Sleeping on night shift in LTC

bluegeegoo2, LPN · Sep 20, 2013

For me, if it wasn't a pattern with this person then I wouldn't report. I would just remind them that we have residents to see to etc. However, if there was a pattern with this person being found asleep then yes, I would report it.

Blackcat99 · Sep 20, 2013

Yes the first times I noticed it I thought well maybe she worked a double shift and was exhausted. The other times I thought well maybe she is just not feeling well tonight. However, I now realize that this is not just a "once in awhile situation" but rather "a way of life" for this staff member. When I ask other staff about this person sleeping, they just laugh it off as though it is no big deal.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Sep 20, 2013

If it isn't directly affecting you or patients I'd mind own, but that's just me.

allnurses Guide · Sep 21, 2013

It depends on just how often per shift this person lays her head down on the table.

Like someone said, if it's an ongoing, continuous, persistent pattern, it probably should

be reported because it DOES affect resident care.

If it's just like, once a shift or so that you are noticing this... maybe he/she's on

their break? Still a no-no probably, but I wouldn't report it.

amoLucia · Sep 21, 2013

I have a personal problem with staff who sleep while on the job. I'm sure it's a major disciplinary faux pas in your employee handbook. And in some places, it is immediate termination. The ethics of BEING PAID WHILE SLEEPING when the employee should be working smacks of fraud & theft to me. Not to mention the liability if something goes wrong. And a terrible imposition on the other staff.

As you've seen, reporting this behavior is difficult. The sleeper will prob say - "I'm really awake, just resting my eyes". How can you actually tell the difference? It's a case of 'you said, he/she said'. Maybe just using your cell phone/camera may be enough of a deterrent to the sleeper to stop. But I would be ever so fearful that that would prob result in some type of retaliation.

What is the title of the sleeper - nurse or side (not that that difference should really matter, but it does)?

I am sympathetic when staff have outstanding family issues that I know about, but sleeping is still not acceptable. And then there are the employees who work a previous shift somewhere else, but again, sleeping is not a remedy.

There are just so many shades of grey in this issue to me. I admit it that I could have handled many situations better. As supervisor, I do wake staff up and I will counsel them. That usually has worked well for me fortunately. And I just keep after it. I will not tolerate staff 'nesting' or spreading out. And I monitor time off the unit.

It's just so difficult when 11-7 is such a deterrent to our biological timeclocks.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Sep 21, 2013

If she is on her lunch break and her residents are covered, she should be able to nap. She is NOT being paid for that half-hour, so she should be able to do whatever she wants (within legal limits and facility policy, of course).

Check your facility's P & P manual if you're curious as to whether it's OK to nap on breaks. Obviously, if she's neglecting her residents or sleeping past the end of her breaks/lunch, she needs to be brought to the attention of her supervisor, who can help her sort out what's wrong and what can be done to keep her awake at night. There could be any one or a combination of things going on that's making her sleep-deprived; that's why it's so important to turf this issue to someone up the line and not contribute to gossip. After all, no one really knows why this employee is having trouble staying awake, and it's not really anyone's business. JMHO.

loriangel14, RN · Sep 21, 2013

It would depend if she was on her break or not.I work in a hospital and night shift people usually nap during their break, on a stretcher or an empty bed.

Blackcat99 · Sep 21, 2013

The sleeper is the LPN charge nurse.

LaRN · Sep 22, 2013

I've noticed in many of your posts that you seem to be very concerned with the performance and discipline of your coworkers. and why are you discussing this issue with other employees ? you must not have enough to do at work

Blackcat99 · Sep 22, 2013

I think it is inappropriate for anyone especially "the charge nurse" to be sleeping at night. The fact is that some staff choose to run their tails off all shift to help their residents. Other staff choose to do the very minimum just barely enough so they don't get fired. I have plenty to do at work as I choose to run my tail off all shift. Call me old fashioned, but I think everyone should actually be working when they are getting paid to work.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 22, 2013

I think it is inappropriate for anyone especially "the charge nurse" to be sleeping at night. The fact is that some staff choose to run their tails off all shift to help their residents. Other staff choose to do the very minimum just barely enough so they don't get fired. I have plenty to do at work as I choose to run my tail off all shift. Call me old fashioned but I think everyone should actually be working when they are getting paid to work.[/quote']
It's not old fashioned...it IS the right thing to do; so is getting your required 30 minute break.
But I digress, have you asked the coworker directly what's going on???
My take is, I wouldn't go and ask another person if someone is sleeping, IMHO; that smacks as a recipe for trouble; go to the source: tap her and if your coworker states they are on their lunch break, then they are entitled to do what they are fit usually; it's unpaid time...the rub is, are you going to ask her to go off the floor to take this "break" and risk not possibly finding her, or let her sleep her 30 minute break?
When I worked night shift, some shifts I ran until shift report, some went without incident.
And while one works and one may be "at the desk" it doesn't necessarily mean one is "not doing their job"...I'm a nurse with pretty good time management; most night shifts I worked, I had a good amount of down time by 1:30 am; most of the shift tasks were done by then, and hourly rounding, or if people were on checks; that is what I performed for the rest of the shift. I'm sure co-workers suspected me in not doing my work, when that was farther from the truth; on the other hand I was always available for an extra set of hands when needed for grateful co-workers.