No sleep= calling out?

soulofme · Aug 1, 2009

Sometimes 3-4 hrs is all I get. I'd have no sick leave left if I did that!

AnnieNHRN · Aug 1, 2009

I did once. Was stuck in a traffic jam for 2+hrs during the night (accident). Didn't get to bed till

about after 2 am and I felt like crap. So I called in. I hadn't called in in over 7wks so felt ok about doing it.

I don't think straight when I am over tired. But sometimes you just have to do the best you can... with very little sleep. Good luck!

nkara, CNA · Aug 1, 2009

Nope... I work on 3 - 4 hours of sleep. On the other hand I've also work with nurses who only got less than 1 hour and they performed perfectly fine.. but annoyed me!

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2009

Yep. When i have to make middle of nite trips to er for say, stiches in my daughters arm..I was up there till after 2 am. If you don't get enough sleep then you cant function.especially for 12 hours

casper1 · Aug 1, 2009

I'm afraid that when working night shift 3 to 4 hrs of sleep is routine.

ririrain142 · Aug 1, 2009

I've called off twice for this reason, but only 07-11, that way I get a little sleep and don't leave them without a nurse for the whole day

emnicams · Aug 1, 2009

I've gone in on 3-4 hours of sleep a couple of times and was able to function okay, but definitely felt like crap.

Have you seen a doctor about your insomnia? I suffered with it horribly during nursing school due to anxiety. I would often go to clinical after a whole night of tossing and turning with NO sleep. I finally went to the doctor and got help and it made a huge difference in my life!

nminodob · Aug 1, 2009

I used to think I was useless on less than 6 hours sleep until I went on nights and found out that 4 hours is the best I could manage - I found that to some degree "tired" is a psychological condition that you can psych yourself out of. On nights, everybody is sleep deprived so that's just our baseline, yet when you look around at all the other nurses, most have been functioning fine for years like that! It just takes determination.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2009

Working impaired is a no no. Impairment doesn't necessarily have to do with substance use or abuse. It just means one's condition creates a risk to the safe discharge of one's duties. If insomnia makes you impaired, call off. Then seek treatment.

Be_Moore · Aug 1, 2009

I did once. But then I've also gone to work after having already been up for 17 hours as well. So, meh. It's a legit reason to call in, however.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Aug 1, 2009

I think if having insomnia and not feeling you can work safely is a very good reason to call off. Is it a usual thing or just happens sometimes? Are you working a new shift? Is your body not adjusted yet? When I was first a nurse, I worked the 3-11 shift and when I got home couldn't sleep for at least a few hours, but I still had to get up to get my kids off to school. I was feeling sleep deprived for quite awhile, but did get used to it. If this is not a new thing and has been going on awhile, you might want to talk to a doctor. Maybe you're run-down or otherwise ill. Or, does work or other things weigh on your mind and you can't stop the thinking? Can you do anything about that?

I know lots of people get by with little sleep either because they want to or have to, and it works for them. That doesn't mean it's not a problem for lots of people. The key is...can you do what you have to do and be safe about it. If you have available time off, that's what it's there for--to make your life work more happily and comfortably!