ZZZZ's - Time to be honest!

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).
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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Of course! When I worked nights, we usually combined our breaks and took a snooze.Some facilities encourage a nap as it is proven to increase performance.We ARE human after all.