Would you call in because you didn't get any sleep?

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UPDATE: Changes: New Log In Requirement

  1. Would you call in sick because you didn't get any sleep?

    • 106
      Never, I'd go on in
    • 252
      Might or might not
    • 148
      Probably would
    • 231
      I have before and would again. Too risky not to.

250 members have participated

I was trying to sleep the other day and somebody rang my doorbell at 1130 just as I was gettting there :angryfire. Made me so mad I couldn't go back to sleep for a L O N G time. I called in sick because I wouldn't go to work on no sleep. Turns out I finally DID go to sleep so I called back & said I'd come in if they needed me.

So I got curious: Have you called in sick (or would you) because you hadn't gotten any sleep (after trying, of course) by the time you're required to call in for your shift?

Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.

A few days ago I came to work sick and very tired because my absence points are creeping up. I couldn't think straight. I was scaring the poo out of myself. I'd stare at a H&P paper and not comprehend a word. I had to write down EVERYTHING because my short term memory was shot. After a rest with my feet up and a big bowl of instant oatmeal, things got somewhat better, but...... NEVER AGAIN. :nono::uhoh21::down::angryfire:o:uhoh3::trout:

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I worked nights for many years and have called in when I didn't sleep. It is difficult enough working 12 hour shifts with sleep, I don't want to risk making a critical mistake, that could seriously injure or kill my patient.

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i sure would, as there is always the danger of making mistakes if i didn't get any sleep.

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.Wuld you call in sick because you did not get any sleep.

No i would not; that kind of behaviour is not ethical; and this goes for any profession or non professional employment.One should show more value for ones work.

I do not want to hurt anyone but what i have found today, that many young people of today do not regard their work and this says quite a lot for this "system" in which we are caught up in.

One could make up through break time; but of course donot make it a habit. :welcome:

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Med-Surg/ED.

In a word: NO. (of course it depends on how many days I'd gone w/out sleep. Just sleeping lousy or not being able to sleep just one day, no)

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.Wuld you call in sick because you did not get any sleep.

No i would not; that kind of behaviour is not ethical; and this goes for any profession or non professional employment.One should show more value for ones work.

I do not want to hurt anyone but what i have found today, that many young people of today do not regard their work and this says quite a lot for this "system" in which we are caught up in.

One could make up through break time; but of course donot make it a habit. :welcome:

I would disagree with that completely.

Police officers say, that someone who is driving exhausted, that their reactions are no different that someone who is a drunk driver. Their reaction times are slow, their cognitive functioning is "off", etc.

Now, with that said, how would you feel about an exhausted nurse showing up to work?

I don't think anyone is talking about a habit, but I have family members that has had to call in for the night shift, when there is road construction near their house that didn't allow them to sleep, had to go get their child sick at school during the day, etc.

It isn't just young people....the older you are, the more difficult it is to sleep during the night, much less during the day.

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I have called in before due to lack of sleep/enhaustion when I was having trouble at home because of the divorce and stess.

It did not work out because my boss then called me at home and told me to come in late....so I slept until 7:30 or 8 PM and then came in at 10 PM. I really was not needed anyway, but at least I did not get an occurence from this!

If you have not slept to what your body needs to function, then you are not safe to drive OR administer meds that can be dangerous without critical thinking. That is the bottom line. You do what you have to do to protect yourself as a nurse as well as the patients you care for.

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Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.
No i would not; that kind of behaviour is not ethical; and this goes for any profession or non professional employment.One should show more value for ones work.

When human lives depend on our decisions, we must value accuracy and competency, and safety of our patients. How ethical is it to be exhausted and go to your job knowing you are many times more likely to make a possibly critical error?

I do not want to hurt anyone but what i have found today, that many young people of today do not regard their work and this says quite a lot for this "system" in which we are caught up in.

A bit of a generalization

One could make up through break time; but of course donot make it a habit.

Many nurses do not get breaks, some facilities do not allow sleeping on break, or it's just not possible for whatever reason.

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When human lives depend on our decisions, we must value accuracy and competency, and safety of our patients. How ethical is it to be exhausted and go to your job knowing you are many times more likely to make a possibly critical error?

I completely agree with this statement - being exhausted due to lack of sleep is not safe for either the patient or yourself. You have to be responsible and judicious with calling in, but that's what those sick days are there for!

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Specializes in CTICU, Interventional Cardiology, CCU.

last week i worked 5 out of 7 days 12 hour night shifts which ended up being 13-14 hours...I work nights..that last night i tried to call in cause I was physically EXHAUSTED..the Staffing office said due to inclimate weather you have to have a dr.'s note..I looked out side and said what inclimate weather it is 60 degrees out side and sunny..i bit my tongue and went in that night with 2.5 hours of sleep...was over run with pt's and wanted to DIE, with only 5 min. to inhale my dinner from the vending machine..but I made it through only when I got home I slept for about 16 hours cause I knew I had off for 5 days...

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Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

If I work nocs I am only able to sleep about 4 hrs straight then that's it because for me when I'm up, I'm up! I am not a napper so if I'm up at 0600 and have to work that noc I'm usually up for 24hrs. It's hard to function on 4hrs of sleep for me but that's the best I usually get so I deal w/ it. Our w/e are Fri-Sun and I'm usually completely exhausted by Sun. Sometimes I get less than 4hrs if my dogs start barking or if my kids are out of school for the w/e. I have never called in r/t not getting enough sleep and I guess it never occured to me to call in for that reason alone.

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Specializes in Psychiatric, MICA.
last week i worked 5 out of 7 days 12 hour night shifts which ended up being 13-14 hours...I work nights..that last night i tried to call in cause I was physically EXHAUSTED..the Staffing office said due to inclimate weather you have to have a dr.'s note..I looked out side and said what inclimate weather it is 60 degrees out side and sunny..i bit my tongue and went in that night with 2.5 hours of sleep...was over run with pt's and wanted to DIE, with only 5 min. to inhale my dinner from the vending machine..but I made it through only when I got home I slept for about 16 hours cause I knew I had off for 5 days...

I assume you did no harm or you would have mentioned it. I'm not sure I could have been as safe were I in your shoes!

D

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