Thank goodness for my laptop!

liveyourlife747 · Jan 9, 2009

Im thankful for my laptop too! I am normally working night shift and the clients usually sleep through the night. I spend a lot of time on this site when I'm bored, but I'll also flip through magazines, watch tv, clean, organize supplies, etc.

ArwenEvenstar · Jan 16, 2009

My patient does not sleep a lot, but is neurologically devastated. There is only about 15 minutes of work (at most) every hour. Lots of free time for the nurse to get bored! Thankfully, I only work a 5 hour shift. I think i would go bonkers if it was much longer. I do a lot of reading - always have a couple books with me. I love to read for pleasure! Plus I am a graduate student ....so I get lots of school reading done as well. But for your situation, reading might just make you more sleepy!

Do you have any hobbies you could work on? Simpler crafty type things would probably be easy to work on. I've taken simple craft projects to work before. Doing something like this might help keep you awake. How about getting personal tasks done - make your grocery list, write out bills/budget, clean out your purse, etc. I get little things done like this too.......

Lorie P. · Jan 16, 2009

i read, look at magazines, play on my laptop. all kinds of things, but even after awhile these can get old.

oh well, better than being at the hospital on a med'surg floor with 6-9 pts that don"t sleep!

i just remind myself of this and usually it does wonders for my boredome!:chuckle

Itshamrtym · Jan 18, 2009

i read, look at magazines, play on my laptop. all kinds of things, but even after awhile these can get old.
oh well, better than being at the hospital on a med'surg floor with 6-9 pts that don"t sleep!
i just remind myself of this and usually it does wonders for my boredome!:chuckle

i know what you mean..... we wouldn't have any down time if at the hospital.. and way more stress!!!!! i worked nights when i was doing my lpn-rn... it was great. i do the other activities that other have listed as well... but, darn it.... i don't have a laptop!!! i also work prn in the or (used to be full-time/part-time). good skills to have, but it is driving me crazy. rush, rush and rush some more... makes you feel like a rat... see how fast you can get things done.

caliotter3 · Feb 7, 2009

My laptop has become my night shift friend since I got it. I also take it when I work days or evenings. I have used it to look things up for my clients. Can come in very handy for all sorts of reasons.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

I work alot of midnight-8:00am shifts. My pt sleeps through the night, I check on him, give him his G tube meds and feeds, but otherwise, there's not much to do. I catch up on my reading, work on my RN-BSN homework, and try to keep my charting caught up. I have brought my laptop, but I didn't have internet (although I could probably ask the family for their code.).

liveyourlife747 · Feb 21, 2009

There is always an air-card! I got it through my cell phone company and I can get online anywhere that I have cell service. It's great! And I'm able to take online classes while I am at work, so the price that I pay for it (which is a pretty penny I have to say) is worth it because I can make money, do schoolwork, and save money, gas, and time on going to class

Neveranurseagain, RN · Feb 23, 2009

I know what you mean..... We wouldn't have any down time if at the hospital.. and WAY more stress!!!!! I worked nights when I was doing my LPN-RN... It was great. I do the other activities that other have listed as well... But, darn it.... I don't have a laptop!!! I also work PRN in the OR (used to be full-time/part-time). Good skills to have, but it is driving me crazy. Rush, rush and rush some more... Makes you feel like a rat... See how fast you can get things done.

I just bought a refurbished 2 1/2 year old Dell laptop that I love for less than $375 delivered. It sold for $2000 2 1/2 yrs ago. Just remember the home has to wireless internet or you have to get an Wireless Aircard.

jayne109, RN · Mar 31, 2009

Today was my first Private duty shift (started at 0530) and I was greatful for my laptop because not only did I play when she slept, I was able to stream music on it and she was quieter when the music was on than when it was off!

WI_home_RN · Nov 11, 2010

I thought this was a good post to revive I have two cases....my adult male vent case well he only sleeps during day shift and is awake all night long. That calls for an extremely looong day shift since he sleeps the whole time. Thank goodness for laptops and all the other things you can get done (bills, bookwork, crafts, etc). My peds case they obviously sleep at nite but my nites there seem to go by quickly as i keep busy doing the same sorts of things with my laptop, bills, bookwork, reading, etc. I do watch some TV but infomercials get old after awhile! Thank goodness for Discovery Health being on the air all nite. What will I do when it become's Oprah's channel?

So, when do your patients sleep and what do you do?

systoly · Nov 13, 2010

There is always an air-card! I got it through my cell phone company and I can get online anywhere that I have cell service. It's great! And I'm able to take online classes while I am at work, so the price that I pay for it (which is a pretty penny I have to say) is worth it because I can make money, do schoolwork, and save money, gas, and time on going to class

Mine is about $60/month (had it for 3 years now), but speed and reliability are phenomenal. Well worth the $.