Night Nurses-Pts think we sleep?

nursemike, ASN, RN · Dec 21, 2004

It was my understanding when I applied for night shift that we would mainly be drinking and playing cards all night.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2004

We just sit around reading magazines, surfing the net and eating. No sleeping allows. :)

HannasMom · Dec 21, 2004

I get that form of comment almost every night at the LTC I work at. Some believe we live there also. Sometimes, it feels like I live there. :rolleyes:

ladytraviler · Dec 21, 2004

Here I thought they were joking when they issued my jammies and blanket. I don't know about yall but I run my orifice off. Same number of pts but 1/2 the staff if not a 1/3. Women don't wait till day light to have babies ya know.

Hairstylingnurse · Dec 21, 2004

You know what, I hate to say it but I worked 11p-7a at a LTCF, and the nurses that had been there for years did just that for and 1hr and a half q night. And one of the main ones to do that was the night supervisor for the entire buiding. They said there were usually enough staff running around that were hyper to catch the lights. I quickly became one of those hyper nurses. I worked there a total of 35 nights and on the morning I quit I notified the DON of the nightly activities or (lack there of)and suggested she make a suprise visit on that next night:rotfl: . She seemed quiet shocked so I imagine there isn't much sleep these days.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 21, 2004

well someone Puuuuhleeze tell the PATIENTS to quit ringing their lights and asking for things, like pain meds and bed linen changes...they are interrupting my nap!

roflmao, what a joke. Frankly, I hear it more from other nurses than patients. The day nurses in many places really do think we sleep all night..... Well how do they think the restocking, med checks, discharge packs got done (that is, if patients are not ringing all night?) Elves??? sheesh. :rotfl:

Mulan · Dec 21, 2004

I've heard that a few times too.

However, I also have been places where some of the staff would sleep, a nursing home where the aides would sleep between rounds, a hospital where the nurses would sleep supposedly on their break but it's funny how the halfhour break extends to hours (they expect someone else to wake them up), a Navy hospital where the Lt (who was going to school) would sleep in a empty bed (she was the only RN on).

Then too, there are the people that just can't stay awake and doze off at the desk or wherever, even though they probably had no intention of sleeping on the job.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Dec 21, 2004

You know what, I hate to say it but I worked 11p-7a at a LTCF, and the nurses that had been there for years did just that for and 1hr and a half q night. And one of the main ones to do that was the night supervisor for the entire buiding. They said there were usually enough staff running around that were hyper to catch the lights. I quickly became one of those hyper nurses. I worked there a total of 35 nights and on the morning I quit I notified the DON of the nightly activities or (lack there of)and suggested she make a suprise visit on that next night:rotfl: . She seemed quiet shocked so I imagine there isn't much sleep these days.

Experts actually recommend that employers do just that - provide employees with a place to nap for about a half hour to an hour on the night shift. Their rationale is it lessens the ill health effects of night shift work and it also deters errors due to fatigue and car accidents from driving home while sleep deprived. Too bad most administrators and supervisors have their heads stuck too far up their posteriors to heed such advice - they would rather take the risk than do what is best for their employees.

MultipurposeRN · Dec 21, 2004

Experts actually recommend that employers do just that - provide employees with a place to nap for about a half hour to an hour on the night shift. Their rationale is it lessens the ill health effects of night shift work and it also deters errors due to fatigue and car accidents from driving home while sleep deprived. Too bad most administrators and supervisors have their heads stuck too far up their posteriors to heed such advice - they would rather take the risk than do what is best for their employees.

I agree totally. If there was a way to keep it from being abused, it would be the best thing a facility could ever do for night shift workers. I worked nights for years, and sometimes just a cat nap of 15-20 minutes would've made all the difference in the world. far better than trying to ingest caffeine at levels incompatible with life.:uhoh21:

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 21, 2004

"We don't sleep at night. No. Really. So PLEASE call us if you need something."

We have so many geriatric patients (Welcome to Florida! :chuckle ) in for syncope caused by heart problems and compounded by fractures, etc., that we have to explain this on a nightly basis.

Still, every night we fly into a room where a bed alarm is going off at a level high enough to wake the dead only to hear the sweet LOL say, "Oh but honey, I had to GO, and I didn't want to wake you." :uhoh21:

newadventure · Dec 21, 2004

I work the day shift. I had a patient during the day, that night she became confussed and had some trouble. The next day she was furious with me. I should have been there for her. Where was I? Why didn't I come, and how could I not hear all that noise? I don't envy those who did take care of her.

I've picked up a night here and there. I agree you run your backside off.