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!
Once I fell asleep at a telemarketing job, not really asleep, but the horrible 2 second nod off....came too still giving the line about.."today for only $9.99 you can add 3 more to your order...." just hope I'm a little more alert as a nurse!!!
I have not ever fallen asleep at work. (I have worked ICU a year and a half- 12hr nites) Those nurses who work around me do, as well as some of the monitor techs who are supposed to be monitoring teles. I dont think that it is fair for me to have to kick someone when the house rolls through or watch teles cause they are checking for holes in their eyelids. I have my own pts and things to do. sigh. ~Ivanna
Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.
I've worked nights and doubles and I've never fallen asleep on the job. My thoughts about liability must be enough to keep me awake? I can never relax enough to doze off no matter how little sleep or how busy a week I've had. I have a co-worker that occasionally falls asleep between rounds, if there's any risk of patients or family walking by I'll ask her to go to the breakroom to nap and I'll wake them up later. Otherwise I'll let her get in 15 minutes or so at the desk before I drop a book or bump the chair.
I would fall asleep if I worked nights which is why I only work days. My clock just isn't set to work a 12 hour overnight shift. I wouldn't function well.
I work on nights on a very busy floor. There really is no time to fall asleep. Some nights there is no time to even sit down. I do know that on occasion there have been some CNAs and a couple nurses that have gone to the back room for an hour or so to catch a nap. But in most cases we are much too busy for more than a 10 minute break. The only time that I would catch myself dozing off was just before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (tsh of 256). I would just try to keep moving to stay awake.
My advice to new people coming to the night shift.... Don't try to use your days to do everything. Get home, go to bed, sleep your 6-8 hours then get up and do your errands. Don't try to live your schedule like your days are days off. I always say, if you worked days, you wouldn't be running around all afternoon. You'd be a work. Too many people who try to come to nights want to use their days as if they didn't work at all. Then they come in to work at night exhausted. This is the main reason that many people say they can't work nights.
Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.
Never fallen asleep, but when I worked nights years ago, sometimes it would be soooo hard to not close my eyes. I remember one night it got so bad I went in the bathroom and lay on the floor (I know it is so gross, but that is how exhausted and desperate I was:eek:.) Just stretching out and the cool floor on my cheek felt so good.
Power naps 30-40 minutes and I feel so much better. Now that I found this web site I don't have that issue any more.. I am too busy reading & responding to fall asleep...
sigh. ~Ivanna
nebrgirl
133 Posts
Once I fell asleep at a telemarketing job, not really asleep, but the horrible 2 second nod off....came too still giving the line about.."today for only $9.99 you can add 3 more to your order...." just hope I'm a little more alert as a nurse!!!