Fellow RN died this morning.

[Ali_Oop07]

My coworker (and friend, mother, grandmother) died this morning in a car crash, she fell asleep at the wheel after working a 12+ hour night shift.

I just wanted to tell other night nurses (that are prone to getting sleepy on the drive home) that it is NOT worth it, and I wanted to tell ALL nurses to hug your babies!

She will be greatly missed.

~Ali

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

well said...prayers and hope to you and yours....

[DDRN4me]

((((Ali and friend and family))))

[angelwingsamy]

i am so sorry. you are all in my prayers!!!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry to hear that.

I just lost a coworker, and I know how hard it can be. My condolences.

[showbizrn]

:redbeathe

my condolences.

showbizrn.

from the heart.

*******************************************

note: i do work nights in addition to other free-lance teaching and faculty jobs, family errands and showbiz commitments. lately, i have been treating myself to a cab ride home.

because i'm tired and i'm worth it!

we all need a break before we break!

[NurseCard, ADN]

Wow.

I work nights, 12 hour shifts, and have two very young children and a loving husband.

Just this morning I was asking myself, do I REALLY want to leave the coworkers that I have grown to love, for a (better!) day shift job?

I think I have my answer now.

I actually DO have to say, for my own part, that since I started this new job, I really don't even find myself coming very close to falling asleep on the way home. I guess it's because the end of my shift is SO incredibly busy and so I leave work fairly wound up.

But one day.... well, I just never know when there is going to be that ONE morning when I have just pushed myself a BIT too hard... my reaction time is impaired... and someone ELSE on the road does something really stupid...

Or I just flat out, finally fall asleep.

One of the many reasons I left my last job is because I came EXTREMELY close to falling asleep on the way home many many times. It was a psych unit job, so much slower than Med Surge, plus I worked some 16 hour shifts. Matter of fact, I DID fall asleep a time or two, I know I did.

I know two people who have wrecked on the way home from work when falling asleep.

Night nurses are a necessity.... but you HAVE to be able to really take care of yourself and pamper yourself a bit.

[grammyr]

I quit my first nursiing job that I absolutely loved for this very reason. I had moved and was driving about 1 hr and 15 minutes to and from work. The day before I gave my notice, I fell asleep but thankfully woke up before I hit a car. I now drive about 5 minutes to work.

[hisblueskies]

Your floor must be in shock over this. Unfortunately driving is a major hazard after working a 12 hour shift. I have to drive 75 miles home after working 3 12's in a row and believe me it's scary driving home at night in the dark when you are physically exhausted. Please help this nurse's family by letting them know how much she was liked and what a great nurse she was. And please do what you have to do to keep alert in the car, drink coffee, play the music loud, talk or sing aloud.

[MzMouse]

How horrible. I am so sorry.

[suni, BSN, RN]

So sorry for your loss, having worked 12 hour night shifts for many years I can identify with this, twice I almost fell asleep and the one time surely would have been killed if someone else had not been in the car with me and grabbed the wheel.

I always feel that nurses are like the Blue Line of police , when we lose one of our own we all feel the pain.

[Nursebarebari]

Hmm, very sad and scary too. I work night shift just like your late co-worker friend. And thanks for the advice to be careful.

So sorry about your friend/co-worker. You are in my prayers.

[4theBetterGetter, RN]

I am sooo sorry to hear this...prayers to you and the family