Night Shifters: Do you sleep?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I work on a med-surg floor on nights. I have seen almost every single nurse there hunched over and asleep at one time or another. Some even take blankets from the blanket warmer and get a little too cozy! Sometimes it's so slow that I can't really blame them. I also see their heads bobbing back and forth. So, just curious, do any of you fall asleep on the job? I'm still new so I'm afraid to, but man, some times I wish I did!

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Yeah, during nights I find myself doing more and more of drinking to stay awake, doing side work, making sure my stuff is caught up, etc...but I know of a nurse who fell asleep in the break room...while there were a ton of call lights going off. If I'm working, and I know the aide(s) just went to answer someone else's light...I'll go answer it to help stay awake. I'll check on patients, clean, stock, do pxyis counts, etc. On occasion, if we know that the house super has already been around for the night, we'll check internet stuff(that can't be traced back to you...)...but other than that, some nights it is really BUSY!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My floor just hired a 12 hour nurse supervisor JUST for our floor at night. She's there the ENTIRE time, walking around, checkin on things, etc. Is this normal?? I think my hospital has a lot of money to burn. I always thought one covered multiple areas - it's like Big Brother now and all of the nurses are on their best behavior when she is around :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've never slept (on purpose!) during a shift; a couple of times right after I switched to nights I'd fall asleep charting at the desk. Now I don't have that problem, it went away after a couple of weeks.

Occasionally a nurse will come in to work having gotten little to no sleep. We'll try to cover so he/she can get a half hour sleep on their break, if they want it. Most don't, I think most of us find that walking a couple of laps around the hall will wake us up better than a nap.

One of our nurses would head to the waiting room "for a break" and we'd find her sawing logs. No one covering her pts, of course. She was fired after a couple of warnings.

I am guilty of wrapping up in the warm blankets while charting, many of my coworkers, too. But it gets so cold around 2-3am!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At the hospital I work at right now, I heard that some nurses would take turns sleeping.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

I did a mission (non-religious) trip to Peru to do heart surgeries on the indigent kids at the public hospital. We set up the first PICU in that system. Imagine my surprise when we did our first night shift with the Peruvian nurses to train them and all but one went to sleep. The one up kept watch on the monitors and on the hour the other nurses popped awake, checked their patient's and went back to sleep unless it was their turn to stand watch. They were the happiest group of people!!!!! We were stunned but boy did it make sense. Obviously they didn't sleep if any of the patient's were unstable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

nope.. no time in OB to sleep. besides, I wouldnt sleep on a day shift, why should I on a night shift??? Sleeping is for when you are home in bed, not at a desk or in a break room.. no matter if it is 3 am or 3 pm.

Yes, it is hard sometimes between 0300-0400, but not so much of you keep yourself busy. If its that much of a struggle, I think there needs to be a long look at why you arent sleeping properly during the day and what can be done to remedy it, or maybe your body just isnt cut out for night shift. To be that tired and drive home is scary.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Can't imagine falling asleep in the NICU with all the crying babies and cares/feeds :D

But, I do get sleepy of course and yes, I sleep during the day but not enough.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Um, what is wrong with sleeping on your scheduled break during your night shift? I can understand why sleeping when your NOT on your break is wrong to do (which I never do) but if you are on your break time why can't you be free to sleep?

At the hospital I work at as an extern, almost everyone grabs a pillow and blankets and sleeps on their scheduled break time in the nursing lounge during the night shift.

I am sure I am not the only one! Who cares as long as its during your break! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical.

I've worked nights for a little over 2 1/2 years as a charge nurse and I can honestly say that I have never caught a nap on my shift. And no one on my floor sleeps either. Unless it's on their break. If they are clocked out, they can do whatever they want! But can you imagine a patient or family member walking up the hall to find snoring nurses and techs at the nurses station? :yawn: I'd be embarrassed!!

A hospital is 24 hours. There is ALWAYS something to do! Clean some equipment, count the pixus, peek in at your patients again, review a chart or two! And if everyone is alseep and your patients are covered, see if another floor needs you to start an IV or do an admit!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, Adolescent/Child Mental Health.

Nope, not me. Some nights it's a little slower than others and I have to find ways to keep my mind active (review charts, try to do some continuing ed, whatever) but I wouldn't dare fall asleep. And I really doubt that anyone I work with in this facility purposefully falls asleep, either. They wouldn't keep us around for long if we did.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have worked nights 11-7 and evenings 3-11 as a CNA for the past few months. I never fell asleep while at work. I was just too scared too. I would read a magazine/review charts in the down time I had. I work in a LTC facility and there is a nurse and 2 CNAs on the floor at night. Sometimes the other CNA I worked with would take a doze in her chair. I have never seen the nurses nap. Personally, as long as you have someone watching the floor for you, I don't see the problem in closing your eyes for a few minutes. And as previous posters said, the night shift can be very dangerous when driving/walking home etc. Sometimes I would walk home in a complete daze at 7 AM! Yes, I did choose this shift but many have no other choice due to children etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I have worked nights for 3 + years. At my current job, RNs are entitled to 2 -15min breaks, and an unpaid hour for a meal. On nights we take our 30 min meal break, and then do what we want for our remaining hour break. We all cover each other's patients. Some go for a walk outside, make a Starbucks run (it's on the corner) or just crash in the breakroom with the lights off for an hour.

Management knows, but we can do as we choose on our scheduled breaks. We report off to our covering nurse, and go. I personally never leave a critical pt, and when I do go on a break, leave my cell # for the covering nurse.

I drive 1hr 15min to work. I would be dead on the side of the road if I did not take a break.

Day shift takes a 30 min breakfast break, and 1hr lunch break, so why shouldn't nights do what they want on their break? It could start to make up for all events, employee appreciation meals, etc being scheduled from 2-4 in the afternoon.....

IMHO, you should be able to do what you want on your unpaid break.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment