Dont want to get anyone in trouble

[dscott76]

Hey everyone, I am a Cna/nursing student and I currently work night shift on alzheimer's/dementia units. By me being part time I rotate on all the units in the facility I work. Everytime I work on this one particular unit the LPN who usually is the charge nurse is always sleep. I am talking bout head back, mouth wide open, snoring sleep. It really bothers me because the unit has fall risks, elopement risks, u name it , its here. She doesnt do anything to help. She doesnt seem like the type of person who would want to hear what I have to say about her sleeping. So what am I suppose to do. I dont think its fair for her to sleep while we have to do rounds every two hours, vital signs, and everything else during the shift while she sleeps. I dont want her to lose her job but at the same time I am tired of her being knocked out sleep everytime I work on this unit. Any suggestions.

[casi, ASN, RN]

I personally would advise against the pictures. You could accidently wake up a nurse that could get really cranky with you or otherwise be caught by another co-worker taking pictures.

I wouldn't want to put myself in the middle of that kind of drama.

[suanna]

probably there's a little suggestion box in your facility where you can write anonymously,

one of the LTC that I have worked at has surveillance camera attached to almost every corner of the facility so the nurses especially the night nurses can't even use their cellphone because the camera also has a direct monitor to the Admins home.

WOW- The George Orwell "Big Brother" center for senor living?

back to the thread; If you feel the situation is really placing you or the patients at risk, you have to call it to the attention of the management. You do owe it to the nurse to at least say it makes you uncomfortable when she goes so soundly asleep and you feel she isn't pulling her weight on the team compaired to other staff you work with. There are lots of ways to stay awake on night shift- refer her to this site and do a subject search. Diet, sleeping patterns, xxx-hr energy supplements, "provigil" by Rx,... But the problem may just be she is lazy and dosent care. If that is the case- why would you want to see her keep her position?

[dscott76]

Thanks everyone for the input.

[MandE4and1]

Get really close to her and yell "Code blue! Code blue! Get the crash cart!" After she jumps up like a chicken with her head cut off, then realizes there is no code explain to her that had this been a real problem she would be unprepared to handle it. My concern isn't about whether people get in trouble, but patient safety.

This is funny!!! I just pictured someone doing that and the other nurse jumping up!!

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I can't help but wonder if this might not be a license issue for nurses- unless job states it is a sleep over position.

[tewdles, RN]

Just wake her up!

give her a little shake...wake her up, talk to her, engage her in the work...

this is not rocket science...it is hard sometimes to stay awake during night shift...be a team player and wake her up