Last night I had to work as a sitter at a hospital 7p-7a and it was pure torture ! I've done it many times before, but it has been awhile since I did this.
Its soooo hard to sit in a dark room, in a recliner, and just sit and stare at the walls. No TV, NO internet, and definetly NO SLEEPING...I did bring my books, but reading about genetics counseling will put me to sleep in a heart beat. I know the above are not acceptable and I never do those things( or else I wouldn't have that job), but its just so darn hard to stay awake for 12 hours, in the dark, with nothing you can do to help yourself get through the shift.
My patient was pretty easy, all I had to do was make sure he did not get OOB. From 2-6 I found myself fighting sleep and my eyes were drier than the sahara desert.
I will try my best to never work that shift again as a sitter. I rather be a tech working a floor.
And then I come home to try to sleep and I can't. I slept for a few hours, but I was right back up again. I feel like a zombie.
Well thanks for letting me vent, and please share your advice with how to stay awake during a sitter case. :banghead:
In our hospital the LPNs have to sometimes sit with Mental Health/confused pts. I was sitting one night with a Alz pt and she had a family member present. The family member requested the lights off, the door closed, and he took the recliner. So for 12 hrs I sat in a straight back chair in the dark, pt sleeping from the meds, and nothing to do but stare at the walls. I won't lie, I fell asleep twice only to do the jello-neck-head-bob and wake myself up. By far the worst night of work ever!!! My empathy to anybody who does this for a living.
I've done a few of those night shift sitter jobs,Ughh,I would bring a book and deck of cards for playing solitaire,but around 4-5 O clock I'd be starting to nod in my chair so I would get a clean sheet to lay on the floor and start doing sit ups,leg lifts whatever to try to perk myself up.A couple of times I got "caught" by somebody checking in with me,I know I looked goofy but it was better than falling asleep.
The last two places I've worked at alternate q 2 hours so everybody gets a break
:banghead:
NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN
3,959 Posts
Thanks for all the responses ! I will probably NEVER Work night shift again as a sitter. Can't do it, won't do it :)