Sleeping during nightshift!!

[helpinghands]

This is not my first night shift position and I am shocked at how many people at this hospital sleep during their shift. I'm not talking about nodding off for a couple minutes either. They are slumped over in chair, head on the desk drooling all over themselves (at the nurses station!). Their little slumber lasts 1-2 hours, some even sneak off and sleep in their vehicles for this amount time. During this time almost everybody is busy, and even busier because they're pick up their slack.

I have mentioned this to several of the CN's, and don't get much of a response. It just some how seems accepted?!? This just can't be normal?

It's so frustrating, I run my butt off and barely manage to get breaks, eat while chart etc... and there they are: snoozing in the corner.

Please tell me this is far from the norm where you work!

[nurseangel47]

Thank you NrsKarenRN, for making my prior post seem less hostile!

[Myxel67]

As a supervisor, what did you "allow" your subordinates to do during their "unpaid" lunch breaks? I'm new to nursing, but have been in the workforce 30+ years, and I think it's "totally ridiculous" for another human being to think that they can control what I do "off-the-clock". (Of course with the exception of illegal activities or activities that would impair my ability as a nurse to care for my patients (duties).

When I worked nights (for 9 years), It was against hospital policy to sleep or nap during shift. Also could not leave hospital grounds. No-nap policy was seldom enforced. My husband is an airtraffic controller. They are not allowed to leave facility while at work. But because they can be called back to their positions at any time, meal and break times are paid.

[Cattitude]

i'm at work and had a lovely 50 minute nap on my break, relieved by the house supervisor. i awoke, as usual, on the dot, and returned to immediately assist my gi bleed to the bsc. i feel refreshed.

g'morning my sister in sleep:clown: . no one will still answer this question. if the pt's are being covered, you're on break, your supervisor knows about the nap, what is the problem???

[color=#483d8b]

[color=#483d8b]

[color=#483d8b]

[color=#483d8b]awaiting reply...

[color=#483d8b]

[color=#483d8b]

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

No one will still answer this question. If the pt's are being covered, you're on break, your supervisor KNOWS about the nap, WHAT is the problem???

Awaiting reply...

Alright, here ya go.

Aside from the opinion that i don't agree with sleeping on the job, the fact that sleeping on the job = termination where i work. Then that would mean, no money for house payment, car payment, health insurance, food, and i call that a problem.

Just because the supervisor knows doesn't mean they'll CYA when the feces hit the vent.

[PANurseRN1]

It is interesting, though, that in the ED docs are allowed to go back in their lounge and sleep...sometimes for over an hour. At night there are plenty of times when there is down time, sometimes even no pts. but nurses still cannot sleep for their 1/2 hour break.

Just an observation.

[Cattitude]

alright, here ya go.

aside from the opinion that i don't agree with sleeping on the job, the fact that sleeping on the job = termination where i work. then that would mean, no money for house payment, car payment, health insurance, food, and i call that a problem.

just because the supervisor knows doesn't mean they'll cya when the feces hit the vent.

thank you. i certainly cannot encourage anyone to go against their hospital policy.

now one more question. it's driving me bonkers. maybe i'm just not getting it. what is your avatar? i'm looking at it from all different directions and i just can't figure it out? i feel like an idiot:uhoh3: !

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

thank you. i certainly cannot encourage anyone to go against their hospital policy.

now one more question. it's driving me bonkers. maybe i'm just not getting it. what is your avatar? i'm looking at it from all different directions and i just can't figure it out? i feel like an idiot:uhoh3: !

it is a cow stretching her tongue to her nostril lol.

[GardenDove]

Her avatar is a calf picking it's nose with it's tongue.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Her avatar is a calf picking it's nose with it's tongue.

That too lol.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

People do not sleep during night shift where I currently work. Occassionally, someone will on their lunch break. It isn't a paid break anyway, so who cares what they do on their own unpaid time? I sure don't. I don't care if people on dayshift nap during their unpaid break either. Whats the difference in taking a snooze or a ride to burger king? Either way you are unavailable to your patients. And if you aren't clocked in/getting paid, you should not have to be available. (putting on flame suit now)

I have seen a few people accidentally fall asleep at the desk on the rare slow night. We snap a picture of them or paint their finger nails with white out. :trout: Not a very nice thing to do, but its funny. (again putting on the flame suit)

The last place I worked the one nurse would take a paid snooze every night and I had to cover his unit while he slept. That wasn't very fun.

[aakrn]

I hate to say.....but where I am (out of the country) all nurses on night shift 7P-7A take their hour and a half break and sleep. It is the norm outside the US. Where I was previously working in the states you would have been fired!

[azlisa]

I do work nocs, and I am usually a day person. So at 2a or so, I take trash bags out to the dumpster. The cold fresh air seems to refresh my brain. Since we start getting pts up at 4:30a or so, and it's 18-20 pts needed up for 7a breakfast. The last part of the 12hr shift is busy, same as the first 4-6hrs at start of shift. My hrs are 6p-6:30a.