sleeping staff

[night owl]

It's incredible! just went down stairs to use their xerox machine and everyone of their staff members is sound asleep, all wrapped up in blankets and "Mouth Wide Open." They just don't care about why they are here. Should something happen....................I pity them! I'm sure they'd cover it all up somehow. I am so glad I don't work with that crew... This is on a nightly basis! You'd think someone would want to be alert and functioning. Snoozing is one thing, but not everyone at the same time...

"Hello?," the clue phone...it's for you!"

[SisterMaryClarence]

Evidence-based guidelines from the Royal College of Physicians UK say it is essential that junior doctors working night shifts take naps of between 20 and 45 minutes to remain vigilant and alert. However, there is no similar guidance for nurses. Sleep breaks for nurses depend on the policies of individual hospitals and a nurse caught sleeping could face disciplinary action if sleep breaks are against hospital policy. The role of the nurse is equally critical to that of the doctor, yet most trusts don't allow nurses to sleep on breaks. If doctors are allowed to sleep, why aren't nurses?

Lets be clear here, night nurses are not kipping at the desk in employers time but during their UNPAID break in their own time & they are entitled to do so. Of course if leave wards so short staffed or with minimal staffing levels that it is expected that a nurse be 'on call' during their UNPAID break that is a separate issue. A Canadian study of 13 critical care nurses found that those deprived of a nap during night shifts experienced nausea, irritability and severe fatigue. Some 'enlightened ' employers have decided that power naps for night workers enhance performance and encourage the same.

[Leelee2]

i am so glad i am not a patient in your hospital....sleeping on the job, no matter what time, what shift, is unacceptable.