Night shift naps

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A BIG no-no...but some RN's still do it. And, for the most part get by with it. HOW? It is embarrassing to the unit when there is a float nurse not to mention the alarms answered on their behalf. Noone wants to be a snitch, but it's always the same people...night after night.

Management must know about the problem, but what is done. I know discipline is sometimes unknown, but come on. I get tired too. I have kids too. I plan accordingly, so that I can sleep...for the most part.

These are my friends/co-workers. It's not fair for morale between night shift and day shift to be torn down because of a few offenders. Yes, they know.

How is this handeled in your unit?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

When I worked in a hospital, I worked in the ER either 1900-0700 or 1500-0300. If we had time to sleep, management would have thought we had too much staff - lol. Absolutely no time to sleep. I have also worked in adult ICU on nights and again - no time to sleep.

IMHO - folks that sleep at work, don't need a job that bad! And...if it was my child or family member they were responsible for, they could get out nursing too.

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Are they napping on their own time? On their break?

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Specializes in primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU.

At the last hospital I worked on night shift, med/surg, there was a "long-timer" who would often dissappear into an empty patient room and go to sleep. It wasn't break or anything, he would just go away. Then, about 5 am he would suddenly appear again and have tons of stuff to get done on his patients before dayshift arrived. He would throw a hissy fit and stress out because he had so much to do...I thought it was ridiculous, but people always scrambled to help him catch up. They enabled his behavior so to speak. I had one of my patients code right before I was about to go on a scheduled break one night - I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't checked on her right then...and what if she'd been "long-timer's" patient? If I get a break, I am always close by and let people know exactly where I'll be. I usually walk some quick laps outside. The fresh air, especially at night, wakes me right up.

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Specializes in NICU.

You say it's a BIG no-no, so I'm assuming you mean when they're actually working and not on break/lunch.

We don't have a problem with this on our unit because it's not tolerated.

There's quite a few people that will sleep on their lunch break though and I see no problem with that. As long as they're on break and have someone else covering their assignment, then that's fine. But they don't tolerate it if we're not on break.

And plus, our unit is way too busy/noisy for anyone to sleep! There's no way I could ever sleep on the unit, no matter how tired I am.

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Specializes in NICU.

There is no sleeping on my unit either...well except for the babies, of course. We do have nurses that sleep on their lunch break, however. I do not have a problem with it. Sometimes all you need is a 15 minute cat nap to get you through the rest of the shift. Everyone comes back from break on time and the babies are cared for by others while nurses are out.

I can not imagine staff sleeping out in the unit. I think it is unprofessional to say the least.

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Well glad to see 'not tolerated' is the common thread for night sleeping.

Clarify...'Sleep' is head down with drool, but nap to me is head in hand, eyes closed, but aware of surrounding events, ie alarms. Those "nappers" do their job, I think quality of care is there, but it just looks bad to appear to be inattentive. There are so many alarms. The get there quick ones will send any nurse into addrenalin rush, but the KVO's, leads loose, Pox 1%into alarm seem to be answered slower by the napper. This can wake the other patients and cause others to stop what they are doing to help.

I can't say the dissappearing thing is an issue. How do people do that?

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OK...my question is are they Really sleeping? I used to think some nurses were sleeping too and before I worked nights it really bugged me. I now know ussually the nurses have their eyes closed but are still listening (I've done this myself).

There is once & a while when a nurse does fall asleep...but they say they are taking 10 mins and there are NO parents around and the staff in the room know to watch. I don't really like this but it does happen...I think you should leave the room...or go for a short walk.

Otherwise...I have absolutely NO PROBLEM with a nurse taking a nap if this is their specific break time...as long as it is the appropriate room. Believe me know that I work straight nights I have a deeper understanding.

What I as a night nurse Hate is when the day shift people are cronically late! Just really upsets me and I do call them on that.

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What I as a night nurse Hate is when the day shift people are cronically late! Just really upsets me and I do call them on that.

That's a two way street, Kitty.

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That's a two way street, Kitty.

Oh yes....but see I'm one of those people who is always early....but cronic lateless is so rude! Whatever you're shift or occupation.

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Oh yes....but see I'm one of those people who is always early....but cronic lateless is so rude! Whatever you're shift or occupation.

Oh I see you said it twice...so I thought I would too! ;)

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Specializes in NICU.

Sometimes things are posted twice, not on purpose :)

I agree, chronic lateness is rude, day or night shifters.

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