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.
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.
Yeah, I could see that happening... Regardless of their child receiving excellent care.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I believe some families believe private duty nurses, because we have one patient have the most cushy job in the world and anything they perceive as non-workish like watching movies irritates them. They can't see the thinking and observing nurses do, which is the primary reason they qualify for us vs a home health aide. I'd forget all about their wifi.
I have data plan issues as well. I don't know what kind of phone you have, but you can probably download some movies using a public wifi network at a library or coffee place and watch them later on your phone. You can find lots of free movies out there at sites like archive.org. I love classic movies and television so I find lots of entertaining stuff there.
Or you can take up knitting! Why not? :-D Needlework engages your mind and has the added advantage of appearing "productive".
Make your client some little item and it's even better!
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
What is that some kind of budget internet service provider that limits data? Have heard of that for cellphones, never residential isp.
I think it's rude to not let the nurses use internet WiFi.
Most modems have the pw on the bottom, just saying.
I believe some families believe private duty nurses, because we have one patient have the most cushy job in the world and anything they perceive as non-workish like watching movies irritates them. They can't see the thinking and observing nurses do, which is the primary reason they qualify for us vs a home health aide. I'd forget all about their wifi.
I have data plan issues as well. I don't know what kind of phone you have, but you can probably download some movies using a public wifi network at a library or coffee place and watch them later on your phone. You can find lots of free movies out there at sites like archive.org. I love classic movies and television so I find lots of entertaining stuff there.
Or you can take up knitting! Why not? :-D Needlework engages your mind and has the added advantage of appearing "productive".
Make your client some little item and it's even better!
Thanks! I have a newer model smart phone. I'll check out that site.
Knitting?! My grandmother tried for years to teach me how. I must have a learning issue because I could never catch on. Some of the things I "knitted" looked like a chew toy. :sly:
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Not all modems include the password. At least 3 of my clients have a p/w on the modem but the families customized their access so that would be useless. I don't think it's rude as it's the family's service and may have been permitted previously but abused. It's not always a budgeted Internet service but many ISPs have a data cap (significantly higher than phone data plans). If they had overnight nursing 12hrs/night 7 days a week with nurses streaming tv or video most of the shift that could easily hit the cap in a couple of weeks. Did you ask your agency? Maybe they know the reason for such a restriction. But I don't agree that a family is obligated to provide wifi access to PDN. I do think it's rude if a family says no wifi and the nurse seeks the modem to find the password anyway. But then again I've met nurses that think it's okay to consume a patients custom food (and complain about flavor), refuse to clean up their own mess (not talking household mess or mess that existed prior but a mess the nurse created while working and there was an empty garbage can a yard away), eat the family's food to the point parents feel put out or go for a preferred beverage only to see the nurse taking the last one.
I can understand if kitchen noise disturbs the family. But there are other ways. A small microwave is relatively cheap and can be placed in the patient's room or nearby. This way the nurse can heat up coffee & meals as needed. This as a gesture if kindness not obligation.
Small gestures keep good nurses.
And even small microwaves usually make less noise than most medical equipment. I think a light bright enough to properly document is also necessary. It doesn't have to be a 100 watt bulb but even a 15-25 watt bulb produces more light than
When I had one of these lights out cases, someone suggested to me that I just say "who cares" and sleep, but keep an alarm set. No way would I ever have tried that! I was always just certain that I would get caught! I got myself a little light and forced myself to try to read. That didn't work well; the case didn't last much longer anyway.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Our internet has a data cap, it's satellite internet. I've worked such cases with nothing to do & fight to stay awake. I quickly left those cases because I didn't want to fall asleep on those cases.
I am currently at work now, PDN adult case, not pediatric. I have Verizon, and a hotspot added to my plan for $20 a month. It is a total life saver! Get a bigger thermos. I don't have access to a microwave, either, and I manage. I've gained weight on my night shift, so in two weeks, I'll be starting a new job, and getting off nights. My current company won't be very happy, but there's no room for advancement here.
When I had one of these lights out cases, someone suggested to me that I just say "who cares" and sleep, but keep an alarm set. No way would I ever have tried that! I was always just certain that I would get caught! I got myself a little light and forced myself to try to read. That didn't work well; the case didn't last much longer anyway.
I couldn't do that either. An alarm would make sure you don't oversleep but would be useless to warn you of someone coming into the room and catching you.
I am currently at work now, PDN adult case, not pediatric. I have Verizon, and a hotspot added to my plan for $20 a month. It is a total life saver! Get a bigger thermos. I don't have access to a microwave, either, and I manage. I've gained weight on my night shift, so in two weeks, I'll be starting a new job, and getting off nights. My current company won't be very happy, but there's no room for advancement here.
If not for being in a contract with a different carrier, I'd switch to Verizon for that plan. My carrier doesn't offer such a deal.
eeffoc_emmig
305 Posts
Yeah, I could see that happening... Regardless of their child receiving excellent care.