Nodding off...

[jodyangel]

Ok so a few months ago I was nodding while sitting with a group of nurses at 3am. I had no patient assignment at the time.

I work nightshift. Another employee .. Instead of tapping me, called the coordinator who then called me into her office and scolded me. Asked if I wanted to go home. No I do t want to go home...I'm so sorry!

so I'm more than upset that a fellow coworker would throw me under the bus. I figured out who it was and kept an eye on her.

A few weeks ago it apparently happened again. My head was nodding. The ANM called me into her office and said " don't Do that!! Be careful! If someone sees you they will report you and you could lose your job on the spot!" I was mortified and immediately went out and washed my face and made coffee.

So I come to work weds night and get pulled out of report to the NM office. The big boss is there and she reads me my termination letter. Then asks for my badge.

im beyond devastated. I moved 8 hrs from home for This job. I don't know a soul here and haven't felt a real part of the unit since I started. So here I am. In a house I've only lived in for 9 months so I can't just sell it and move on.

I know have been told that several secretary's and nurses have been found asleep and no ones been fired...just warned.

The secretary sits at the desk with her arms crossed. Several of the ST's have been found back in the empty OR totally asleep.

i feel very unjustly treated. IMO there is a huge difference between head nodding and laying out over the desk or hiding in patient rooms sleeping.

At this facility they also turn all the lights in the hallway and nurses station dim. Yeah crazy!

so this week I will arm myself with my argument and have a meeting with HR. This manager has been horrid to people and caused many to leave for other places.

am I way off base?

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

have you thought about sleep apnea? I work nights, and usually get around 6-7 hours of sleep (broken up) during the day - before I was diagnosed I could literally "sleep" 20 hours a day and still fall asleep during a conversation...

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

Or narcolepsy. My husband has it. You could have a sleep study done. Granted, I've certainly nodded off on night shift(especially while pregnant!) with only chronic insomnia as a disorder.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm not giving them a piece of my mind. I'm asking what the exact policy is and why it's enforced at will and not across the board. I wouldn't work there again for a million bucks. And I feel most nurses allow themselves to be treated unfairly and don't feel they should speak up when unjustices are done.

I am moving on..but I won't be going without trying to make things better for the nurses I Did enjoy working with..

From your OP:

I know have been told that several secretary's and nurses have been found asleep and no ones been fired...just warned.

Soooo…. you're throwing out words like discrimination and "unjustice" [sic] over absolute hearsay? Firstly, many places sleeping on the job means immediate termination. No warning, no nothing. Turn in your badge and out the door. You got a warning. That should have made you more vigilant.

Secondly, those who "nod off" while on the clock are certainly not a protected class. Discrimination has absolutely no meaning whatsoever to your argument.

Third, all you're going to do is paint a huge target on your back. Not only are you going to have a reputation from the job you just lost, nurses talk. Not only do nurses talk, but they move around to new employers. That nurse manager you confront at one job just might end up being your new boss sometime down the road. Your reputation is going to get around. Don't burn the bridge, even if you think you'll never need it.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

Any job I have ever had has had termination on the spot for sleeping.

Not much leeway there.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I actually know a nurse who has a reputation of throwing people under the bus for the petty things such as doing homework during down time (which is not against the rules) or being late on a couple occasions. This same nurse is known for hiding in empty rooms and sleeping. To me, sleeping on the job is bad and you cannot defend it as that is against policy.Now I understand night shift isn't easy. I've worked nights and have had a hard time with it. As a sitter, I had to sleep in a comfortable chair in a dark room with a sleeping patient. It was horrible. I hope to find a day shift job as a new grad.That being said, I wouldn't go to HR. Just find a day shift job as nights don't seem to fit well with you.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

OP, go to HR for the intent of working at another facility; leave emotion out of it; hope you will find another position soon.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I actually know a nurse who has a reputation of throwing people under the bus for the petty things such as doing homework during down time (which is not against the rules) or being late on a couple occasions. This same nurse is known for hiding in empty rooms and sleeping. To me, sleeping on the job is bad and you cannot defend it as that is against policy.Now I understand night shift isn't easy. I've worked nights and have had a hard time with it. As a sitter, I had to sleep in a comfortable chair in a dark room with a sleeping patient. It was horrible. I hope to find a day shift job as a new grad.That being said, I wouldn't go to HR. Just find a day shift job as nights don't seem to fit well with you.

As a sitter they PAID you to sleep in a comfortable chair in a dark room with a sleeping patient? What's so horrible about that?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I counted three episodes, and then they let the OP go. I bet there were more episodes than that before they started reporting her. One episode was during shift report...that was unacceptable no matter how I spin it. If you've been dpoing nights for 8 years and suddenly have a problem I suggest getting a sleep study done, and telling your physician. You won't win this one, and will probably do more harm than good if you fight it. However...if you get diagnosed with a medical condition, have documentation, and apologize sincerely, they might not put you on the "do not rehire" list.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

As a sitter they PAID you to sleep in a comfortable chair in a dark room with a sleeping patient? What's so horrible about that?

My phone switched it up. It was supposed to be sit not sleep. We would be fired for sleeping on the job. Imagine having to sit in the dark in a comfortable chair with a snoring patient? It was agony.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

As a sitter they PAID you to sleep in a comfortable chair in a dark room with a sleeping patient? What's so horrible about that?

Maybe she meant "sit" in a comfortable chair? That can be very difficult to do, sit in a comfy chair all night when the pt wants the room dark and quiet, and actually is sleeping (vs. trying to climb the walls all night). The natural response is to fall asleep. One of our CNAs, if she has to float to a floor and sit can't actually sit in the chair. She has to stand up and pace the room all night, or else she'll fall asleep.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Oops PrincessBride, I should have finished reading before speaking for you. :)