Calling in for no sleep

Palliative Care, DNP · May 24, 2016

Personally, I am of the opinion that is no one's business why you are calling in. I also worked nights and it can take a lot out of you. I don't feel like we should have to explain why we can not get to work. The important part is that you provide adequate notice so that coverage for the shift may be found. I agree with others that nursing seems to have expectations that you will work no matter the conditions. Take care of yourself because the employer is not going to look out for you.

RNBSN930 · May 24, 2016

Trust me, the "I can't function with less than 5 hours of sleep" is ALL in your head! I say this with love and understanding! I used to be the same way I swear! Obsessing over how many hours of sleep you get will only make you stress more and sleep less. I have learned after working multiple shifts on only 2 or 3 hours of sleep, it IS possible! you have to believe in yourself! While it won't be the most enjoyable shift, you will be fine, I promise! Good luck!

verene, MSN · May 24, 2016

I called in for lack of sleep once when I ended up taking a family member to the ED 30 minutes before my usual bedtime, and knowing that I would have class all the next morning and afternoon. I called out from the ED for a full shift off (12+ hours before scheduled) but I ended up coming in a couple hours late which was much easier on staffing (one of my day-shift coworkers was wiling to do a double, but appreciated going home after 10) but still gave me a couple hours in the afternoon to nap.

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 24, 2016

CaringGerinurse525 said:
I work 12s 3p-3a. I often get home around 4am and go to sleep and my 2 year old is up between 6-7am. I am then up again until 4am the next day. Rinse and repeat. I don't recommend going on that little sleep but it works for us so he doesn't go to daycare. I would love to "only" get 5 hours of sleep!! That's more than I get in 48 hours sometimes!! If you do call off I def. wouldn't say it's because you're tired!

I have been thinking about this schedule for Summer, with a 3 yo. Not sure I can make it work though. I have a hard time winding down.

joanna73, BSN, RN · May 24, 2016

I've called in once with zero sleep and a migraine on top of that. You must be fit to work.

However.....many times I have worked on 3-4 hours sleep because I'm an insomniac. It was painful but I knew I could force myself to slow down and work safely.

Depends on your tolerance level.

Maevish, ASN, RN · May 24, 2016

Nurse131382 said:
On Friday I was scheduled a 12 hour shift that went to 330am. The Monday after I am scheduled to work at 0700. I had one night to try and totally change my sleep schedule. That being said it's 3am and I haven't slept a wink. I need at least 5 hours of sleep to function and that obviously isn't going to happen. Is it acceptable to call in because you haven't slept?

There was enough time to sleep before Monday (if the shift ended at 0330 Saturday morning just stay up until 8-9 on Sat so you can sleep that night and Sunday night) so I'm not sure how sympathetic they'll be.

That being said, they will always tell you that you shouldn't work when tired (even though we all do it), but then get irritated if you call off. Same when you're sick.

xo

Maevish, ASN, RN · May 24, 2016

Quote
PP- So your solution is to make another nurse, who has likely just worked 12+ hours and is tired him/herself, stay until the OP feels ready to come in?! Would YOU like somebody doing that to you? It's not the off-going nurse's problem.
OP- I'm confused. You worked a 12 hr shift Friday that went until 3:30am, which would make it Saturday. However, you state you only had one night to get back to a 7am schedule. Saturday night and Sunday night make 2 nights to get back to a normal schedule. I honestly wouldn't be happy if a coworker called out because they were "tired" if it made the day harder for the rest of the nurses working (unless there were extenuating circumstances like being up caring for a sick child, etc.).

Exactly. There were 2 nights to get back on the day shift schedule. Even if the OP had gotten off at 0330 Sunday morning, that would be one night off so you'd just stay awake until the evening and sleep that night;)

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · May 24, 2016

Several thoughts on this. . . .

*My employer made us take training on getting enough rest and how that was a safety issues. With no changes to the attendance policy.

*My coworkers do not pay attention to getting enough sleep for nights. They are not careless nurses. These are pretty much exclusively moms of kids who are not relieved of childcare responsibilities.

*My employer does not officially care why you are calling in to work, as long as you give sufficient notice (2hrs). You get 3 absences every 3 months before the disciplinary process starts. 6 or more and your manager has the option of terminating you. You don't get a free pass for days you didn't sleep well.

*On a related topic, quite a few years ago I was moving through the disciplinary process due to an exacerbation of my migraines. My immediate supervisor was really worried about me and didn't want to lose me so she directed me to intermittent FMLA leave. It's FMLA, but can be taken as needed for personal or family health needs. Usually with a limit of 12 weeks a year (depends). Those absences are federally protected leave. I am not subject to disciplinary process for absences when they are for migraines. Several of my coworkers have it and some are suspected of abusing it. Most of my coworkers don't even know I have it because I might only use it every few months. And I will call in as "sick" (not FMLA) when I'm not having a migraine.

*Would be interesting to know if a doctor would fill out FMLA paperwork for insomnia. I would qualify. I've been seeing a sleep specialist for about 3 years now though he's helped me enough that I almost always get 6-7 hours of sleep every day (or night).

allnurses Guide · May 24, 2016

Nurse131382 said:
On Friday I was scheduled a 12 hour shift that went to 330am. The Monday after I am scheduled to work at 0700. I had one night to try and totally change my sleep schedule. That being said it's 3am and I haven't slept a wink. I need at least 5 hours of sleep to function and that obviously isn't going to happen. Is it acceptable to call in because you haven't slept?

I would say the question is more, is it acceptable to your employer. One thing I've learned from reading people's experiences here is sometimes employers treat nurses with a great work ethic in a deplorable way, sometimes demanding the nurse find her own replacement, drag themselves into the workplace while sick under threat of termination, etc. It's just ugly sometimes.

I don't know if you are switching from nights to days permanently, it's no fun at first, but neither does anybody totally adjust to a changed sleep schedule in one night. I hate to work on 1-2 hours of sleep, but I find that once I am at work and busy, I feel much better than I thought I would.

Everyone is different I know, but it does get better progressively if you can manage the initial rough days. If you do call off, I would in your case say probably best to describe your physical symptoms without being specific about the "why". Hope things get better for you soon.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · May 24, 2016

Hellz yeah! call in. When I am sleep deprived, I KNOW I cannot function. There is no magic "cure", no nursing dedication to overcome it. We are human beings that need the proper rest to perform.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · May 24, 2016

nursel56 said:
I would say the question is more, is it acceptable to your employer. One thing I've learned from reading people's experiences here is sometimes employers treat nurses with a great work ethic in a deplorable way, sometimes demanding the nurse find her own replacement, drag themselves into the workplace while sick under threat of termination, etc. It's just ugly sometimes.
I don't know if you are switching from nights to days permanently, it's no fun at first, but neither does anybody totally adjust to a changed sleep schedule in one night. I hate to work on 1-2 hours of sleep, but I find that once I am at work and busy, I feel much better than I thought I would.
Everyone is different I know, but it does get better progressively if you can manage the initial rough days. If you do call off, I would in your case say probably best to describe your physical symptoms without being specific about the "why". Hope things get better for you soon.

We are professionals. It is NOT required to "describe your symptoms". That is protected health information. "I will not be in today" is ALL that is required when calling off.

allnurses Guide · May 24, 2016

Been there,done that said:
We are professionals. It is NOT required to "describe your symptoms". That is protected health information. "I will not be in today" is ALL that is required when calling off.

First, I didn't mention anything about a requirement to do anything. For the rest, people can come to their own conclusions about whether or not "I will not be in today" in the absence of any other information will be accepted at face value by HR and staffing.

My suggestion regarding her specific verbiage is also based on the notion that an employer will most likely seek more information as to the reason for the call-off. "I will not be in today because I haven't slept for more than 5 hours since Friday" is, my experience anyway, not as good as, "I have a headache and GI symptoms" (for example).

Sounds like your staffers are exemplary, though.