Sleeping on lunch break

[nursebrandie28]

I was working night shift (12 hr) as an agency nursing half way through my 4-week contract. Around 4:45am in the morning, I told the other nurse I was working with that I was going on break. After that I walked into the chapel in the hospital and rested my head with my eyes closed. I had my phone alarm set from exactly 20 min. After 10 minutes after I got to the chapel, the nursing supervisor told me that they have a no sleeping policy and after my shift I would not be welcomed back. I then preceded to tell her I was on lunch break and she informed that it did not matter.

Is this legal? Could I have said I was praying or meditating? I was in the in between state of relaxing and de-stressing, although it would have appeared to an outsider of sleeping!

Any insight would be helpful

[Jess1990]

I did a placement as a student at a partcular hospital that encouraged team members working nights to have a nap while on their meal break. They even provided a room with a cot, all you had to do was change the linen when you were finished... I guess it just depends on the facilities policy :)

[wooh, BSN, RN]

They have no more right to sleep on that shift than a nurse working the morning shift and I have never seen a nurse or a cna sleep during the morning shift.

It's more often dayshifts that I need a short power nap on than nightshifts. :)

[Plagueis]

I was interested in the studies regarding taking a nap while at work that was previously posted, and how it can be beneficial. However, every place that I've worked (in LTC) at had rules that prohibited sleeping at work, even on breaks, and that sleeping would be grounds for termination.

I don't know if one would be able to sue successfully if she were fired for napping on the job, especially if there is a rule against it.

[klone, MSN, RN]

On the other hand, since you are new and since policies do vary, you might have confirmed that resting/sleeping is OK on your breaks before going ahead.

Honestly, it would never occur to me that I would have to ask permission to do ANYTHING on my lunch break (provided I'm not breaking the law).

I'm pretty sure it's universal (term used loosely, but meaning in all 50 states) that an unpaid lunch break is YOUR time, to do what YOU want.

If I wanted to go out to my car and have a quickie with my husband, I'd dare them to stop me.

[klone, MSN, RN]

The hospital I used to work at in AZ actually had a "nap policy" written into the hospital-wide P&Ps. A 30-minute nap break could be substituted for one's regular lunch break.

Kudos to forward-thinking facilities who realize the benefits of "power naps" and how it improves productivity and judgment.

[nursel56]

i think you meant "eyes closed (not clothes) and doze off (not dose off)". right? me, too, i'm wide awake at the first sound, first shake of my shoulder.

yes and thank you! that'll teach me to rush through my answers - and once again makes my premium membership such a value! (unlimited editing time:))

i had the same impression you did --that it was possible someone could have been offended about sleeping in the chapel. some people are very sensitive to things like that.

[ddunnrn]

If it was on their property, they can make the rules, even if you are on break. If you are on an unpaid break, and you leave the premises, they cannot tell you what to do--if they do, they have to pay you for the time.

In response to UKSTUDENT: if he/she is referring to the US, an employer cannot tell you what to do on an unpaid break, or that you cannot leave the facility, because to be an unpaid break, they cannot put any work-related restrictions on you or it is considered working time, and they have to pay you.

The last place I worked is now trying to get away with the same thing, and when I was there I didn't get a legal break, because I was the only RN, and never got relieved, so was not allowed to leave the unit.

[ddunnrn]

Addendum to previous reply: these problems are another reason why nurses need to be unionized to hash all of these issues out with management and prevent their capricious actions in disciplining workers for asserting their legal rights.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

I work in LTC and I've slept on breaks whether I worked evening shift or night shift. It's MY half hour to do what I want. Hell, sometimes if someone is really tired or not feeling well or was up with their kids or in school or whatever, and it wasn't too busy, they were allowed to take 2 15 min breaks and their half hour and snooze in the break room for an hour. Other people were assigned to their residents while they were gone. It's better than being tired.

[SandraCVRN]

2. The night shift schedule is a choice. If you cannot stay awake during the night-shift schedule for whatever reason, then you should not be taking that shift.

1. It's not a choice for many these days....it's night or no jobs...but that's a whole nother thread.

2. Lot's of us on day shift take naps/doze on break/lunch....it's our time.....

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

doctors nap on night shift- hell i seen some of em straight up SLEEP on night shift . should that be a no no or is that just for nurses.

off topic why are nurses so self righteous some times? "you should NOT sleep at work. they are PAYING you its ILLEGAL how DARE you" etc but doctors do it. and they dont even hide it!

and they are the ones calling the orders once the stuff hits the fan. so they have to be SOMEWHAT alert no?

If you are talking about residents, they usually are not working a "night shift" but a 36 hour straight shift. Sleep time is actually built into that as a safety precaution, so of course they see no reason to "hide" it. Even then, they are on call, so it's really not even comparable at all to a nurse working a fixed 12 hour night shift.

[caliotter3]

Regardless of the situation, you should have received a warning for the first infraction. Not a friendly place to work.