Night Shifters - Am I being too sensitive?

SleeepyRN · Apr 13, 2016

Valid concern, OP. It should be brought to the attention of management so they can address it. Our facility does this a few times a year in meetings, and hangs reminder notes. "Shhh, patients' trying to sleep. It is vital to their recovery." Or some variation of wording.

It's easy to forget. As a CNAs direct supervisor, I have no problem reminding them to politely pipe down. But, I personally wouldn't feel as comfortable saying it to a fellow nurse more than once. In that case, bring the general issue to management for them to send out a reminder.

Pheebz777, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2016

I got floated to the med-surg unit one time and I had a patient complain to me that the "family" in the next room has been outrageously noisy the past 2 nights. Upon leaving the patient's room, I checked the "other room" next to my patient only to find out it was the staff lounge that was next to the patients room! lol

marylou5 · Apr 13, 2016

Of course there is an element of noise that is essential in any hospital at night..that being said..staff adding to it by calling out, laughing, speaking loudly, slamming equipment etc. around is unconscionable. When I worked nights, I reminded my staff at every report that this activity would not be tolerated....the reason being, that if they awakened patients with their loud activity it added to my work load and theirs! The need for some, or more, sleep or pain medication requires extra time and charting on my part and was not in the best interest of our patients as it could have been avoided. Also the extra time handing out bedpans and urinals, straightening beds etc, of awakened patients, adds unnecessary work for everyone. You don't have to turn on every light in a room to turn a patient! Of course I got the rolled eyes, disgusted looks , grumbling behind my back etc...but when they realized my constant reinforcement, and shushing reminders, created a quiet, less busy floor, and was less work for all, they began to monitor each other. If you speak softly, your patients will as well and not awaken a roommate! Sorry, but your patients deserve no less. Administrators take note: If you insist on quiet nights, the floor requires less staffing! At first no one will want to work on your floor, with the "crab". Who cares? Doesn't take long before word gets around that your quiet floor makes for an easier night for all staff....and patients!

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2016

I make an effort to be quiet in patient rooms, and cluster care for sure. I do my best to not wake sleeping babies. But I am not going to work 12 hours playing the quiet game. I agree, sometimes it can get over the top - but I can't exist in a dead quiet environment or I'm going to be asleep.

CristyGerald · Apr 14, 2016

I totally understand you. Working in night shifts and having lack of sleep makes us more sensitive and irritable. We love our work and we get irritated when someone intentionally or unintentionally disturbs us like noise, disrupts our lightings, etc. We concentrate and focus on our work and we want to give our full energy on it. We need to recharge also to have a good sleep especially on our days off.

Sadala, ADN, RN · Apr 14, 2016

Nope. I hear ya. I also work at night and I tend to think that staff are WAY too loud.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Apr 14, 2016

Have worked night shift my entire career, and I give you a huge congratulations for pointing this out. I am one of the few that turn out the lights. Studies have shown that one action reduces the perceived sound level immensely. We are constantly trying to self govern our decibels, but there are just those that are loud. Don't give up the fight, advocate for those patients, after all, a sleeping patient is a perfect patient.

sbeeso3 · Apr 14, 2016

Davey Do stated: "To these Patients, I remind them that this is a Hospital and not the Hilton".

First of all, I cannot imagine how I would perceive such a terrible, insensitive statement being said to me when I am asking for something that is essential to health and recovery.

Sleep is mandatory. REM sleep is vital to the wellness and healing of patients and to EVERYONE. This is not something to trivialize. I have studied extensively the power and healing qualities of sleep and the lethal repercussions to not having adequate sleep. It still amazes me that the medical community would never think of depriving themselves of going home for a good night's sleep but are very happy to let their patients suffer from lack of sleep.

Everline · Apr 14, 2016

When I worked night shift, it bothered me how loud some of my co-workers were. The loud laughing and conversation seemed way over the top. Patients would occasionally complain and more often simply ask that their door be closed. The level of noise actually embarrassed me and I tried to stay away from it because I didn't want to be associated with it. These were co-workers I actually really liked otherwise and who would not be considered insensitive in other settings. But they were just too loud at night. Lab techs were worse. I had to "shush" them on a couple of occasions. They'd come up on the floor and yell across to one another and laugh loudly. I guess they figured they were about to wake everyone up to take blood anyway so...

allnurses Guide · Apr 14, 2016

Hello all! I just wanted to know from people that enjoy working night shift, or at least, work them often - what do you find to be a normal/appropriate noise level?
I typically work evenings and have found that I enjoy it much more than days or nights - but occasionally I'll double and end up on a night shift, and I find myself frequently getting upset at co-workers that make a TON of noise: slamming doors/cabinetry, having excessively loud conversations (FULL VOLUME speech right outside patient's doorways, or shouting down the hall at each other, for example). I've been less concerned when floating to the ED because, well, it's an ED. On the floor, however, I feel that if we're taking the time to do things like turning off hallway lights in an effort not to mess with sleep patterns, why is taking being quiet into consideration not really a concern for some?
This is the case at both hospitals where I work, and I'm frustrated for patients that later complain to me that it's impossible to get any sleep. Of course ALL interruptions cannot be avoided - you have to wake the patient to do your job (and so does the phlebotomist, and the respiratory therapist, etc.) - but I don't think that should mean totally disregarding the hour. I feel that rest is an important part of the healing process and some folks get incredibly stressed out by the general inability to get sleep when inpatient.
I am absolutely someone that loves to sleep, however, and have often thought that if I had to face the number of disruptions during my conjugals with the Sandman that our patients do, I'd probably sign out AMA. Am I projecting? I do make every effort to sneak around like a ninja when people are sleeping, but is it a crapshoot? I'd love to hear from you guys.

I work mid shift (3-11) and the first part of the evening is usually pretty hectic and noisy. After about 8 pm we turn down the hall lights and turn on some music in the nurses station. We are a fairly low key bunch so noise is not usually a problem. Our biggest noise problem comes from visitors - since we allow 24 hour visiting some are quite inconsiderate and loud even when they are visiting in a shared room. These are usually the private pay clients who pay as much as $6-8 thousand a month so they figure they own the place.

Hppy

EMS-RN · Apr 15, 2016

I work 12hr nights... Gratefully my observations are different from yours. Whenever I walk out on the med/surg/tele floors it seems like everyone is trying to be quiet - unless something is going on it sounds a bit like a hushed ghost town. In the ICU where I'm at my observation is if we have an alert patient we'll try to limit disturbances, though if they're sick enough to be in ICU a bunch of disturbances is typically inevitable - we'll try to be minimally intrusive with our disturbances (though that's not always possible). Their complaints tend to be far more about the constant stream of alarms from the monitors, the arrays of IV pumps and ventilators rather than the staff (sorry...the alarms are staying on...sleep is important but breathing and a blood pressure is even more so).

val421 · Apr 17, 2016

Kudos to you, Val, for your concern!
As a MN Nurse, I have experienced the same and try â€‹to not make any more noise than what is necessary in order to perform my tasks and communicate with my Coworkers. However, that which happens, happens.
I typically apologize to the Patients for any unwarranted noise and say things like, "A Hospital is a difficult place to get rest because there's so many People and so much going on. We'll try to be less noisy".
Just the fact that their complaint has been heard and addressed usually appeases the Patient.
However, some are relentless in their pursuit for a noise free environment that they are chronic malcontents. To these Patients, I remind them that this is a Hospital and not the Hilton. I attempt to deal with their complaints with room changes, ear plugs, closed doors between rounds, etc. But my control over the environment is limited.
Like you, I revel in rest. I have gone as far as to request that my neighbor not run his four wheelers and dirt bikes on the weekends during my sleeping time of noon and 8pm. My request was initially met with some resistance. But when I reminded him that I am awake at night and could loudly work in my shop doing metal work, or run my '51 Chevy rat rod pickup truck at 2:30 in the morning, he quickly acquiesced. I assured him that I knew the world didn't stop because I work the midnight shift, but could he please work with me?
It's been a couple of years since that conversation took place and I cannot complain. He runs his recreational vehicles before noon on weekends and I do my loud work at about the same time.
Understanding and compromises are good things!
Good luck with your pursuit, Val!

Thank you, Dave! I appreciate the response. I'll do my best to cluster care tasks together to avoid constant interruption, I've moved patients because of noisy roommates or proximity to beeping telly screens - it's when we can do absolutely nothing about the noise that I start to feel badly. I always acknowledge and remind them, as you do, that this is a hospital and there's never going to be a point where there's NO activity, but it still grinds my gears when the decibel level is totally unnecessary.

I also have had issues with noisy neighbors - thankfully it isn't a weekly problem as it was with you, but I live across the street from a church that hosts a sort of unofficial block party/concert the first week of August to raise money for back-to-school supplies for poverty-stricken youth. They start around 10AM, usually after I've worked a night shift, and go until the early evening. I don't have the heart to rain on that parade, so guess who's sleeping over at a friend's house that day?

During Carnaval season, however, there is a house party every year that is extremely loud and that I have MUCH less sympathy for. I try to let folks have their revelry but I've called the police before due to the UNBELIEVABLE noise level and the DJ's sexual comments to female partygoers carrying for BLOCKS. I'm not a wet blanket, I swear.