Would you call in because you didn't get any sleep?

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Would you call in sick because you didn't get any sleep?

    • 106
      Never, I'd go on in
    • 252
      Might or might not
    • 148
      Probably would
    • 231
      I have before and would again. Too risky not to.

250 members have participated

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I was trying to sleep the other day and somebody rang my doorbell at 1130 just as I was gettting there :angryfire. Made me so mad I couldn't go back to sleep for a L O N G time. I called in sick because I wouldn't go to work on no sleep. Turns out I finally DID go to sleep so I called back & said I'd come in if they needed me.

So I got curious: Have you called in sick (or would you) because you hadn't gotten any sleep (after trying, of course) by the time you're required to call in for your shift?

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My grandma used to have a sign on her door that said, "Do not knock or ring the doorbell unless you are the police or fire department...Day Sleeper".

She also shut her phone and everything off during the day, and there was an outgoing message saying that she was a daysleeper. They had a "ringer" that was attached to a lamp that is normally for the deaf, that flashed when it went off...so when my grandpa was home, he could still tell if someone was calling.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

The funny thing is, we had just gotten our doorbell fixed the previous day. We'd gone so long without it we forgot to worry about it. Hubs & ds were out so it was just me, so by the time I got my shotgun (not really) & got to the door they were gone.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I worked nights for 12 years and everyone knew I worked nights. Left the phone off except for the cell which was used only for emergencies by my family. Have lived in the country for awhile, so no one ever comes to the door unless they've been invited, lucky for me.

At any rate, I always vigorously guarded my sleep time and nothing interfered with it.

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
My grandma used to have a sign on her door that said, "Do not knock or ring the doorbell unless you are the police or fire department...Day Sleeper".

She also shut her phone and everything off during the day, and there was an outgoing message saying that she was a daysleeper.

That sounds like a good plan, but I'm a single mother-no way am I advertising that I (most likely) am out of my home all night. Nope nope nope.

And I can't turn my cell phone off in case my son gets sick or has an emergency at school and needs me.

I, too, gaurd my sleep, but I can't stop thunderstorms, UPS pounding on my neighbors door (live in a townhouse, we're attached...I swear this woman is addicted to ebay), kids playing in the yards, inconsiderate family calling me at 1100 or 1300 to ask again what time I'm coming over next Saturday, punk kids throwing ice at my bedroom window:madface: , ambulance being parked in front of my house with siren and lights on for over 45 minutes, despite several of us asking them to shut it off ("can't ma'am-it's an emergency!" even though they weren't driving anywhere).

It would be a heck of a lot easier if I were married with no (or older) kids in my own house, I guess. But that's not the case, and crap happens, so....

Have I ever called in for this reason? No, but I would if I needed to.

For the nurses who said they never would call out for not having slept...:uhoh21: Hope I never get sick on your watch!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Working 12 hour shifts I would most definately call in if I didn't get enough sleep. "Not enough" would probably be less than 4 hours. I think I could suffer through on over 4, but not less.

I have called in before because of lack of sleep before. I was stressed out over a personal problem and felt it best overall to call in, because by the time I called it I would have gotten only 3 hours sleep, if I could have fallen asleep then. As soon as I called in and relaxed about it, I was able to sleep. Go figure.

I would definately do it again if need be. I don't call in sick much, and lack of adequate sleep for me is a good reason. I will say I have a sleeping disorder and usually don't get good sleep, waking up in the middle of the night often, so I would only call in if I'm desparate. For the 13 years I worked nights, was the same, poor sleep, but enough to get by.

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i can function on 3 to 4 hours sleep but if i do't do that much i don't trust myself to make decisions like driving or taking responsibility for someone's life

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Yes, I called in recently due to not having had any sleep in over 24hours.

Had something upsetting happen during the night, causing me to not be able to sleep.

So I called in. She thought I should be able to just lay down and take a nap and then come on in.

Ahhh, the compassion and common sense or the lack thereof, of nursing directors never ceases to amaze me.

Guess what? They made it just fine without me.

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

It would depend. If it's one night and I'm off the next day to crash, I'm usually okay. But if I have to be somewhere or am working the next night, no way! I guess the reason why I didn't get any sleep would be a factor too. If something is so heavily on my mind that it's keeping me awake, it's probably going to distract me from work too. If I just couldn't sleep because of interruptions, I might be okay for one shift.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.

it would depend on how i felt.

i never have, but would if i was exhausted.

i can get "no sleep" during the day, and still function fine, if i slept the night before.

if i had worked the night before, i'd probably call in if i had less than 4 hours sleep.

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I've worked a 12 hr shift with no sleep in 48 hours. I was perky so I didn't feel as if I was a danger to patients or at risk for falling asleep behind the wheel. I actually do better with less sleep. Five hrs a night is the perfect amount for me.

Now, not everyone is like me and I wouldn't blame someone if they called in due to lack of sleep.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
I've worked a 12 hr shift with no sleep in 48 hours. I was perky so I didn't feel as if I was a danger to patients or at risk for falling asleep behind the wheel. I actually do better with less sleep. Five hrs a night is the perfect amount for me.

Now, not everyone is like me and I wouldn't blame someone if they called in due to lack of sleep.

Going to work without sleep for 48 hours is so wrong on so many levels. Thankfully, not everyone is "not like" you. On our planet, they call it "judgement."

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