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

[Plagueis]

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.

[teeniebert, LPN]

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?

Answer call lights, clean/disinfect wheelchairs and other equipment, answer call lights, make out new sheets for the vitals/I&O books, answer call lights, check inventory and make lists of what's needed from central supply, answer call lights...

[LisaJ_RN]

as long as bells are answered...etc...and they are clocked out....i dont see a problem

[Plagueis]

Answer call lights, clean/disinfect wheelchairs and other equipment, answer call lights, make out new sheets for the vitals/I&O books, answer call lights, check inventory and make lists of what's needed from central supply, answer call lights...

Well, the aides do answer call lights, but where I work, they don't ring as often as they do on the other shifts. Plus, we don't have a vitals books. There is a book for I & O's, but they are made out a month at a time. As far as inventory, the aides only keep track of briefs, and we are well-supplied with those.

The idea of disinfecting wheelchairs is a interesting one. The chairs do get washed weekly by housekeeping, so on that night, all of them are taken down to the main hallway. I have also noticed that it seems to be "acceptable" on other wings to allow aides to doze off. And where I work before, the supervisors saw aides sleeping, and nothing was done about it.

[silverbat]

I am an old night shift nurse. If I am sleepy, I get up. walk around, do extra rounds, drink coffee, etc. If it is my staff, they do the same thing until they are awake. If they are unable to stay awake, I walk them to the time clock and clock them OUT. I let the DON know, and then discipline occurs. I don't care if it is a CNA, laundry or a House supervisor, if I can't sleep, NO BODY sleeps!!! I have a dim view of that, as you can tell. That said, if the staff is ill, or on medication, they will not be treated as severely, but they will not be allowed to remain asleep and remain at work..

[debRN0417]

If they are not on the clock then they can sleep. I would not be responsible for finding them and waking them up. I worked night shift for years and there are times when you get so sleepy you can hardly stand it- even when I slept 6 or 7 hours that day! I got up, walked around, made rounds, cleaned, drank a cup of coffee or a coke, ate a snack, helped others...but there were not too many nights in all those years that I wasn't bustin butt....Now if they were sleeping on the clock- then that's a different story. First I would certainly help them to stay awake by giving them something to do- there is always something to do....if they continued to repeat the behavior even after I have made assigments and told them it is not acceptable- then I start counseling and writing....finding someone asleep when not clocked out (found a staff member asleep with pillow and blanket on sofa in day room not once, but twice) got them sent home (suspended) the first time and terminated if it happened again.

[Donnagg123]

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

Here Here! I work noc's and it seems like if I get 15 minutes to sit and do nothing I would consider myself lucky (same for the CNA's).

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

Thankfully we have management that is understanding to the needs of the employees. Working night shift is unnatural. Human beings are not supposed to sleep during the day and work at night. We are allowed to sleep on break, lunch. Nobody is obvious about it, going to the break room, or off the floor.

[deeswe]

A much as I understand the night shift is not the same as other shifts. I am reading the blogs on this subject and no mention of patients/residents in need of assistance and their assigned nurse is sleeping? We all have to adjust and take responsibility for what we agree to do for a paycheck. Staff who work the overnight shifts and has another job in the day is an accident waiting to happen and in most cases it is the patients who suffers and then the potential for a cover up comes into play (taking responsibility is always and issue) so as professionals we need to think before becoming a nurse. Rushing from a nursing overnight shift to another nursing assignment is not good and this type of trend needs to be addressed. We love our nurses ! don"t get me wrong.

[deeswe]

You are missing the point...Your assignment is to be awake and care for patients.We need to understand that what we do as nurses is a highly respected profession. You know how embarrassing it would for you to be standing in front of HR explaining that you were sleeping when an emergency took place....

[deeswe]

From what I am reading on this subject, I am thinking that the overnight shift is the shift to work and ("not a hat person") lets us know where you work because that's the place to be employed I cannot beleive some nurses are defending this crazy issue of SLEEPING ON THE JOB....in a few years from now rooms will be provided.....

[Anise1]

Maybe I have some kind of strange sleeping disorder, but I've always had a hard time understanding why anyone would even WANT to sleep on the night shift. I feel so alert and awake working nights, never tired, and I don't think I could sleep at work if I tried. (Now, getting up at 4 a.m. for the DAY shift felt horribly unnatural...) People who have a lot of trouble staying awake at night are probably the ones who are going to have the most health problems from that schedule anyway, so it could be a sign that y'all should change shifts ASAP!!

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

I used to work 7p to 7a in a LTC facility. I stayed busy all noc! If I felt droopy, I'd get a cup of java and make rounds. There is always SOMETHING to do at noc. I had lots of trouble with my CNA's and the other LPN sleeping. I reported it to my DON and nothing was done. Once I even took pictures! The DON told me she knew it was wrong but couldn't let them go because they didn't have anyone else to work the shift. Well, my career is much too valuable to me so I left and went back to hospice.