Reply to Are night nurses supposed to sleep on the job?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Before I read this I wondered why in the world anyone would need or want a night nurse. Now that I know they are sleeping on the job I wonder even more. Those first few sleepless months with my baby were so wonderful for bonding. I cant imagine if my memories instead were of pouring money down the drain so a stranger could sleep in my baby's room. [/quote]

Because most families have the night nurse do laundry, wash bottles, prepare food, etc while the baby sleeps.  However OP wants the night nurse to sit in a dark room and watch the baby sleep all night.  I have never heard of anyone hiring a night nurse to do that.  I used to work the night shift as an RN and if I had been told to go sit in a dark room during my entire shift and watch someone sleep, I would probably dose off too.  It just isn't realistic to expect someone to sit for 8-12 hrs in the dark and watch a baby sleep.  [/quote]

Really? If I had someone in my house moving around and doing chores all night it would keep me awake. I figured night nurses were hired to do night feedings, changes, deal with baby if they cry but I assumed they would sleep when baby slept.

I don't really get why it is any better to pay someone to watch TV or to read than it is to pay someone to sleep. Reading and watching TV don't help baby or family in any way either - I'd rather the night nurse slept so they are better rested to deal with the baby.

As long as you are clear up front you can hire someone for whatever you want. You can hire your night nurse and tell her she has to stand on one foot and hum the national anthem all night. However you need to be clear when you are hiring someone what you expect, and if you are asking for something a bit ridiculous like sit in a dark room and stare at the baby for 12 hours - you are going to have to pay more.

Working nights is not the same as working days. I worked nights for 5 years. I love night shifts but your body is still designed to sleep when it is dark and at night and to be awake during the day. Especially around 2-3-4 am your body wants to shut down and sleep. Few people sleep on days as well as they sleep on nights as you don't have the luxury of darkness, quiet or the rest of the work sleeping too. And again you are going against your body's natural rhythm.

What is the point of her staying awake to read or do puzzles? I can see if you hired her and said you want baby related tasks done all night and you are fine with her moving around, making noise and turning lights on so she can do those things - then she should do those things. [/quote]

Because you want them alert so they can listen for the baby. A non-parent probably isn't as likely to wake up if sleeping when the baby does. [/quote]

A night nurse is very likely very tuned to wake up to the cry of a baby. That is what they do. And no one is saying here that the she didn't wake up when the baby cried or didn't take care of the baby. Having someone sit awake all night in case your child wakes up is pretty much the epitome of entitled and rich. [/quote]

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