falling asleep during nightshift

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Sleeping

    • 19
      only terrible nurse aides sleep on nightshift
    • 20
      we all get tired

39 members have participated

of course you shouldn't do it

but come on. we are not perfect. If you have had a hard time sleeping, I can not blame you for dozing off. all i can say is don't make a habit out of it.

I can remember once i fell asleep for 30 minutes on the nightshift on my first nurse aide job i ever had. I know i slept, because i had a dream. Funny enough my dream was about work. I dreamed i was sitting in the chair that i fell asleep in and my co-worker was like "come on we gotta make rounds" and i just could not get out that chair. It was like i was paralyzed. No, it did not actually happen, because when i woke up it was no where near time for us to make rounds.

Im probably gonna get alot for this, but im the type of co-workers that understand your tired and if you need me to poke you on the head for rounds or when your light goes off then i will. I actually have a co-worker like that and she is a really good nurse aide. The most i will ever do is curl up and close my eyes to meditate, but i won't actually fall asleep. I won't to know everyone else's take on this. Is it really that bad?

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

When I have to float to our freestanding EDs we are allowed to sleep, just have to clock out.

Specializes in NICU.
Ok so I come in give 2 people a bath,change 10 people answer lights, start my charting, and then get vitals, but if I close my eyes after I do all that after not sleeping right for weeks even though my coworker is right there to wake me up I'm "not doing my job". .............ok

You've done some tasks. That's good. Problem is, the job is to stay alert and ready to respond to any situations arising, all night. Just because you've ticked off the boxes you know about doesn't mean that your job is done.

Since you've stated you're the type to look the other way if your coworkers doze off, but also admit to sleep problems and a penchant for "closing your eyes," I repeat my question -- what happens if these things happen at the same time, and nobody is aware of a call light going off or, worse, a resident in distress?

Specializes in Dialysis.

Your sleep problems are your own; you were hired to take care of people, not make excuses for why you can sleep during the shift. Your lack of work ethic is actually irritating me, and usually I'm pretty unflappable. It's to the point that the more you post, the more I hope that you're trolling.

This is my thoughts exactly! You make posts about things that shouldn't be done, that you state you are doing, and add an excuse, then ask strangers to accept that. I hope to not work with you until you have gained the maturity to understand the importance of the roles in healthcare, and perform to those standards.

Before you get "irritated" with me, remember that you asked this on a somewhat public forum, you will receive answers that you don't like. Maturity is accepting that and even considering some of the replies to make a plan to improve. And I worked nights for the first 12 years of my career. I never slept, although I got tired more than once. It's not acceptable, because in an emergency, it can be the difference between life and death for someone

I don't understand how everyone on this site expects nurse aides to be these perfect little angels and berrate anyone who isn't

No one is asking for perfect. They are asking for you to be awake while you are on the clock. Big difference.

By the poll results I'm not the first to think like this but I am the first to admit it.

No you're not. These kinds of threads do pop up from time to time. Nothing new here at all.

It needs to be a fire-able offense for obvious reasons. Other than that, this isn't the right particular discussion to bring up why moral-high-grounding really bothers me on this particular issue, but it does.

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Having sleep problems is hard. I had terrible problems with this, and had to beg to be switched to day shift because I was physically and mentally deteriorating.

I sympathize.

BUT it really doesn't have anything to do with whether or not it is "okay" to sleep at work when it is not sanctioned by the employer (such as a designated sleep break). Even if you have bathed all 25 patients and changed their linens and checked their vitals.

If that was really the full extent of your job duties, why would they not just have you go home after that? No point in paying you to stay if your job is done and it's okay to sleep, right?

As a manager, I prefer to take a "don't ask;don't tell" approach. I worked night shift for years, I know it's hard. On slow nights, it's really hard. As long as the patients are being taken care of, and all coworkers are okay with it and are doing it equitably and covering for each other, I dont have a problem with it, just don't talk to me about it, okay?

The OP seems pretty defensive about the situation, however.

im not gonna say im not i am

many people will hate on my co-worker closing her eyes during work, but i think as long as someones awake during hours its completely fine. i agree with you 100%

im not saying its the best thing in the world, but im not gonna criminalize myself or anyone else for it. You should always try your best to stay awake and alert during work hours, but come. when you think about it nodding off is just as natural as falling out, but less extreme. your certainly not going to attack anyone for falling out

This is my thoughts exactly! You make posts about things that shouldn't be done, that you state you are doing, and add an excuse, then ask strangers to accept that. I hope to not work with you until you have gained the maturity to understand the importance of the roles in healthcare, and perform to those standards.

Before you get "irritated" with me, remember that you asked this on a somewhat public forum, you will receive answers that you don't like. Maturity is accepting that and even considering some of the replies to make a plan to improve. And I worked nights for the first 12 years of my career. I never slept, although I got tired more than once. It's not acceptable, because in an emergency, it can be the difference between life and death for someone

hey you dont like my post and wanna reply you go right ahead, but dont be surprised if i reply back defending myself

Specializes in Ambulatory Care-Family Medicine.

It's a fireable offense everywhere that I've worked. I was a night shift nurse at a nursing home in the beginning of my career. I get that it can be hard to stay awake but you have to train your body. I was still a full time day student while working night shift 2-3 nights a week, I learned to take small naps throughout the day in between classes and after I got off work I would go home and crash until it was time to get ready for class. I never once fell asleep at work or school during this time. I didn't work or have class in Thursdays so I would do all of meal prep and laundry then so I wouldn't have any extra stuff to do throughout the week and could focus on sleeping.

Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
We get a 30 minute break to. During our pedicure time we do get to sit down. I'm talking about nodding off while sitting down. Should you be blamed for that? I mean if you haven't slept well in weeks can you really help it.

If you are unable to stay awake, if you have not gotten adequate sleep for weeks, you are not safe to work. And yes, you are to blame if you fall asleep when you are at work and are supposed to be working.

I worked nights for 6 years, and I can honestly say I have never fall asleep at work. When I felt like I would doze off, I would get up and round on my patients. It only took a few minutes to peek in on them, then I would go complete my charting. And I have charted while standing.

Stop making excuses. Becuase that is what you are doing.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
We get a 30 minute break to. During our pedicure time we do get to sit down. I'm talking about nodding off while sitting down. Should you be blamed for that? I mean if you haven't slept well in weeks can you really help it.

During your pedicure time? You all get PEDICURES at work?????

I get that you're talking about nodding off while sitting down. But I agree with the person who said her minimum standard for a good employee is that the employee is at least conscious while at work!!!

I get the no sleep in a week thing, too. There were a few times that I got 45 minutes of sleep that WEEK. I was so tired that I fell asleep standing up during a code. Fortunately, the nursing supervisor thought it was really funny when she moved the code card away from me and I fell over. I could have been fired on the spot.

Yes, you should be blamed for nodding off while sitting down, unless you're on your break and your team knows where to find you. Sleeping -- even once -- is a firable offense at most jobs. If you find yourself too sleepy to stay awake, get up and make a pot of coffee and drink it. Run up and down the stairs to the tenth floor a few times. Volunteer to run to the pharmacy or the Blood Bank or Central Stores. Help someone bathe their patient. Start a conversation about politics.

Deciding it's OK to fall asleep at work is the hallmark of a poor employee.

As a manager, I prefer to take a "don't ask;don't tell" approach. I worked night shift for years, I know it's hard. On slow nights, it's really hard. As long as the patients are being taken care of, and all coworkers are okay with it and are doing it equitably and covering for each other, I dont have a problem with it, just don't talk to me about it, okay?

The OP seems pretty defensive about the situation, however.

I like this times a hundred. I worked nights 17 years, I think Klone and I know of what we speak.

On the other hand there is a post about eating the untouched food from patient trays and patients snacks from the kitchen. I can kind of understand a tray of food that's going to be thrown away. But I feel guilty when I take crackers, juice, or soda. I've only occasionally done it when my stomach was upset.

Most poster thought it was very appropriate.

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