Questions for Night Shift Nurses

Vickirn01 · Mar 20, 2013

I love working night shift as far as the job, its not real easy on the home life though. I try to sleep in the day off my first shift and maybe nap a couple hours in the afternoon. Nap at work???? We are lucky to get a lunch break. I wouldn't nap anyway because short naps tend to make me mad that I have to wake up. And napping is not allowed, they pay us to work not nap. Have not had issues driving home and I have a 30 minute drive. This drive is my unwinding time, at least the beginning of it. I work ICU in Florida.

peanutsauce · Mar 20, 2013

1. What is it like to work nightshift?

I rotate shifts. Nights can be just as busy as days, but with less people/interruptions around.

2. Can you tell me a little about your sleeping habit before a night shift?

I keep myself on a night shift sleep schedule all the time. I sleep from 0900-1630 for my shift at 1900.

2. During night shift, are you allowed to take a short nap during breaks by the hospitals?

I don't personally, because I get adequate sleep during the day. Some nurses who shift between keeping a normal schedule, and their night shifts nap during their one hour lunch break.

3. If you are and you do, how long do you usually take a nap for?

I don't. Many nurses on my unit nap during their lunch -- they eat during a short 15 minute break near the beginning of the shift.

4. Do you feel groggy after? If so, how long does it take you to recover?

I tried it one time. I felt awful. I have never napped again. Nurses coming out from their sleep break tend to look awfully tired.

5. Where do you take a nap? Is there a special room provided by the hospital for nurses to take a nap in?

No special room. Typically nurses nap in our break room or an empty patient room.

6. What do you think are the barriers on having a nap on night shift?

There aren't really barriers on my unit.

7. Do you have any concerns about driving home during night shift?

The sun just absolutely stings your eyes and it hurts to remain awake after a 12 hr night shift. I wear dark glasses, and call my husband or mom on my way home, or listen to music loudly in order to stay awake.

8. If there is an especially designed 'Nap Room' available at the hospital, would you use it? What feature would you like it to have?

Nope, I wouldn't!

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2013

Sanctioned napping on night shift - with a room, blanket, etc. - is pretty common nursing practice in countries outside of the US.

I'm in Kansas. I happen to work on a very small unit that can be chronically understaffed but is also usually pretty slow at night. We eat at the nursing station, don't take any official "breaks" but it's often dead between 1-3 AM unless we have sick ICU patients so you have nurses reading books, listening to music, even watching videos. I think actually napping, even during one's break, would get you fired if management knew about it. There are a couple of "chronic sleepers" on our unit that the other nurses usually look down upon but nobody tattles. Definitely with our floor and tele-status patients, you *could* nap -- but there's hospital policy and unit culture to combat. :)

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2013

Here are the questions:

1. What is it like to work nightshift?

In my experience, better teamwork and camaraderie. Less people around so things are more streamlined. Financially beneficial because of the shift differential. Less management around which means fewer opportunities to be micromanaged but also fewer opportunities to provide input on issues and know what's going on.

2. Can you tell me a little about your sleeping habit before a night shift?

The night before I go to bed at a normal time, and try to get up early in the morning. I shoot for a 12-4:30pm nap. Then get up and get ready for work. After work I get a second wind so stay awake until early afternoon and then nap, wake up for a few evening hours and go to bed. If I work two nights in a row I make myself go to sleep when I get home and wake up at 4:30 to get ready.

2. During night shift, are you allowed to take a short nap during breaks by the hospitals?

Nope, sleeping on the clock is a fireable offense. Even if you're on lunch break.

3. If you are and you do, how long do you usually take a nap for?

4. Do you feel groggy after? If so, how long does it take you to recover?

5. Where do you take a nap? Is there a special room provided by the hospital for nurses to take a nap in?

6. What do you think are the barriers on having a nap on night shift?

Some folks will nap in empty rooms, but they are placing a ton of trust in their coworkers to not turn them in. This is new to me, as my former unit no one napped, period. Aside from not wanting to risk getting fired, I worry that I'd sleep too deeply and not be able to wake up.

7. Do you have any concerns about driving home during night shift?

Yep. I listen to loud music, keep the car cool, snack, drink fluids, smack my face and pinch my inner thighs and it is still a struggle to stay awake. The other day I must have fallen asleep for a second because I woke up when my foot slid off the gas and the car slowed a little. It's scary and frustrating because as soon as I step out of the car at home I'm wide awake for several hours.

8. If there is an especially designed 'Nap Room' available at the hospital, would you use it? What feature would you like it to have?

I'd probably try to take a 30 minute nap before driving home.

*Also, do you mind if you specify which country or city you work in?

I work in Philadelphia.

KiimkashRN · Mar 20, 2013

1. What is it like to work nightshift?

-- Totally different from running around during the day shift. There are hardly any procedures, discharges, family members, managers, etc.

2. Can you tell me a little about your sleeping habit before a night shift?

During night shift, are you allowed to take a short nap during breaks by the hospitals?

--I devoted a whole day to sleeping before I actually started. I work an 8-8 shift so the night before, I slept. Woke up, ate breakfast, stayed in and slept before having to start.

3. If you are and you do, how long do you usually take a nap for?

-- I go on "break" for about 1 1/2 hrs.

4. Do you feel groggy after? If so, how long does it take you to recover?

-- Some people complain that they feel groggy. I feel GREAT! The breaks are typically divided between 1st and 2nd. I go on 1st break so when I come back, I have the opportunity to fully wake up to start working again.

5. Where do you take a nap? Is there a special room provided by the hospital for nurses to take a nap in?

--We have a nurses lounge

6. What do you think are the barriers on having a nap on night shift?

-- There are people constantly walking in and out. Also some people snore LOL

7. Do you have any concerns about driving home during night shift?

--No, like I said, I am fully awake by the time it's 8AM. To insure that I'm awake, I buy a small coffee, turn on the radio and pull down the window.

8. If there is an especially designed 'Nap Room' available at the hospital, would you use it? What feature would you like it to have?

OH no... that sounds like it's only in the movies lol.

I'm in New York, by the way.

LithEruiel · Mar 20, 2013

I've worked night shift at two hospitals now and I've never had time to sleep on night shift if I wanted to/was able to. Always lots of charting if nothing else going on, which there usually is. Anyway, I sleep all day even when I don't work, so I'm not tired at night. It's a horrible way to live, but so is being tired when you're at work. I was actually thinking about starting a topic about that. *Frustrated*

4chun_cookie · Mar 20, 2013

1. What is it like to work nightshift?

I enjoy working nights (7pm to 7am for me) as I have always been more of a night owl. Can sleep 830am-4pm post night shift with no issues. But I can also sleep through doorbells and phones... =) night shift agrees with my body more. But then again, I do not have any kids to tend too.

2. Can you tell me a little about your sleeping habit before a night shift?

the night before a night shift, I stay up until 2-3am and then sleep until at least noon the day prior to night shift. not much of a napper before shift though.

2. During night shift, are you allowed to take a short nap during breaks by the hospitals?

Yes

3. If you are and you do, how long do you usually take a nap for?

I use to nap for an hour-ish during my night breaks. But not anymore. Now I spend that Hour at the hospital Gym in the basement instead of sleeping. Unless I am super tired or the unit is too busy that I cannot escape for an hour, I may take a 15 min cat nap

4. Do you feel groggy after? If so, how long does it take you to recover?

I don't feel groggy post naps.

5. Where do you take a nap? Is there a special room provided by the hospital for nurses to take a nap in?

on the unit break room, Cafeteria bench, an empty chair... no special nap rooms for nurses here!

6. What do you think are the barriers on having a nap on night shift?

Not being about to sneak away for a nap, no comfortable place to nap.

7. Do you have any concerns about driving home during night shift?

Sometimes when I am super tired, It feels like my eyes close for a second too long at the light. I haven't fallen asleep driving ever. loud music, open windows, pinching the leg helps. =)

8. If there is an especially designed 'Nap Room' available at the hospital, would you use it? What feature would you like it to have?

I probably won't use it... as I try to get my workouts in during my breaks.... but ideally, the room would have comfy lazy boys to relax in, that reclines.... no one wants to share a loveseat, or a 3 seater with others. Sometimes selfish people would just lay right across. =(

4chun_cookie · Mar 20, 2013

one more thing...

i work in Edmonton, Canada

EZshot · Mar 20, 2013

1.We are of a rare breed!I perform my best at night.I believe most of the time you are able to listen to your patient and care for them in a less rushed atmosphere.

2.We are not able to take naps at work.Grounds for termination.

3.I go home from work and go straight to bed.No naps for me.we all have different required hours of sleep.

4. I get up at 4:30 .I am not groggy.I am a avid coffee connoisseur.Love it.I know thats what gets me through some of "those

nights"

5.No naps.

6. I would not do well with taking a nap.I think that would just ignite the nighty/nighty mode.I do know nurses do nap/sleep on their

breaks.I think one needs to be sure you know who you are working with,

7.I do not have a issue with driving home because I presently live 3 blocks away.However i do know nurses who drive 30 min..hr.

They have told me they have fallen asleep and woke up with the highway gravel.SCARY.

8.Hospitals need to provide a room for the nurses who work extra,long hrs, so you can sleep before getting behind the drivers seat.

dee78 · Mar 20, 2013

I just got off night shift this week. I loved the people and the teamwork but it is a lifestyle that my body can't handle.

I slept as much as possible, which meant other things were neglected. I had to be awake at 3 when the kids got home so I was lucky to get 6 hours. Most days I averaged 4, there were many days/nights I was up for 20+ hours. I was constantly exhausted and sleep deprived.

I fell asleep driving almost every single morning. That was ultimately the reason I had to get off nights, it wasn't worth it.

My floor is just as busy at night as during the day. We are lucky to sit for 20 minutes without interruption, there were many nights that a nap would have been awesome!

I work on a renal/telemetry floor in Tennessee.

Calabria, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2013

Hi Nurses,
I'm actually doing a Product Design degree at the moment and for my thesis/ final year project I'm thinking of doing something to improve the condition of night shift nurses, especially regarding fatigue and performance.
In order for me to fully grasp the needs and design opportunities, however, I'm going to need all the help from you guys! So, I'd be extremely grateful if you guys would answer my questions so I can get a better feel of what happens during your night shift and factors affecting it.
Here are the questions:
1. What is it like to work nightshift? I like it better than day shift (less visitors, less management around, more autonomy, better coworkers on nightshift). We tend to get more admissions than day shift for some reason, though, but they are completed more quickly.
2. Can you tell me a little about your sleeping habit before a night shift? I sleep from 9 or 10 AM until 5:30 PM. If I am transitioning from day shift to night shift, I'll sleep 7 or 8 hours the night before, and then take a 5 hour nap the day of my shift.
2. During night shift, are you allowed to take a short nap during breaks by the hospitals? No. It's against the rules. We can actually be penalized by the state and lose our license if we are caught sleeping and it's reported to the BON.
3. If you are and you do, how long do you usually take a nap for? N/A
4. Do you feel groggy after? If so, how long does it take you to recover? N/A
5. Where do you take a nap? Is there a special room provided by the hospital for nurses to take a nap in? The bathroom?
6. What do you think are the barriers on having a nap on night shift? The fact that I'm at work and there are lives to be saved.
7. Do you have any concerns about driving home during night shift? Yes. A coworker of mine fell asleep at the wheel and flipped her car into a ditch driving home from night shift once. She was okay, thankfully, but that always sticks out in my mind. I don't stay after for meetings ever.
8. If there is an especially designed 'Nap Room' available at the hospital, would you use it? What feature would you like it to have? A noisemaker. A bed.
*Also, do you mind if you specify which country or city you work in? The eastern U.S.
I know it's quite alot, but I'd really appreciate it if you guys would answer them. Also, sorry if my English isn't very good/clear as it isn't my primary language. Again, thank you very much!

My responses are included in the quote.

lilaclover6984 · Mar 20, 2013

1. What is it like to work night shift?

I love nights! No management around, more time to review charts and understand the big picture of what is going on for each patient, the staff are usually more fun, get to really know your team and more independence. Plus can sleep in as long as I like! No getting up at 5am yuckkkk.

2. Can you tell me a little about your sleeping habit before a night shift?

I generally sleep from 9-4:30

2. During night shift, are you allowed to take a short nap during breaks by the hospitals?

Yes, pretty much every unit does this.

3. If you are and you do, how long do you usually take a nap for?

I work 8 hour night (11pm-7am) and we take a one hour sleep break. I don't always use it, sometimes go for coffee instead.

4. Do you feel groggy after? If so, how long does it take you to recover?

Yeah that's the reason I don't always take a sleep break, I feel like crap for about 15 mins after. But usually after about 15 mins I'm feeling more alert than I did before my nap.

5. Where do you take a nap? Is there a special room provided by the hospital for nurses to take a nap?

The nurses lounge. We have a couple pull out cots. Sometimes we take a stretcher into the charting room as well.

6. What do you think are the barriers on having a nap on night shift?

Not leaving enough staff on the unit

7. Do you have any concerns about driving home during night shift?

No, I take the train home.

8. If there is an especially designed 'Nap Room' available at the hospital, would you use it? What feature would you like it to have?

I'd love it! Would be nice if it had cots, warm blankets, maybe a white noise machine, very dark, bottled water, massage chair