Don't Bother Me While I Sleep! Never Mess With A Sleeping Nurse

[Joe V]

Get enough sleep? What do you do to guarantee that you get your sleep? Do you have house rules for when you are sleeping? Share your stories...

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[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

One summer day I was trying my darnedest to sleep between my second and third night shifts and was doing quite well until I started hearing conversation. It was one of those days where it wasn't warm enough to have the AC on, but too warm to sleep with the window closed. I listened to the voices for a few minutes - and no, they weren't coming from inside my head - then figured out that my daughter and two of her friends were sitting on the front steps right next to the open window. They weren't talking loudly but my super-sensitve ears were able to make out the whole conversation. I got up and went to stand just inside the screen door. I didn't say anything, just stood there. After a couple of minutes one of the other girls must have felt my presence because she looked over her shoulder then said, "Holy crap. Is that your mom?" All three of them apologized profusely then vamoosed. It was never a problem again.

[Scout_90, BSN, RN]

Bucky sells an eye mask called "40 blinks"... I'm not a nurse yet (just CNA) but these things block out most light and don't put pressure on your eyes. So great. I will definitely be using this mask when I'm in nursing school and beyond!

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

After 20 years on night shift, everybody knows it better be a very good reason to wake me up!

[Guest757854]

\ said:

After 20 years on night shift everybody knows it better be a very good reason to wake me up![/quote']

Agreed!!!

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Thats why the phone goes off, blinds shut, tv on and pray the stupid door to door people read the note on the door.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

My kids are aware of the ONLY three conditions under which it is ok to wake up mom:

1) The house is on fire - visible flames approaching the bedroom

2) Someone has bled enough to fill the 4-cup measuring cup.

3) Helio Castroneves (the race car driver) is at the door.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Mr. Maryjean does not understand- despite 38 years of marriage and 36 years of his lovely wife working nights.

One day, around 11am- he comes in the bedroom, holding my cell phone. "There's someone on the phone for you. I don't know who it is or what they want, but I was wondering- do you want to talk to then or did you want to keep sleeping?"

Someday, he is going to become the 'late Mr. maryjean' I swear...

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

My kids don't know any different, as I have worked nights for as long as they remember. Their list of approved conditions under which they are allowed to wake me up is similar to meanmaryjean:

Cops at the door

House on fire

Bones sticking out

Blood pouring out of somewhere, and my 9yo's nosebleeds don't count bc he knows how to handle them.

Fortunately my husband is protective of my sleep as well. It took a while for him to 'get it' but he did eventually. Now he disables the doorbell when I start my work week.

Windows blacked out, fans cranked all the way up, eyes covered, ears plugged, room like the North Pole, sleep aid of choice on board, and I'm good to go. Usually don't have much trouble sleeping.

[Carrie RN]

It has to be fire, flood, or blood at my house. I have a sound machine I am addicted to made by sharper image.

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

I'm trying desperately to get my kids to understand that running into the bedroom to tattle because one's sibling farted does not constitute an emergency

[Nurse Medicine Woman, ASN, RN]

Twinmom06

Now that really made me laugh out loud!!