Night Nurses-Pts think we sleep?

nurse110 · Jan 5, 2005

I'm a night nurse and I don't have time to sleep and wouldn't even if there was time. In the 9 yrs I have worked nights at a LTC facility, there just isn't time for anything but work. Especially when you're the only nurse in the building for 90 to 100 residents. I don't understand people going to work to sleep, that's not what you're there for. Anyway, I said my piece.

Blackcat99 · Jan 5, 2005

:chuckle Where are these jobs located where the nurses can sleep at night?

I'm tired of running my legs off every night. I know no one could sleep at my LTC. The bed alarms are always going off during the night because residents are always trying to climb out of bed. :angryfire

Ethel · Jan 5, 2005

In some hospitals I know the staff write up observations etc. at 19h00 at night and then at about 22h00 they all go to sleep. As my relatives have been is such hospitals. Dr in certain State hospitals go and do their own IV antibiotics at night as the staff are too busy sleeping to give the iv's. This is a terrible thing to say but very true. I child in the peadiatric wards mother took him home because she had to nurse him and the other child in his ward as the staff were sleeping. But the half hourly observations on both kids were charted for the whole night.......really scary isn't it..........

wikiwicked · Jan 6, 2005

where i work, residents of the city KNOW we don't sleep. How do I know? Because everyone seems to think that they will get to see a doctor quicker at night, especially if they have children that have been running fever for days-weeks, not medicating for fever control, and all of a sudden it is an emergency at 0200 in the morning! :confused:

Blackcat99 · Jan 6, 2005

In some hospitals I know the staff write up observations etc. at 19h00 at night and then at about 22h00 they all go to sleep. As my relatives have been is such hospitals. Dr in certain State hospitals go and do their own IV antibiotics at night as the staff are too busy sleeping to give the iv's. This is a terrible thing to say but very true. I child in the peadiatric wards mother took him home because she had to nurse him and the other child in his ward as the staff were sleeping. But the half hourly observations on both kids were charted for the whole night.......really scary isn't it..........

Yes it is scary. That's really awful. How sad for the poor patients! :crying2:

Elizabelibby, BSN, MSN · Jan 6, 2005

Experts actually recommend that employers do just that - provide employees with a place to nap for about a half hour to an hour on the night shift. Their rationale is it lessens the ill health effects of night shift work and it also deters errors due to fatigue and car accidents from driving home while sleep deprived. Too bad most administrators and supervisors have their heads stuck too far up their posteriors to heed such advice - they would rather take the risk than do what is best for their employees.

When I was working in California way back in the 80's we often slept on our breaks...we could put our lunch and breaks together for 1hour and 15 mins rest. Of course, that was if we weren't busy. The attitude at the time was that it was our time to do with as we liked. Night shift was always special.

katy_kenemy · Jan 6, 2005

I work 1800-0700 on a surgical floor. I am amazed at how many patients think we actually sleep at night. :icon_lol: I've even had them apologize for "waking me", and "gee, honey, I hope you can get some sleep." Explaining to them doesn't usually change their perception.
Not a biggie, but surprised me when it first happened.
Cheryl

I had a pt once who was very confused, fall risk. She kept telling me she was sorry for using her call lt and waking me. I tried telling her I was there to work, happy to answer light, etc.etc. and it kept not registering in her head. I could see she was tired but was very anxious--- playing with tubes, playing with blankets, talking in sleep, etc. Finally I decided to let her have her delusion (that I was supposed to be sleeping). So the next time she said, "I am sorry to bother you, but..." I said, "That's okay, I am not really that tired." I guess she was able to relax for me even though she was not able to relax for herself, because after that she went to sleep and slept all night! I honestly think she went to sleep so that she would not be "bothering" me anymore!

Elizabelibby, BSN, MSN · Jan 6, 2005

Sometimes you just have to give in to those delusions!