Has anyone slept through phone calls while on-call?

[SilverBells, BSN]

This morning, I woke up to a phone call from my supervisor.   Apparently, she had been called overnight several times because I hadn't answered my phone.  Somehow, I'd been so exhausted I'd slept through 7 calls.

Has anyone else experienced this? Tomorrow we are going to talk about whether or not I should stay on the on-call rotation.  If so, may possibly look into me taking a day off the week after I'm on call. 

I'm secretly hoping that I can be pulled from the on-call rotation altogether.   After all, the LPN supervisor was just recently removed.   And she can do a much better job than me when it comes to being on-call.  She doesn't need as much sleep as I do.  And although I'm an RN, she's a better nurse than me.  In my opinion, they should base the on-call schedule on who can handle it well, not on who has which degree.  I take a medication that makes it very hard to wake up spontaneously. 

Anyway, what's your experience of sleeping through a phone call while on call? 

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I don't think the outcome will be good.  Your attitude is ridiculous and passive aggressive that you think this will get you banned from on call.  More likely you will get fired.  As an Mgr you should know there are state and federal regulations why they need an RN in the building and can't get by with just an LPN.  But curious how you figure she doesn't need as much sleep as you?

That said working 12 days in a row is untenable.  If you have to work on call you should be given days off to recover.  Even if you were paid OT, which you are not as you are salary, that schedule is insane. 

I think it is time to get a job at another company and start fresh.  Now you see the downside of management so maybe consider other jobs.  If you continue as you are doing you may end up fired and on the unemployment line.  Why wait for that outcome?  Why not find a different job at another employer! 

[klone, MSN, RN]

No, I've never done that.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

No never slept through on-call calls. I take a medication for sleep too ;but I wouldn't Take it when on call as it might impair my ability to perform  my duties.

 

[Davey Do]

Wrongway Regional Medical Center's Psych Department had a plan when the on-call psychiatrist slept through calls for necessary admission orders. We were to contact the director who had a "back door number" that was not available to the staff in order to reach he doc.

On one occasion the director slept through our attempts to reach her, so she gave us her husband's cell number as a backup.

I suggested that she could buy a beeper for one of her many dogs' collars so when we called the pager, the dog would bark and wake the husband who could wake the director who could wake the doc so we could get admission orders.

[Wuzzie]

SilverBells said:

She doesn't need as much sleep as I do.

And you know this how?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Silver Bells, have you heard of the term "weaponized incompetence"?

[Emergent, RN]

---

If you are for real, I think you need to get a better job. You have some problems apparently. I'm not sure about you. I'd like to think that you are a real person. If you are, please get some help to sort out your difficulties.

[SilverBells, BSN]

klone said:

Silver Bells, have you heard of the term "weaponized incompetence"?

I have not

[SilverBells, BSN]

Wuzzie said:

And you know this how?

She's a champion.  She may be an LPN, but she's more of an RN than I am.  

Obviously, I can't know for sure, but she seems to do a better job performing at any hour of the day.   She also seems to do well with changing schedules.   Unfortunately, I do better with consistency 

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

SilverBells said:

She's a champion.  She may be an LPN, but she's more of an RN than I am.  

Obviously, I can't know for sure, but she seems to do a better job performing at any hour of the day.   She also seems to do well with changing schedules.   Unfortunately, I do better with consistency 

This is a common refrain of yours that another coworker is always better at whatever job or aspect of it you don't like which is a passive aggressive way to "weaponize incompetence".  Don't expect me to do it because someone else can do it better.  But life doesn't work that way.  And no matter how good a nurse she is an LPN is not an RN!  She could become one with a year long bridge program LPN to RN, but till then she is not an RN no matter how you might wish she is.

Yes sometimes people are better at things than we are, but we will never get better without practice and effort.   Your excuses sound like a cop out.  Now I'll be honest, I was weak at IV's which was a thorn in my side as that was part of my job.  But I surely couldn't tell my boss don't expect me to do it because I'm not good and so and so is better.  That would be ridiculous!   I would make a good effort, but also humbly ask my coworkers for help when needed and then thank them and remember, show appreciation and help them out with things I was good at.  I remembered to be a team player.  I didn't demand they did IV's for me or tell my boss it shouldn't be expected of me.  Frankly I would be too embarrassed to say or do the things you do.  I'm honestly surprised you are in a management position given the way you handle situations you don't like or don't feel you are "good" at.

I think we are all curious where things stand with your job and missing the on call message.  You didn't mention that.  If that happened at the hospital  it would be treated like a no call, no show and would be a disciplinary mark on your record.  Well, hopefully it doesn't happen again and most importantly that you are not required to work 12 days in a row as that is not sustainable or reasonable. 

[Wuzzie]

SilverBells said:

Obviously, I can't know for sure, but she seems to do a better job performing at any hour of the day.   She also seems to do well with changing schedules.   Unfortunately, I do better with consistency 

After reading your posts over the past couple of years I can think of at least 6 reasons she's likely performing at a higher level than you and none of it has to do with needing less sleep. Honestly, and I've never said this to anyone, but I think nursing just isn't the right fit for you. Not because I think you're a terrible nurse or for that matter a terrible person. I just don't think it suits your temperament. I feel like you thought it was a good idea at one time and after graduation you got stuck and have no way out. I'm wondering if a session with a life-coach would be beneficial.