Residents-how do they stay awake for 24-36 hrs straight?

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Feb 7, 2006

That was heartbreaking - I remember the other week when it was all over the news.
Truck drivers are a whole other bag of chips. I remember hearing that they are paid for how much they haul, so many of them try to do without sleep in order to get the most money. If they were paid on salary, maybe the roads would be a lot safer.

My point is that truck drivers and medical personnel who are sleep-deprived are not "a whole other bag of chips". You might not see the crash, but sleep-deprived residents have an equal potential to harm, not heal. Thus, the danger to the public-at-large is as great. This is an issue that needs to be addressed by the medical community.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2006

My point is that truck drivers and medical personnel who are sleep-deprived are not "a whole other bag of chips". You might not see the crash, but sleep-deprived residents have an equal potential to harm, not heal. Thus, the danger to the public-at-large is as great. This is an issue that needs to be addressed by the medical community.

I just meant that I didn't want to get into a debate about truck drivers. I know some through family, and they get very defensive when the sleep issue is brought up. They say that they have to go without sleep in order to bring home enough money, etc. They aren't paid on salary like residents are. They have a choice about whether or not to sleep, while residents don't. That's what I meant about it being different - the choice/money aspect.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Feb 7, 2006

I just meant that I didn't want to get into a debate about truck drivers. I know some through family, and they get very defensive when the sleep issue is brought up. They say that they have to go without sleep in order to bring home enough money, etc. They aren't paid on salary like residents are. They have a choice about whether or not to sleep, while residents don't. That's what I meant about it being different - the choice/money aspect.

I understand what you're trying to say, but my point is that it's really not so different.

Each person--whether truck driver, paramedic, or medical resident--has a choice about whether or not to do the right thing.

In the end, that's what it boils down to.

Are you the kind of person who will stand up for what is right, morally and ethically, or will you go along to get along?

Again, this is an issue that needs to be addressed in the medical community, not brushed aside by tradition.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2006

Again, this is an issue that needs to be addressed in the medical community, not brushed aside by tradition.

I totally agree with that. They've made a dent in this - wasn't it about three years ago that they put a limit on residents that they can only be at the hospital for 80 hours a week? While it still sounds like too much, from what I hear, it's a big improvement. Now the next step would be to limit the number of hours a day - like 24 would be the max or something like that. I personally think our residents shouldn't have to come in until 3pm if they're on call that night. Then they could get sign-off from the previous resident, be pretty fresh on night shift when they are the ones responsible for procedures, sit in on rounds the next morning, then give sign off at 3pm to the next night's resident, who also didn't have to come in until 3pm. Usually we have 3-4 residents at a time, so there would be at least 2-3 of them on rounds, the only one missing would be the one who is on call that night. That is what the fellows do - they don't have to come in until the afternoon if they're on call that night, and they even get to go home first thing in the morning after signing off to the fresh fellows. I think the residents would STILL be getting plenty of experience, yet with a 24 hour limit, there would be less risk involved for everybody.

To me, that sounds absolutely possible and makes so much sense. One step at a time, I guess.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 7, 2006

I work in a large hospital and our residents do like Gompers' do: come in at 0700, stay all day, night call (with a sleep room provided) and then do rounds in the am and out the door. The 80 hour work week has made things much better for the doctors and the patients.

Katnip, RN · Feb 7, 2006

I agree. Some states have passed laws that limit residents' work time to 80 hours a week. Some are 120. 120 is still too much IMO.

But there are other states that have not passed these limits because of the old: "I survived these kids can, too" attitude. It's a shame because it's been shown time and time again that residents have made fatal mistakes because of sleep deprivation.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2006

Watch Greys or Scubs....most of them fool around in the sleep room, I'm sure that helps....Okay, I was just sarcastic.

Coffee and keeping hydrated with other fluids, nap when ever they can.

new_mom26 · Feb 7, 2006

My husband is a truck driver and where he works he gets paid by the mile and his company has a rule that they have to have 12 hours of logged time off before they can get back on the road. They are very strict about this and make their employees sign a book of what time they are leaving. My husband will drive for 12 to 14 hours and then come back home and sleep and go back to work 12 hours later. He is very strict about making sure he gets his rest and not going without sleep b/c he doesn't want to be on the road without sleep..

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2006

My husband is a truck driver and where he works he gets paid by the mile and his company has a rule that they have to have 12 hours of logged time off before they can get back on the road. They are very strict about this and make their employees sign a book of what time they are leaving. My husband will drive for 12 to 14 hours and then come back home and sleep and go back to work 12 hours later. He is very strict about making sure he gets his rest and not going without sleep b/c he doesn't want to be on the road without sleep..

He sounds like he found a good company that values the safefy of its drivers and those out there on the road. :) Is this becoming the standard for other companies?