Nurse Falls Asleep Driving After 3 Night Shifts—Deadly Crash Leads to Homicide Charge
Kayla Proctor, a 24-year-old nurse at Northside Forsyth Hospital in Georgia, was driving home after working three night shifts in a row—each lasting around 12.5 hours. On her way home, she fell asleep at the wheel and was involved in a crash that killed a 72-year-old Jean Holbrook.
According to news reports, Proctor told deputies she was coming off her third consecutive night shift when she fell asleep at the wheel. She was arrested, and the investigation is ongoing. “Her shift was approximately twelve and a half hours long, and this was her third night shift in a row,” police say.
Now, Proctor is being charged with homicide by vehicle in the second degree.
What Shift Worker Fatigue Really Means
Studies show that staying awake for 17 to 19 hours can affect your body the same way alcohol does. It’s like driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.05%. That’s not just tired—that’s dangerous.
Night shifts are especially tough. Your body naturally wants to sleep at night, so fighting that cycle over several days in a row puts even more strain on brain function, mood, and decision-making.
Nurse Working Conditions And Fatigue
Hospitals and clinics are stretched thin. Nurses are being asked to cover more shifts and longer hours to keep up with patient care demands.
The American Nurses Association has safety recommendations specifically addressing nurse fatigue. The problem? These aren’t always followed. Many facilities run on short staff and tight schedules, which makes it hard for nurses to say no—even when they’re running on empty.
Final Thoughts
This tragedy is a reminder that how we schedule nurses matters—not just inside the hospital, but outside it, too.
🤔Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below.
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