Sleeping at night for Hospital-based NP?

BChapp3182 · Jan 24, 2010

I vote for sleeping as long as your still doing your job which you are. If the MDs and PAs at that same facility are sleeping then you should be too. We all know that a rested brain thinks better than a tired one. If PAs get to sleep then the rule is discriminating against NPs perhaps bring up that issue and that your not going to stand for it and will do whatever it takes to get equal treatment in the workplace (read between the lines--lawsuit). Or take the issue up with your manager's boss and see what they have to say, then go from there..

ettac · Jan 24, 2010

I work in 2 rural hospitals. There is a lounge near the nurses station at both hospitals, and the PA or NP on duty sleep whenever they have a chance. You are right when you say you're not a bedside RN. It is legal for you to sleep in between patient. It promotes patient safety because you will not be exhausted. I'd find a job where the staff could determine the difference between a nurse and a nurse practitioner.

Furthermore, since it is a small town, one of our PAs lives in town; about 3 blocks away. He goes home in between patients. Are they going to tell him that he can't sleep??

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jan 24, 2010

I've always worked in hospital settings as an NP and in roles where we provide 24-hour coverage of the service. In all cases, we have access to a call room that has a bed to lay on when we're working the off shifts. Some NP's I've worked with just prefer not so sleep at night during a 12-hour nightshift but some take advantage of down-times during the nightshift and do use that opportunity to sleep in the call room. Though they are "sleeping", they still have their beepers and Spectralink Phones on loud alert and are very much reachable in times when the NP is needed to come to the bedside for any issues that occur during the shift.

In terms of staff nurses, I've also worked in places where even staff nurses are allowed to lay down and take a nap when on break and in fact, the break room has foldable cots for nurses to lay on. This manager is obviously running her nurses, including you the NP, like a dictator. It's a pity that the other NP's do not feel like sticking together and backing you up just because the issue does not affect them personally. Is it worth your while to fight this manager on her authoritarian rule? or would it be better to just find a better position where your needs are addressed without having to defend youself.

core0 · Jan 24, 2010

Hi,
I've been an NP for almost 1 1/2 years now. I used to work per diem in the ED while I was working on my post-master's degree full-time. In the ED we worked 12 hr shifts and had an "on-call room" to relax/eat/sleep in if we had time. In the ED there was rarely a time we could go to sleep, but if we did have the time, it was actually encouraged. The on-call room was about 10 feet from the unit and we were always available by phone.
I just started a new job in a different city. All of my shifts are 12 hr nights and since the service is brand-new, we only have 5 patients max. Most of the nights are somewhat slow but steady, and there are the occassional really busy or really painfully slow nights. I asked my collaborating MD if there was a place I could sleep if it was slow and he said he would find a room. He mentioned it to the nurse manager who happens to be our administrative boss, and she said nurses are not allowed to sleep during their shift under any circumstance. I clarified directly with her that I am not acting as a bedside RN, rather I am an NP, who will be available by pager to admit pt's and cover issues through the night, and was still told it is not allowed. The 3 NP's I work with will not back me up on this. They work mostly days, plus they're brand new NP's so they might be busier at night than I am, but they say NP's should not be allowed to sleep.
I was just wondering what everyone's experience has been in terms of NP's sleeping while at work. I have spoken with almost a dozen NP friends so far who work 12 hour night shifts in different specialties across the country who are encouraged to sleep if they finish their work. I mean, PA's and MD's are allowed to sleep at night, even if they have not been on call for 24 hours, so why should NP's not get equal treatment?
What do you think?

I think that you have to look at the job description and what the duties are. At our institution we have two types of night time personnel. One is rotating or call nights. Typically there is a call room for these people and they can sleep during the night. The other is dedicated nights. This is a full time night shift. From HR the thinking is that since this is a full time night position and they are being paid for 36 hours per week then they cannot sleep during work. Its no different than someone on the day shift taking a nap during their paid time. In theory our night time people have administrative work to do if things are slow, but that hasn't happened in almost a year.

Our ICUs work essentially the same way. On the other hand when I work the ER I have an office and just have to be available (12 bed ER). Usually I hang out at the desk but the EM company doesn't care what I do with my time as long as I am available (MD sleeping in house if needed).

Finally if the PAs and MDs are in the same position and work for the same employer then you have an issue. Although I think that you have identified your real issue (who your administrative supervisor is).

David Carpenter, PA-C

akoster · Jan 27, 2010

I worked in a small rural ER and was the only coverage overnight into the next day and was treated like any other provider that worked there. I was able to sleep if able in a call room and there was even an apt attached to the hospital I could have used but the walk was alot futher if I had to get up. I would expect you would get treated the same as other with the same job you have. There was a agency nurse that came to float there occasionally that complained once to the nursing supervisor that I was sleeping at night and the nursing supervisor had to explain to her that I was a provider and that's what we do when we have no pts. :).

jlcole45 · Feb 1, 2010

As an NP you should be given similar privileges as the physician on duty. So is he or she allowed to nap? You are no longer a staff nurse and therefore you should not be treated like one.

NurseKJ · Feb 5, 2010

Why do you report to a nurse administrator and not the director of medicine. You have privileges to the hospital and practice under the medical director. So therefore, the medical director is your boss and not the nursing administration. Sounds like the nurse administrator is trying to assert dominance in a situation that is not her call. Does she tell you how to practice and what you can and can't do with patient care? I'm guessing the answer is no. So if the medical director is ok with napping, then it's not up to her. Again, it is up to your collaborating MD... Just my two cents.