The Norwalk Hour

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- Jeanne Phillips Write to Dear Abby at P.O. Box 96440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 or dearabby.com

Dear Abby: I have been a nurse for 10 years and love taking care of my patients. I have worked at a midsize hospital for 2 1/2 years.

Since I started working here, we have been assigned six or seven patients at a time, although I was told when I was hired they were going to hire enough nurses to have a 4-to-1 ratio. It not only hasn’t happened, but the administra­tion keeps piling on paperwork for the nurses.

I have anxiety, and this is about to cause me to break. I love my job. I just wish they would be more considerat­e.

Should I say something to my charge nurse? I’m afraid if I do, I’ll be pushed out of this job. Adding to my anxiety is that my daughter now works at the same facility, and I’m afraid they will punish her.

Anxious R.N. Iin Alabama

Dear Anxious R.N.: Because you feel the stress is becoming too much, I do think you should address it with your charge nurse. It’s the truth.

When you speak up, do not couch it in terms of the fact that your employers haven’t followed through on their promises. Do it strictly in terms of the effect it is having on you. I doubt you will be fired, because experience­d nurses are in such high demand.

Dear Abby: New neighbors moved into my apartment building about a month ago. I don’t mind that sometimes I hear their kids. I don’t mind that sometimes I hear the adults. BUT! Their alarm clock wakes me up every morning at 6 a.m. It’s loud, and I’m guessing it’s up against the adjoining wall.

Normally, I sleep until 8. I work from home, and I’m usually up until 1 a.m. or so. I’m a night owl, and I simply can’t go to sleep any earlier.

It’s impossible to sleep through their alarm. It has been weeks. I am afraid if I complain they will call me a racist since I am white, and they are black. But it’s NOT a race thing; it’s a SLEEP thing. What should I do?

Sleepless in Baltimore

Dear Sleepless: Write a polite note to the new neighbors and introduce yourself. Explain the problem you are experienci­ng and ask if they can help you by either moving their alarm clock to a different part of their bedroom or adjusting the ring to make it softer. (It could be as simple as placing their clock on a soft surface like a towel.)

If they are unwilling to cooperate, as a last resort try earplugs and talk to the building manager about the noise problem.

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