ZZZZ's - Time to be honest!

[abbaking]

Have you ever fallen asleep at work or dozed off (even briefly)?

Yes - once i feel asleep in the staff bathroom - head resting on the wall, I was out for 10 minutes.

A few times I dozed off (microsleep) for a few seconds while giving report - the useless info (i.e.- Nursing dignosis/interventions).

[JenniferSews]

I have never. But I worked with a nurse who would fall asleep repeatedly while charting. I observed her several times nodding off and then jerking awake. By looking at her charting you could tell. The handwritten notes had those trailing lines of a pen in a sleeping hand. I recognized it from nursing school. She was fired of course.

[loriangel14, RN]

Actually if I am working night shift I always sleep on my break.We all do on nights, just find an empty bed and crash.Once when I was really not feeling well I napped ina lounge instead of taking my lunch break.

[NotFlo]

Yes, I have dozed for a couple seconds while taping report. It's just finally sitting alone in a room repeating a lot of repetitive info. on 20 patients and the fatigue finally catches up with me. I always just rewind to the point I dozed and pick it up where I left off.

I work days by the way, which makes it especially pathetic that I get so tired!

[Orange Tree]

Never. I can't even imagine. The stress of worrying about my people and everything that needs to be done keeps me wide awake if nothing else does.

[blueindigo79]

yup! when working nights i would always get sleepy around 3-4am. i would put my head down in the nurses station and rest for 15-20 minutes. everyone was cool with it and some people would take a quick snooze during their breaks

[LouisVRN, RN]

Nope, never. I know some people who fall asleep charting and you'll here the bing bing bing bing when the key they fell asleep pressing reaches the end of the line.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Not while on duty. When I worked nights, I would take my lunch break and close my eyes. Never slept, because I was afraid I would go to sleep.

We recently had an ICU nurse fall asleep. Thank goodness the pt was almost a step down. Never saw that nurse again.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Never. I can't imagine. That's what caffeine is for.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

When I worked nights, I'd usually get sleepy about 3 or 4 in the morning. That's when I stocked my cart, did bed checks, got a cup of joe, walked around outside the bldg for a few minutes.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I believe the ones who have slept on a job would never post it here, so I will be honest. Four years ago I was working a sitter case 7p-7a, room dark, patient asleep, I closed my eyes( eyes were dry and I was sleeping) for about 2 minutes. Someone walked in, as the nurse walked in I immediately opened my eyes, long story short was sent home 3 in the morning and asked not to return. I know I wasn't sleeping because if I was I would have not been arousable as I'm a very deep sleeper. I honestly just wanted to rest my eyes for a couple min. From that day on I haven't worked as a sitter for 7p-7a, with stable patients it is difficult not to be tempted, I rather not risk it Thankfully I was only a sitter back then.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

Working in activities, in LTC, was rocking our pediatric patient. He fell asleep and I kept feeling my head do the bob thing.