4 hours between shifts

suzanne4, RN · Aug 13, 2005

Your shift ended at 11;30 PM, it was not your responsibility to go in for 12 more hours at 3 am. That is your spervisor's responsibility to get the shift covered.

If any problem would have occurred, it would be your license on the line, not anyone elses. And you did not abandon the unit, you were already at home and off duty. So you would not be rsponsible for abandonment of the patients.

breezy5 · Aug 18, 2005

Completely unsafe. I would talk to scheduling and refuse to work that closely together. Just say you dont feel safe.

DCaillouet · Aug 18, 2005

It is an act of god-nurse went into labor preterm. I already told don I wouldn't do it again. Luckily I live 1 minute away by car. I figure I will sleep all day Monday, unplug phones etc. I usually won't work more than weekends and 1 day/week. I took a shift Mon. only because I would get Friday off. The nurse in question has been trying to get pregnant for 6 years. They have stopped the labor but at 26 weeks they want her on bed rest. In that situation I would want someone to help me

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silly sunshine · Aug 19, 2005

I have to work 3-11 and then come back in at 3am and do 12 hours. Have you ever had to do this? What do you do during those 4 hours. It takes me a while to fall asleep and then I have to get up and get ready so I am not sure if the 2 hours I might get would help or hinder. Ideas please!

I know it's hard, but learn to be aggressive and learn the word NO, I won't. It's ur liscense and something u'd have to live with if u'd screwed up big time. They will use u as long as ur a YES person. If they know u will stand ur ground on "NO" u'll be more respected by ur super's, as well as a better nurse to ur patients. Don't kill ur self-just say no, Or u'll be placing ur self and ur patients in jeapordy. May piss the uppers off to begin with, but they get over it. Been there done that. Get that Doorpat deleated off ur forhead! Only a well rested nurse-is a good one. They only want a body-and ur future and ur patients is not worth the risk. Good Luck The 1st "No" is the hardest! Try it on for size. Hope the best!

Diane Fox · Aug 20, 2005

It is an act of god-nurse went into labor preterm. I already told don I wouldn't do it again. Luckily I live 1 minute away by car. I figure I will sleep all day Monday, unplug phones etc. I usually won't work more than weekends and 1 day/week. I took a shift Mon. only because I would get Friday off. The nurse in question has been trying to get pregnant for 6 years. They have stopped the labor but at 26 weeks they want her on bed rest. In that situation I would want someone to help me

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To help someone out is admirable. However: consider your patients. I work in an ED and have to think quickly, correctly---literally on my feet with a sharp mind. Can you do that with that little sleep? I have been that tired and found myself not only double checking but triple checking myself and you cannot do that in a life and death move quickly situation

leopold · Aug 20, 2005

I thought it was illegal not to get 8 hours between shifts. Unless it's a crisis situation like the facility being closed out by a snowstorm and staff having to stay on. I used to work back to back 16-hour shifts, I got 8 hours in between but only managed to get 4-5 hours sleep between getting home and getting back to work. It was a nightmare, I did not consider myself to be a safe employee at all.