Falling asleep at work

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Do you ever fall asleep at work? I'm a nighter, and it's so funny because I'll see nurses with their pen in hand with their head against their hand, and I'll go look at them and they'll be asleep. First, let me say everyone I work with on nights are really good nurses - they do things on time, get their medications passed out, take care of their patients pain, and so on. Last night was the 1st time I REALLY fell asleep. I told myself I just wanted to rest my eyes for a few seconds, put my head back, and when I woke back up I had forgotten I was at work. It was my 3rd night in a row, so I guess it was bound to happen. It's just that my eyes kept getting heavier...... heavier...... heavier...... HEAVIER... MUST... NOT..... SLEEP........ then I passed out. I tried eating things, walk around and make rounds on patients that are sound asleep.... I mean, there is only so much I can do!

I'm really not sure, but it's awfully quiet at night (usually). No one in the hallways, other staff disappear for hours at end, so I think there's more sleeping going on than I care to realize!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical.

I admit to doing it one time only.... for a few minutes and am so embarrassed. I have seen it rarely though, but it is SO not the routine.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f300/whatever-you-do-don-t-fall-asleep-341409.html

:rotfl:

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I was working as a camp nurse and had been up all night with barfing kids and had to work the next day!!! I pushed my laptop aside for "just a second" and rested my head on the table....woke up a little while later with the "Lifetime" plastic emblem embedded in my forehead. It left a dent in my forehead for several hours that said Lifetime backwards followed by a bruise/reddened area....

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

Once I was so tired I thought I was going to be sick. My dear partner nurse recognized this was not my norm, the night was peaceful and calm and God Bless her she said to me "my patient in 394 looks kind of agitated, why dont you go pull the recliner up near thier bed and just sit there awhile" Of course the patient in 394 was about 148years old and had not moved all night.

That hour of just sitting in a recliner gave me all the energy I needed to get through the rest of the night.

It doesnt happen often but if I need to get a cat nap in during my "break" ya that break that 3rd shift never seems to get to take, then I will take one.

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Working nights with one "day" off to sleep then coming back to days naturally not much sleep was involved. The day was fairly busy but starting to wind down and I took a late lunch for once. I sat in the break room with my food in front of me staring at the wall and the next thing I knew, I had taken a 45 minute instead of a 30 minute "lunch" break the food uneaten in front of me. Thank goodness no one noticed and my patients didn't suffer, but I felt very good the rest of the shift! :smilecoffeecup:

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I fell asleep at work once, with the goal only to close my eyes for a minute.

I woke up when I fell out of my chair.

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

I always hesitate to work night shifts because I do tend to fall asleep. To combat this I make sure to sit at the nurses station when not making rounds or doing patient care so it would be less likely to fall asleep. Unfortunately, this doesn't always work. Luckily I don't have to work any nights, but do volunteer if they are in desparate need from time to time.

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When I used to work nights I would have the issue of eyes closing around 3-4 am and it was so hard to fight it. Now that I work days I never have this problem!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I have not worked nights as a nurse, but did it occasionally as an aide. I have no issues with people catching a cat nap as long as care is done, meds passed and there is at least one person awake to let us know that one of our patients need our help.

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Specializes in Aged care, disability, community.

I've come close a few times when working a double, usually if I can feel myself starting to drop off I go make a coffee and go for a walk around the facility or go outside if it's a cold night to try and wake me up.

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Specializes in L&D, MedSurg.

This really hits home as I am just about to start a new position ON NIGHTS. As a new RN -I of course want the job and as this was the only one offered I swallowed and just stepped up- but have a feeling of apprehension! I know I have to set up new sleep patterns but I don't know what to do to stay awake. I'm sure I'll figure it out but feel that the first few weeks will be a the hardest!

Eeeekkkk!

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