I'm a private duty peds nurse who primarily does night shifts. While I've managed to stay awake at work, I occasionally feel a need to just close my eyes for about 5 seconds at a time when they get tired. No longer than that. When I do, I'm always sitting up, reading or looking at my iPhone when I do.
my question is, if a patient sees me with my eyes closed, and if they report me to my agency and/or nursing board, how is the investigation handled? It seems like in these cases, it's he said/she said, so how do any nurses ever found guilty of this? I can always argue that I'm immediately responsive, that I'm always holding my book in a way that only a wakeful person could, but it's still my word against theirs.
Just a side note: I work DAYS and we had a problem with a CNA that was always falling asleep during 1:1s. Once a patient fell out of bed! Took management FOREVER to let her go. In fact she still works per diem. I guess it
depends on where you work. We also have CNA that lies about vital signs (i.e. doesn't take them and makes up numbers). She's been reported several times and still works there. SMH.
A formal complaint from a patient or visitor will be taken seriously.
ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP
1 Article; 2,594 Posts
I would love to work 3p to 3a....my dream schedule!