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!

[Thanet]

I work in a psychiatric unit, there are three murderers there, including one who has killed a nurse. Most of the others have attempted murder or serious bodily harm. ... I wouldn't DARE to fall asleep.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Jamonit: Wonder how funny YOU'D think it is when it's you or one of your relatives who suffer needlessly at the hands of a nurse who is off sleeping in his/her car during their break?

About like one would feel if they same relative was being suffered for by being cared for by an overtired/hungry nurse that did not get appropriate sustenance during her shift.

I do not sleep at work.

That said, why are we not paid for our breaks, since few of us get an "unbroken" break, in which we are not on beck and call to everyone.

[wanetta]

We're on the clock from the time we start our shift until the time it is over. So we get paid breaks. But sleeping is a no-no.

I woundn't dare sleep on my watch. Of course, I don't have small children at home and I do get my sleep during the day.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Recently a coworker went to her car for her unpaid break to take a nap. It wound up being 3 hours. She didn't tell anyone and they called security and was ready to call the police.

Needless to say she got "demoted" to dayshift after nearly 20 years on the night shift.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Needless to say she got "demoted" to dayshift after nearly 20 years on the night shift.

Heck we have people waiting to get day shifts....so that's how you get them!!!!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Heck we have people waiting to get day shifts....so that's how you get them!!!!

:lol2: This is true.

[lorster]

I work in a psychiatric unit, there are three murderers there, including one who has killed a nurse. Most of the others have attempted murder or serious bodily harm. ... I wouldn't DARE to fall asleep.

lol, think i'll stay awake for that one

[PHLEBOTOMIST_TO_RN]

I use to bang my phlebotomy tray right against their heads on the desk to wake them up......I made sure everyone knew they were sleeping on the job to.

[suetje]

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!

I travel to numerous hospitals throughout the US. I am in different ICU's as a part of my job. I, also was stunned that most units have several staff sleeping during night shift. They usually are gone 1 hour or more. That leaves usually 1/2 of the staff on the unit. In an ICU it seems this is pretty bad practice. If you think about it, even when you go to lunch, how many times have you come back to find many things aren't done (remember, this is in an ICU) like vitals, emptying urine, pulse ox etc. If something were to happen, the nurse covering for you would be liable, and likely you would be too. I don't think people consider the consequences of being gone long periods of time AND expecting that the nurse covering is actually looking in to make sure the pt. is OK. I think it could be a BIG case if it wnet to court...because you KNOW the hospital would say it was NOT policy that this can occur.

[cari rn]

I also live in Canada. Have worked in major city hospitals in both Toronto and Vancouver. On nights, in both hospitals, the norm was that the nurses "pooled" their breaks into one long one, usually 2 - 2.5 hours, depending on how busy things were. It was a RARE nurse not to sleep - and then it was just because he/she personally would feel worse after a nap. We all slept. Management knew we did. And it was just an unwritten rule that if it got too busy (admits, or sick kids, etc) we would be woken up early. No one ever had a problem with that. In one hospital, half the nurses went on a "first" break, then the other half went on "second" break. In the other hospital, we just each took turns, so usually only one or two were gone at a time.

I couldn't imagine NOT getting at least a little bit of sleep on nights...wouldn't feel safe to drive home after if I didn't.

[KellNY, RN]

I use to bang my phlebotomy tray right against their heads on the desk to wake them up......I made sure everyone knew they were sleeping on the job to.

Wow. That's pretty mature.

[bluiis923]

Wow,

Obviously, I'm working in the wrong facility... I WISH I could get a chance for a nap! We are so busy, it's rare that we even get a lunch break, much less a nap.