Working nights, tons of work meetings scheduled during my sleep hours?

Nurses Safety

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I am so exhausted. I get like 5 hours of sleep tops. They forced me on nights now I gotta come in at 7, at 9, to go to meetings and stuff when I am normally asleep. What can I do? I already get no sleep with this schedule and am always tired cause nights isn't normal for me and it's not safe, now they're cutting my sleep even more? All I do is work and (try to) sleep!

Specializes in Med Surg.

I don't know, but that drives me nuts. There should be meetings at 0400. See how those daywalkers like it. :)

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I wouldn't go. Your sleep is more important. I work mostly days and if a meeting is on my day off, I don't go in.If they are going to make a meeting mandatory they would have to pay me.

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

I don't go to any meetings that are not immediately after my shift. I talked to my manager about it and she suggest that I can get the minutes of the meeting from somebody that attended and post them on the nurses' section on the hospital website. I can also get the minutes and talk to our staff about it.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I am so exhausted. I get like 5 hours of sleep tops. They forced me on nights now I gotta come in at 7, at 9, to go to meetings and stuff when I am normally asleep. What can I do? I already get no sleep with this schedule and am always tired cause nights isn't normal for me and it's not safe, now they're cutting my sleep even more? All I do is work and (try to) sleep!
If you're working nights, no one expects you to show up for a daytime meeting. Skip them. Unless your presence is specifically requested AND they give you the night off. Sleep better.

This happens to me so often and there is less than two days notice. I always hear MANDATORY FOR ALL NURSES.

It's bloody absurd. Seriously have like the person doing the inservice just send my supervisor the stuff so she can inservice us.

If the meeting is mandatory, it should start no later than 30min after your shift ends, and DECENT food, not just coffee and doughnuts, should be provided. Also, you should be getting paid for your time, of course.

Suggest breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, smoothies. With the night shift personnel getting first dibs!!

I noticed that certain night shift people never went to day meetings, no matter what time they were held. If I were you, I would not go unless it is held within 30 minutes after the end of your shift. Getting paid for the extra time is a given. If they complain, tell them off, politely, of course.

They can come in at a 1am if they want a 1 o'clock meeting. For most meetings we've got where we can call in now. Only the occasional on-site required meeting. Of course mandatory education (CPR renewal, etc.) is always smack dab in the middle of the day. After all, we can't expect educators to come to work when it's inconvenient.... :rolleyes:

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

My facility would schedule mandatory meetings in two sessions: one held right after the night shift ended, and one held right after the day shifted. They didn't care which one you went to as long as you attended one of them. Having the meeting right after the night shift ended apparently worked out really well for attendance.

I don't know, but that drives me nuts. There should be meetings at 0400. See how those daywalkers like it. :)

Nice try but meeting times are set by managers.

Need I say more?

If you're working nights, no one expects you to show up for a daytime meeting. Skip them. Unless your presence is specifically requested AND they give you the night off. Sleep better.

In my workplace, if you do not attend at least 70% of all monthly meetings, it is grounds for termination on the spot.

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