by the hospital for nurses to take a nap in?

No room they usually use the couch or they push two chairs together in the dinnig room.

6. What do you think are the barriers on having a nap on night shift?

Many of the administrative staff think that we are lazy and dont do anything so they would never think of providing or allowing naps on the night shift. Plus it could be a safety concern if you fall in a deep sleep and can not be woken by a page durring an emergency.

7. Do you have any concerns about driving home during night shift?

No I am usually still running on my secound wind I usually don't come down from it till 8am.

8. If there is an especially designed 'Nap Room' available at the hospital, would you use it? What feature would you like it to have?

I probably would, all I would want is for it to be dark quiet and to have clean sheets and blankets.

[d_buzz]

1. What is it like to work nightshift?

I have been working nigh shift for 1.5 years now. I love that it's quiet. Less medication and less treatments to perform. However, you'll have twice the number of patients compared to day and eve shift. So, the caseload is the same. I hate it when other shifts think that night shift staff have it easier. They have no idea how hard it is.

2. Can you tell me a little about your sleeping habit before a night shift?

When I work 2 nights in a row, I sleep from 2 PM to 10 PM for a 2245-0715 shift.

If I'm off the following night, I stay awake as much as I can so I can sleep that night. So our biological rhythm is screwed up.

2. During night shift, are you allowed to take a short nap during breaks by the hospitals? NOOO WAAYYYY... we're not supposed to but somehow other staff manage to get some naps. I can never have enough peace of mind to sleep on the job. It's unethical and unprofessional.

3. If you are and you do, how long do you usually take a nap for? (N/A)

4. Do you feel groggy after? If so, how long does it take you to recover?

5. Where do you take a nap? Is there a special room provided by the hospital for nurses to take a nap in? If we were provided a nap room, I don't think I'll even use it. My mind will be too awake and too concern for my patients so I'll never be able to take a nap.

6. What do you think are the barriers on having a nap on night shift? I don't think night shift staff should be allowed to take a nap at work in the first place.

7. Do you have any concerns about driving home during night shift? My husband drop me and pick me up from work.Most of the time, I sleep while hubby is driving.

8. If there is an especially designed 'Nap Room' available at the hospital, would you use it? No.

What feature would you like it to have?

I live in Hawaii.