Coworkers that SLEEP on the job....arrrggghh!!!

Nurses Relations

Published

:banghead:

Okay, here's the thing...it happened where I worked before, (nothing was done)

it's happening where I work now, (the bosses know and don't do anything) and there's really

NOTHING I can do about it, but I just need to VENT!!

It is SO annoying and infuriating to me that some of my coworkers get away with SLEEPING while sitting

upright in a nurse's station, *OR*, even better, they sneak off somewhere for a little nap.

SOME charge nurses make them clock out and go home, but most do not. Where I used to work,

ONE time caught sleeping was IMMEDIATE termination; but again-----they let it slide many times.

I walk the hallways, I slam down coffee, I go chat with people on other floors, I offer to turn/ change

with the aides, I go listen to a patient who is lonely and wants to talk my ear off in the wee hours of

the night, I clean the breakroom......WHATEVER I can to stay awake! :yawn:

And NOW, OH. MY. GOSH.....when I didn't think it could get ANY worse, one of our new coworkers

is on her tiny iphone alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll night long, playing online ------and NO ONE DOES

ANYTHING!!!

I would LOVE to nap and play online all night, but umm....it's NOT ALLOWED! I would be so EMBARRASSED

to be so unprofessional! I keep telling myself "get OVER it, life aint fair"!! But like I said, just wanted to

VENT and see how many of you have these same coworkers................UGH!!!:banghead:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, telemetry/stepdown.

I absolutely HATE this at my workplace! I have been here for 9 months, I came from another hospital where it was not done, and my 2nd prn job it doesn't happen either. Once I started night shift here, I was shocked to find out that just about everyone goes on "break", where they will go to the locker room with blankets and pillows and SLEEP! like for 2-3 hours! It is freaking unbelievable to me that people think that this is ok.

Each nurse will find their partner for the night, and they agree to cover each other for "break". Everyone knows by this point NOT to ask me to cover them. I'm sorry but I provide good thorough care for my patients and I don't wish to be responsible for 6 patients in addition to my 6 for a few hours. Some of our patients are high acuity and my license is on the line!

Now, I am not in any way judging people who do this at work, but for myself personally i think it is wrong. Everyone who does it on my floor has the same excuse, "oh i don't get enough sleep during the day"...Believe me, I completely understand: I have a full-time job, a part-time job, and I am a full-time RN-BSN student.. I just keep busy and stay awake, it is my job and i chose to work night shift. I just don't get it. Thanks for letting me rant lol.

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I worked a nightshift in the women's delivery suite not long ago (not nursing, but that's another story). Anyway, there were no patients (unusual it seems). Most of the midwives surfed the net, did online continuing education packages, or slept. The senior nurse said not-one-thing. I personally thought it was a little unprofessional, but if everything is done, why not? As soon as a panting mum-to-be came in, it was all action stations.

Seems it's different everywhere you go. In the old days when I was a nurses aide, this would have been instant dismissal by the matron, or senior doctor.

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Just an after thought:

how on EARTH do people get the time to sleep on nights? I'm always running and flat out, then I usually can't sleep right away when I get home :(

Just an after thought:

how on EARTH do people get the time to sleep on nights? I'm always running and flat out, then I usually can't sleep right away when I get home :(

Boy, I hear ya on this ! Nights are busy, and there was never any lack of things to do. :)

But isn't that when the graverobbers come around?

:eek:

Specializes in Rehab, Neuro, Travel Nurse, Home Care.

I have been working permanent nights (7p-7a) for 5 years now and now I'm use to staying up all night. On a few occasions I take my hour break and go in the break room to take a nap. I set my alarm on my phone. Management at my job don't mind as long as we don't sleep at the nurses' station and we have coverage for our break. I never have a problem of getting someone to cover for me because I'm the nurse that always brings food and coffee for the staff.

If I notice someone dosing off, I suggest they go on break or I give them some coffee. I talk to them about the ramifications of sleeping if it got out of hand. That usually works, because I never had to tell my boss about anybody sleeping. I would if I had to though.

Now I will admit I play games on my iPhone or reading a book/magazine during downtime. I only do this when all my work is done and I'm just waiting for the call bell to ring, time to pass meds, or next rounds. It's either that or I'm staring at the walls.

Just an after thought:

how on EARTH do people get the time to sleep on nights? I'm always running and flat out, then I usually can't sleep right away when I get home :(

That was my experience as well.

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