Night shift naps

[NiteRocker]

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?

[maryshome8]

I have been called for an emergency night shift (late in the day, "Please can you work tonight"). I'll say yes, but tell them up front I'll need a nap. That isn't a problem if they're desparate!!

I'll just go into the parent room for 30min to an hour, they'll come and get me if there is a problem, adn they don't mind. They are happy they are not working short!

But I think that's a different situation than what you're describing, which is a chronic abuse thing. I'd suggest taking that up the chain a bit. If they are willing to tolerate it, than you're stuck.

See, I think that's awesome that they are willing to work with you when they ask you to come in at the last minute.

My mom worked the 3rd shift my entire life...My job was to wake her up when I got home from school. I still remember, if I got sick during the day when I was in school, how they had to let the phone ring more or call back b/c she was asleep so they phone would wake her up.

She slept for another hour, 8:30 to 9:30 before she got ready to leave every night..and when we were kids...Mom broke out a can of whoop-a$$ if you woke her during that hour :)

[hica19]

I am a new grad nurse who just started working night in pediatrics 3 weeks ago (and I love it!). At the hospital I work at, people are allowed to take naps during their scheduled breaks. There's these couches in the break room where people can sleep on. However just in my personal preference I don't take naps. I'm just not a nap person. I get headaches if I nap. Besides by now, I'm so used to the night shift that I don't feel tired until I'm officially off shift and back inside my apartment.

[elizabeth321]

I'm in a class of 8 new grads. We have 40 weeks of orientation and are in our 4th week in the NICU. One of my peers, her preceptor leaves her alone with their assignment and sleeps. Not only rude and unprofessional, but unsafe and embarrassing!!!!!!

This is a different issue entirely.

Eliz

[lencialoo]

alb123

I am also a new grad. (one of 8 in our class too). I also have 40 weeks of orientation and am in my 7th week for the level II babies. I just started my rotation to night shift. After having a wonderful preceptor for days and starting to feel a bit more comfortable with my skills I now have a new night preceptor who slept for several hours off/on during my 1st night on, her napping was in a quiet corner of the unit but we did very little precepting. She took 1 baby and gave me 3 with very little help. My night was very stressful and I didnt get a break until 4am (not even to pee...funny how you can go almost 9-10 hours while on a shift but can't make it over 2 hours in class :-) ). On top of it all she is a type A personality and not very patient, has some little nasty comment when-ever I dont do something to her expectations. My self-esteem just did a nose-dive. I had to talk myself into going in the 2nd night but I got through it and she wasnt as bad and only napped for a short period and wasnt as much of a "nursezilla" the 2nd night. I just try to let it roll off and when I feel that patient safety is at risk I tell her I'm not comfortable doing a procedure by myself. Everyone seems to like her and she can be very funny at times so I'm trying to hang in there, plus she has great intuition when it comes to the little ones... I'm just hoping the napping was not a normal thing for her and she was just very tired that day.

The good thing is that I found I'm very much a night person and love the night shift hours and so far - 4 days I have not felt tired except at the very end of my shift and have never caught myself even tempted to nap.

I did speak with our Ed. coordinator not to be a rat but to let her know what was happening. It's always good to at least give someone a heads up about your situation just to cover yourself and in case things get worse.

Hang in there with your orientation....thanks for posting your problem, it helped me to know I wasnt alone....I hope you also know you arent alone and others understand what you are going through and dont agree with napping like this.

Take care of yourself.

[33-weeker]

i think naps on break time should be allowed as long as you are back on time and alert. i know some places don't tolerate that, though.

i find that a power nap of anywhere from 15-30 minutes, if i get the 3-4 am sleepies, can make a big difference.

now, mind you, i work in a small level 2 (1/2) unit, and would never do it with visitors present. the type of nap i'm talking about is the close-your-eyes-head-on-desk-relaxed-but-hearing-alarms type.

the thing that helps - besides rewetting dry, red eyes - is that my muscles relax and my heart rate slows. i drag a bit when i first get back up, but once i get moving again, i feel much better. i also am more alert driving home after a wee hour power nap.

as to day shift arriving late - it's my pet peeve, too. about 90% of tardies where i work occur on day shift - some arriving after 7!

my dad used to say, "being late is as much of a habit as being on time." you chose your habit.

[tarheelnurse]

Working nights is tough...but we all go into hospital nursing with our eyes wide open...patients are there and someone has to work nights. our patients deserve to have well rested and alert nurses no matter what the shift. what if you were the parent and walked in on a dozing nurse, how would you feel? What if they were taking care of your baby/family member.

Tell Management and give specifics...don't assume they know. You will be doing your patients, co-workers and the sleeping peer a favor!

[Holly27]

The person I see falling asleep on my unit is the doctor! lol He works days and then goes home eats dinner with his family, tucks his girls in and sleeps a few hours. He usually shows up about 2 or 3am. I don't have a problem with it ACCEPT he always falls asleep at the nurses station writing orders. lol Last time he did this I had to chase him down to clarify an order because he it said Social Service consult ambul lung scribble scribble scribble and the line went down the page.lol Im normally good at reading Dr's handwriting but this was too much!lol

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

I just saw a story on the Today show that said many employers are giving employees a 15-20 minute power nap, it makes them more productive. Americans don't get enough sleep, I didn't need a news story to tell me that though.