sleeping staff

sbic56, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2003

Damn, fergus. You said a mouthful. And I totally agree.

fergus51 · Apr 8, 2003

LOL!!! I always have a mouthful to say (it comes with being terribly opinionated on almost everything;))

sbic56, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2003

Originally posted by fergus51
LOL!!! I always have a mouthful to say (it comes with being terribly opinionated on almost everything;))

Darn good quality in a person.

Dplear · Apr 8, 2003

sbic56.....

You know I disagree with your political ideas but we sure are on the same wave length on this topic....fergus...we agree on a lot of things also...glad to see great minds like ours think alike in a lot of things....

Dave

sbic56, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2003

Dplear

I may be a leftie, but I'm no fool! (Please, no one take that too personally!) Sleep deprivation never did anybody any good.

rebelwaclause, ASN, RN · Apr 8, 2003

This is interesting. Is it more of a "I don't do it so you shouldn't either?" issue?

What's the difference if someone goes to the other side of the building to smoke a cigarette for a half hour? They are just as much outta sight-outta mind as someone in a close by breakroom grabbing a nap. The only difference, is I'd go get the sleeping person. I ain't running across the hospital to get the smoker employee.

I work at a facility where nurses do sleep while they are on their break. I thought it wasn't a big deal, since breaks are essentially your break from working, and to be taken away from the work area.

BUT, I can see that this could be a problem if people don't return on time from their breaks or if it causes problems with patient care. It makes a big difference if there is teamwork all the way around, and no one is taking advantage of the situation.

rebelwaclause, ASN, RN · Apr 8, 2003

Originally posted by fergus51
I wish I knew sbic56! There seems to be this attitude among nurses that we should suck up any crappy working conditions (including lack of breaks and crazy ratios) and that those who do are better nurses. Self sacrifice seems to be glorified in the field and just seems ridiculous to me. The "professionals" (doctors, lawyers and such) are not frowned upon for wanting good conditions, but among nurses it's somehow bad to have anything good at work (like your own break time).

^5...(again).... Fergus51!

Disablednurse · Apr 8, 2003

Ok, my problem was based on the premise that you got a 30 minute unpaid meal break and two fifteen minute paid breaks. It is in our hand book that the fifteen minute breaks are being paid and that if you are needed in an emergency then you come back to the floor. You also cannot take the two fifteen minute breaks together. Therefore, you had 30 minutes off the clock, working an eight hour shift. You gave meds from 5:30 until 7 am. You make rounds every two hours. Now why would you need to sleep to make it thru 8 hours?

sbic56, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2003

Disablednurse

I am thinking of 12 hour shifts, but the same still applies, really. Seeing that we are professionals and capable of making responsible decisions, I think that handbook should be considered a guidebook. If the acuity of the unit allows and enough coverage exists, I still don't have a problem with taking that catnap. For some, even that half hour can be refreshing. I am not into ridgidity and adhereing to rules just for the sake of them being on the books.

fergus51 · Apr 8, 2003

ARGH, it's started on another thread and I keep letting myself get baited into responding!

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34481

NursieRN · Apr 8, 2003

I really think it depends on your facility's policy. Where I work

sleeping is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Good_Queen_Bess · Apr 10, 2003

Originally posted by Disablednurse
I am sorry, but this sleeping on the job is a bunch of horse hocky. It does not matter whether you are on your break or not, you are a professional and should act like one. I have been in nursing for 26 years and have never in all of those years gone to sleep while at work. I have been called back to work at 11 pm after working all day to cover the night shift and did not fall asleep. When you take the night shift job, you are given a list of your job duties and sleeping is not on it.

Good for you! But the rest of us aren't robots. You don't like having a sleep break - fine. I do. Well, if that makes me "unprofessional", well then 90% of the people replying on this post are also "unprofessional". Or is that 90% of us are human?