sleeping staff

passing thru · Jan 24, 2003

Reading all these posts, I can't help but make a comparison of nurses to doctors. Doctors make all kinds of mistakes. What happens to doctors stays between doctors...I hear them all the time on the phone to each other. ........ They do not "report" each other to administration or the AMA. It is a "gentlemen's agreement." Nurses......"No gentlemen or gentlewomen here..." we report each other with gusto.

BritishStudent · Jan 25, 2003

I would never sleep on a night shift, the moment I'm asleep Im gone, dead to the world... for at least 8 hours...

Stargazer · Jan 25, 2003

Originally posted by passing thru
Reading all these posts, I can't help but make a comparison of nurses to doctors. Doctors make all kinds of mistakes. What happens to doctors stays between doctors...I hear them all the time on the phone to each other. ........ They do not "report" each other to administration or the AMA. It is a "gentlemen's agreement." Nurses......"No gentlemen or gentlewomen here..." we report each other with gusto.

For petty crap, I agree with you. But I don't consider this petty. Just because some docs are unethical and cover for each other's unprofessional behavior, we should too? Sorry, I don't find that a very compelling argument.

Buddha · Jan 30, 2003

I agree to the no-flash camera. Take a picture and make a copy and lay it on their nurses station when no one looking. I bet they stay awake than wondering who noticed their sleeping. Although it would probably last a week with those nurses.

catrn10 · Feb 1, 2003

I have worked nights for the past twelve years and never went to sleep while at work. I do remember having to fight hard to stay awake very early in my career. This was because my darling husband woke me everyday at 12 noon, screaming "what are you doing, sleeping all day?" I finally asked him what planet he had come from, I was working 12hour night shifts and I needed to sleep sometime. His Reply? "Well, you get to sleep all night at work!" I worked in CCU. I went to work that night , called him at MN, 0100,0200,0300,0400,&0500. Asked him to come eat lunch with me (he declined), and things like "What're you doing?" At the 0500 call, he got the message, never woke me again. Since then, I don't even get sleepy at work.

ohioln, RN · Feb 26, 2003

I've worked at several places where people have been sleeping on night shift, they were covered with blankets and sound asleep. One place the supervisor slept for about 4 hrs every night. She told us to wake her if we needed her. I wish people would get enough sleep at home and stay awake at work. One place I worked, I was told that the DON came in one night and caught people sleeping. She suspended them for a week.

ChainedChaosRN · Feb 26, 2003

I'm a DON in a LTC facility. I went in one night and found 5 people sleeping including the supervisor. I fired all 5. The patients are paying people to take care of them...and there is always plenty to do. Unless sleeping is listed in the job description (what's the chances?), I see it as stealing and unethical, and those nurses are in the wrong profession.

I love the crap people can come up with as to why they think sleeping is ok while you are being paid to work.

Sleepyeyes · Feb 26, 2003

then there's always this possibility:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31927

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Feb 26, 2003

When I worked in CCU, nights 12 hr shifts, we saved up all our break time and took a nap one at a time. It was the kind of sleep a new mom does with a baby, sleep with your ears awake. If you heard that crash cart move you were on your feet pronto. Personally if I were the patient I would rather have a nurse that took a nap if she were too tired to give competent patient care. All the patients were cared for, no one got hurt etc. All of this was OK with the hospital administration (back when it was run by nuns) and when we got "civilians" to run the show this practice was terminated.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Feb 26, 2003

that burns me up too...staff sleeping on duty. it's not enough for them to sleep on their breaks...but must they also sleep while on watch? i say take pics & mail them anonymously to the front office. then you'll see just how many will have to change their habit. make sure that you get pics of everyone who engage in this...it might take you a couple of nights...but it would be worth it in the end for your patients' sake.

cheers!

moe

JMP · Feb 26, 2003

People who work in my ICU sometimes sleep on their breaks....but never when on duty.

To me, if you know something is happening that impacts pts safety and wellbeing and YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT..... YOU ARE AS GUILTY AS THE PEOPLE DOING IT.

My first course of action would be to confront the people or person and say, "look I came in and everyone was asleep, I feel it is wrong and here is the reason why......... if you continue to do it.....I will report you".

If it continues, report it. You have to. It is your responsiblity.

JMP · Feb 26, 2003

I know it won't be easy, but it will be right to confront them.

I have done it, not over sleeping, but over another issue that I felt comprimised pt safety and wellbeing.

However, I gave the person the chance to change their ways..first.