> First priority, make sure you don't die. Sleep and recovery are down the list a bit.

But lack of sleep can impair immunity and disturb blood pressure and heart rhythm. Keeping someone with major trauma under stress (like being constantly awake) can make them more likely to die.

Everything in medicine is a tradeoff

We never once saw a doctor. It was all nurses, mandatory education, paperwork, blood tests, vital checks, moving rooms, etc. At one point we were trying to sleep and a breastfeeding assistant stopped by. Super helpful that they can stop by, but jeez just coordinate for a 4 hour block where we're not disturbed.