Night Shift PDNs....

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I've worked nights most of my nursing career. I rarely have a problem staying awake at work. Yes, I often get very tired but not to the point that my body is actually trying to go to sleep.

My current case is killing me. Regardless of how much sleep I get during the day, I often find myself fighting so hard to stay awake.

The environment certainly doesn't help! The parents want all lights of except for a tiny little lamp. The vent is making that lovely white noise. There is no TV for me to use. I could watch movies on my phone (Netflix) but my data plan isn't large enough and they won't allow the nurses to use their Wi-Fi. I'm a coffee drinker, but there's no coffee maker to use. .. actually they really don't want us using their kitchen after 11pm so that the house remains quiet. My thermos only holds so much... not that there is much room to put put my personal items without their dogs dragging it everywhere.

Any suggestions? Please and thank you! :)

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Did they actually say no to using WiFi or just never offer it?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Many families are unwilling to share home wifi. I have non wifi apps & a nook both don't produce much light. Many request that nurses don't use kitchen post 11pm as often the nurse is there to care for the client so the parents/family can sleep.

I will bring bottled iced coffee. Nook is great to keep away and if I wanted to purchase or rent a movie it's downloaded to the device so no wifi needed like Netflix.

It's tough especially if home is quiet and you don't need to do much more than monitor the client and perhaps re-position

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Did they actually say no to using WiFi or just never offer it?

That is written on their list of rules. No reason given...just not allowed.

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Many families are unwilling to share home wifi. I have non wifi apps & a nook both don't produce much light. Many request that nurses don't use kitchen post 11pm as often the nurse is there to care for the client so the parents/family can sleep.

I will bring bottled iced coffee. Nook is great to keep away and if I wanted to purchase or rent a movie it's downloaded to the device so no wifi needed like Netflix.

It's tough especially if home is quiet and you don't need to do much more than monitor the client and perhaps re-position

I guess I'll have to purchase a Nook...I really need something to keep my mind occupied.

My client doesn't want to be touched at all once he goes to sleep. Kinda makes me wish he were a little more high-maintenance.

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I stopped drinking coffee and switched to Red Bull,no microwave needed.

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Hmmm....I know that we are just fine with the nurses using our WiFi. Sitting there in a quiet house when everyone else is sleeping, there's barely any sound except from the white noise of a vent, fighting against your body's natural sleepy-time rhythm can be pretty tough. It's either that or stare at the four walls all night long. :D

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I stopped drinking coffee and switched to Red Bull,no microwave needed.

I have to alternate with my caffeine sources. I just stopped drinking all energy drinks a few weeks ago since they stopped working. I think I have too much blood in my caffeine stream.

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Hmmm....I know that we are just fine with the nurses using our WiFi. Sitting there in a quiet house when everyone else is sleeping, there's barely any sound except from the white noise of a vent, fighting against your body's natural sleepy-time rhythm can be pretty tough. It's either that or stare at the four walls all night long. :D

I wish my client's family were a little more thoughtful of that. It seems the last few cases I have been assigned to have been like this... thinking nurses are robots without needs.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Some home wifi accounts have a finite amount of data that can be used. Streaming movies and TV use a lot of data. Thus wifi limited to family only. At least this was the case at one family.

I have a few that restrict kitchen access post 7pm as the noise of the coffee maker & microwave were waking up the other children

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'd politely explain all that you stated in your original post, and then state you'll be leaving the case for those reasons. Because they would probably be more than willing to fire you for the first episode of nodding they discovered.

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Some home wifi accounts have a finite amount of data that can be used. Streaming movies and TV use a lot of data. Thus wifi limited to family only. At least this was the case at one family.

I have a few that restrict kitchen access post 7pm as the noise of the coffee maker & microwave were waking up the other children

That could be a possibility regarding the WiFi...a simple statement explaining that would make us nurses feel a little better though.

What about your lunch. .. if it required the use of a microwave? I can't eat cold meals every night. Ew.

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