Night shift naps

Specialties NICU

Published

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?

Specializes in geriatrics, alz, mentally dis, phys dis.

Iam a CNA on night shift for a nursing home that only has one aide and one nurse per hall (nearly 50 residents), we wont even go into how bad that is. Anyway awhile back for about two months, I had a bad problem, would be sitting at the desk between bedchecks and call lights reading a book or charting, and would drift off. BUT if a light went off, I was up and running. I finally realized that after ten years of working nights my body had changed, used to be that I could go to bed about 2 or 3 in the afternoon, sleep til about 9, get up and be fine, now if I do that, I cant wake up for the rest of the night. So I changed my sleeping habits, as soon as I get home, I am in bed by 8 am, sleep til around 3-5 depending on how tired I am, and then get up. Also I changed my diet, so I think that helped too. I noticed that I had a problem, and I tried to figure out a way to fix it, I am not saying this was acceptable, I am just lucky that I never got in trouble for it. By the way, I am not allowed any breaks at all, so me sitting at the desk charting or reading a book between rounds and call lights IS a break.

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm appalled at how many people say they get no breaks. Wow. We have an extremely busy unit, but we always make sure to get our breaks. We have a pod partner that covers our patients while we go take a break. Of course some nights are busier than others but we always make sure, even on the busiest of nights, to at least take some kind of break.

Maybe I'm spoiled or just picky, but my breaks are important to me ..... I need to get away for just a few minutes here and there. I just make time for it somehow.

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hey Kitty, I have to agree about the lateness of co-workers. When I worked 3-11, the night was never on time and when they showed up, they had to go into the kitchen to make coffee and get a snack before counting drugs. This used to drive me crazy- ok being late every once in a while ( I understand) but get your butt in there and let the people who have been off their feet for the past 8-12 hours go home. It is called respect for the profession and your co0workers.

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There's nothing new about this story....

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I've seen a RN sleeping in the breakroom her bestfriend obviously was the charge nurse who watch her patients. The RN sleeping complained of being so tired because she was on her 5th night doing a twelve hour shift. Don't be greedy go home get some rest at least so you can go shopping at Wal-Mart with that big check you slept for. ;) Camile

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My problem was always that I'd be busy busy busy and be exhusted, then I'd sit down to to do my charting and fall asleep before I'd hardly get started. Been told I'm strange b/c I'm a 'day' person, and even as a child, I've never been able to get myself up or work or do anything before the sun was up, or after it was down. It was like my brain just shut down. Unfortunatley the morning shift has to start at 5:30, before the sun is up, and the evening shift ended at like 11 pm, long after the sun set...so I chose the lesser of two evils and went with the evening.

I tried different things, like drinking coffee (I am NOT a caffine drinker at all!), standing up to do my charting, even moving around while I was doing it, but I'd just fall asleep on my feet or end up leaning against the wall.

I guess I was just lucky that by the time I'd finish getting all the residents into bed and have everything situated with them, it was about 9:30 at night.

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Specializes in ER/Geriatrics.

I hope that I am never a patient or that my family/loved ones are never patients on these units where you people never take breaks! It is well documented that breaks are necessary. There is NOTHING wrong with sleeping on your designated break if that is what you want to do....

I can't believe that the people you work for think it is acceptable to not give breaks....man this thread is just blowing me away.

As far as people sleeping and not working etc....document and report. If things don't improve find a place to work where management deals with issues.

Eliz

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I can't believe that the people you work for think it is acceptable to not give breaks....man this thread is just blowing me away.

We were told that breaks are a bemefit, not a requirement.

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Specializes in NICU.
We were told that breaks are a bemefit, not a requirement.

A benefit?!?! Wow, that's nuts. I'd find a different place to work.

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Breaks a benefit?! I beg to differ. Check with the Dept of Labor in your state. If you are working more than 4 hours, the law states you are to get a break in the state I worked. I worked 12 hour shifts and we got two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. Occasionally, you got busy and didn't take the breaks and usually took a longer lunch.

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hey Kitty, I have to agree about the lateness of co-workers. When I worked 3-11, the night was never on time and when they showed up, they had to go into the kitchen to make coffee and get a snack before counting drugs. This used to drive me crazy- ok being late every once in a while ( I understand) but get your butt in there and let the people who have been off their feet for the past 8-12 hours go home. It is called respect for the profession and your co0workers.

I've been off for a while - Thanks!

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I've seen a RN sleeping in the breakroom her bestfriend obviously was the charge nurse who watch her patients. The RN sleeping complained of being so tired because she was on her 5th night doing a twelve hour shift. Don't be greedy go home get some rest at least so you can go shopping at Wal-Mart with that big check you slept for. ;) Camile

Now this does seem a tad bit harsh to me...this person is on her break, taking a break in a correct staff area...she can do whatever she wants to. And if you work 5 12hr shifts in a row it isn't always OT either....our pp goes weds to weds so many people ask to work 4 or 5 in a row to have a nice stretch off.

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