What to do with CNAs that sleep during the night shift?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I'm a newer LPN who was recently switched to the 11 to 7 shift. The last time I worked, a couple of the CNAs fell asleep around the nurses' station. They told me that they don't do it on purpose, but that it's hard to stay awake on a shift where there is more down time than other shifts.

Now I know how hard it is to stay awake overnight, but I don't think it's ok for staff to sleep while on duty. I've seen other CNAs bring in books, knitting, or puzzles to do in order to keep themselves busy so that they stay up. However, I was told by other midnight nurses that, technically, staff shouldn't be bringing in books, etc., to keep themselves busy because the staff shouldn't be "distracted" by these activities when they are supposed to be watching for call lights, changing residents, or whatever. Plus, I'm told that even on their 30-minute break, they can't go somewhere to sleep. (But they can leave the facility.) So what do you nurses do about this? What is your facility's policy about sleeping and bringing in things to keep staff awake? Sending the aid home? Suspension? Thanks in advance.

Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Before I make it a management problem, I have to assess the situation. Is this something he/she does all the time? Yes or No? If not, then what is going on in his or her life to account for the sudden change?

Does she feel comfortable speaking with me? If not, let her/him know that it would be a good idea to speak with someone higher up. Sometimes the CNAS are overwhelmed with life, and that spills over into their job. It's very, very difficult to find good people, and when you do, you do not want to overreach and knee-jerk react with a complaint.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.
its just not cnas failing asleep its the nurse on duty and supervisors too. so come on dont just point fingers at cnas! no matter what title you are people do get tired

No where in the OPs post did she say all CNAs and ONLY CNAs fall asleep. HER particular problem IS with the CNAs at her job.

Not sure why you felt offended by this.:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

If its a normal occurance, I would bring it to their attention. Suggest they maybe bring a book or something to read/study. Is it affecting the job? Are they ignoring call bells to sleep?

Since it seems that you already have talked to them, I would bring it to managements attention if its interfering with the job and they seem unwilling to change.

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I see no reason why someone shouldn't be allowed to bring in something to keep them occupied that is quiet. Where I used to work there was a lot of downtime - most nights. Unfortunately after you stock and clean up there is not much else to do. You can't go into residents rooms and tidy up in the dark.

There will always be those that nod off. My issue is with those that come in assuming that they will be sleeping most of the shift. Night shift is not for those that want to get more hours out of the day.

I have allowed the CNAs to take turns taking a break in the lounge to get a few zzz's. As long as their work was done and lights were answered.

I agree that you need to assess if this happens everynight. Maybe find out why they are so tired and offer some suggestions. If that doesn't help, then it is time to notify management.

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Specializes in orthopedics, trauma/ acute surgical.

I haven't had a regular CNA in my unit for a long time, so I usually get one that is floated to us. A lot of times, I've had CNAs that fall asleep during the shift and when they wake up is just to tell me that they are going to break/lunch. Our shift is exactly 8 hrs (2300 to 0700) so there is no lunch time, just two 15 min breaks; however, it is so funny to hear them say that they get one in other units (sometimes they even tell me that is a 60 min lunch + two 15 min breaks). The best way that I have solved this issue is by telling them at the beginning of the shift that the moment any RN sees them with their eyes closed, I'll write the time next to them and it will automatically count as their break. If you say that loud in front of the other nurses, the NAs will not have any excuses. It's worked most of the time for me.

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I want to know where you work that you can sleep on NOCs! We always have something that needs to be done.

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Specializes in MSP, Informatics.
I want to know where you work that you can sleep on NOCs! We always have something that needs to be done.

I agree. There are policies to read, QA to be done, care plans to update, outdated stock to be checked. Rooms to be re-stocked. I worked nights for about 12 years.... yea, the hospital has a policy that you can't read non-hospital related material while on duty, but at night we did read books. No sleeping--break or no break.

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Specializes in orthopedics, trauma/ acute surgical.

I have worked in the private sector all of my life prior to working for a County facility, and I would get fired if I ever did half of what a lot of my co-workers get away with. Sadly, the ones that abuse the system are the ones that have been there for a long time and know a lot of supervisors who let them get away with it. On top of it, they always say that they will call their union representative to complain about not getting their breaks. Guess what, some of those representatives tend to behave the same way and management doesn't want to get involved with it. I took pictures of some NAs sleeping to show it as proof, instead I was reprimanded for "violating their rights".

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

At my job, nighttime aides can sleep on their breaks.

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At my job, nighttime aides can sleep on their breaks.

At one facility the nurses allowed the assistants to combine their two breaks and lunch break to one hour long break to sleep. They would split up and take turns, the offgoing assistants would get the ones who were finishing their breaks and everyone made sure the privilege wasn't abused by people "forgetting" to come back on time (with one notable exception). This plan worked well.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.

My staff get a 30 minute break off the clock where if they want to sleep they can. THeir two 15 minute breaks are on the clock... no sleeping. Breaks are not combined. Sleeping while on the clock? Automatic termination and i will report to the nursing board or CNA registry. I have plenty of things that the night shift are assigned to do and they do not have all the downtime that others seem to.

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Thanks to everyone who responded. I personally don't have a problem with aides who bring in books or something else that will help them to stay awake. I did it when I was a CNA and I worked on the overnight shift. It was hard to sit down with nothing (in between changes) and not stay awake. However, I used to get upset when I did overnight shifts as a double, and I was often the only CNA who stayed awake around the nurses station, while the other CNAs who worked the 11 to 7 as a routine shift dozed off. :mad:

The last shift I worked this wasn't an issue, as we had a few residents who decided to jump out of bed quite a number of times, which kept us busy during the shift. At my facility, the CNAs do brief changes and pass out water on the 11 to 7 shift, so there is some down time, which can lead to sleeping. What do the CNAs at other facilities do during the 11 to 7 shift in addition to those duties?

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