ohsleepy1

Hi, I've been an NP for almost 1 1/2 years now. I used to work per diem in the ED while I was working on my post-master's degree full-time. In the ED we worked 12 hr shifts and had an "on-call room" to relax/eat/sleep in if we had time. In the ED there was rarely a time we could go to sleep, but if we did have the time, it was actually encouraged. The on-call room was about 10 feet from the unit and we were always available by phone. I just started a new job in a different city. All of my shifts are 12 hr nights and since the service is brand-new, we only have 5 patients max. Most of the nights are somewhat slow but steady, and there are the occassional really busy or really painfully slow nights. I asked my collaborating MD if there was a place I could sleep if it was slow and he said he would find a room. He mentioned it to the nurse manager who happens to be our administrative boss, and she said nurses are not allowed to sleep during their shift under any circumstance. I clarified directly with her that I am not acting as a bedside RN, rather I am an NP, who will be available by pager to admit pt's and cover issues through the night, and was still told it is not allowed. The 3 NP's I work with will not back me up on this. They work mostly days, plus they're brand new NP's so they might be busier at night than I am, but they say NP's should not be allowed to sleep. I was just wondering what everyone's experience has been in terms of NP's sleeping while at work. I have spoken with almost a dozen NP friends so far who work 12 hour night shifts in different specialties across the country who are encouraged to sleep if they finish their work. I mean, PA's and MD's are allowed to sleep at night, even if they have not been on call for 24 hours, so why should NP's not get equal treatment? What do you think?