Night shift lighting

Specialties Private Duty

Published

I'm a little frustrated. I regular case I have...well it's best described as trying. Tonight mom tells me "I hope your ok sitting in the dark" I enquirer to find out that the only light the nurse is allowed to se at night is a plug in night light. I explain how this is unsafe how can I see to suction? Do an emergency trach change? Or even assess skin color? " you have a flashlight don't you?" Yea I didn't but I don't think it's safe to work with your moderately stable trach kid with only a flashlight. It's escalated to me saying that if they insisted on the super low lighting...I was only going to do it once. This is a deal breaker. Not only is it unsafe but how the heck am I supposed to stay awake. I'm all for low lighting low impact on night shift but I have limits.

So am I the crazy one here? I feel like the part time clown in the three ring circus because of course this was all punctuated with the line "well mrs x is ok with it". Me replying "well I'm not going to comment on mrs x's practice, but I feel it's not safe"

so only a minor question. I guess this falls into the category of vent. I'll work by flashlight on super stable g tube kids. Not on airway kids...who are sick... and are in the hospital every month.

The parents would not allow lights, but the TV was on? That doesn't make sense. Which is more likely to keep a little one awake?

Yep - just like someone else said - tv on cartoons for kid to fall asleep to/white noise type of thing I guess. I could probably write a book about some of the wackadoodle things parents do or have requested I do in this type of nursing environment.

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

I know I would suggest getting off of that schedule. I also had one kid who didn't sleep well at night where cartoons were on all night. Grrrrr.

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From what I know,some nurses actually encourage the parents to have very little lighting for night shift.

Why? Because those nurses were sleeping.

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It would be hard to sit in the dark for sure. If there is an emergency with the trach, the lights are coming on for safety reasons. That's only reasonable. If they are resistant I'd be moving on. Can you have one of those light that clip on to something that you could turn on in an emergency? I have one of those, though I work 2nd so it's not an issue.

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Specializes in Certified Vampire and Part-time Nursing Student.

I guess you could use a headlamp

I would be concerned if the room is so dark you can't see where you're walking, that's a safety hazard for you, and that's not ok. The patient is at the hospital because he needs care, which you can't give him if you can't see what the hell you are doing, or trip over the trashcan and break your leg on the way to his bedside

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I guess you could use a headlamp

I would be concerned if the room is so dark you can't see where you're walking, that's a safety hazard for you, and that's not ok. The patient is at the hospital because he needs care, which you can't give him if you can't see what the hell you are doing, or trip over the trashcan and break your leg on the way to his bedside

No. This is the PDN forum. Our patients are in their home. This is a pediatric trach/vent client that the parent wants an unreasonable amount of darkness. A flashlight is not sufficient. I'm not wearing a headlight as a night shift nurse. Period. There are other cases with more reasonable caregivers

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Specializes in LTC.
One of my "no lights" cases was one where the TV was on all night on one of those cartoon channels. Drove me batty, including the "Adult Swim" episodes. I never understood the parents' rationale there. Actually the light from the TV was quite a lot, even without the vent and pulse ox lights, and the TV made the bedroom hot. I would look over at the little patient's big eyes looking at the TV and me and it was kind of spooky.

Sounds like a case i used to work. The TV was on all night, but there was a little desk lamp. I hate Nick Jr now with a passion.

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