Flip Flop

And so it begins...Working as a nurse has many challenges. Most are positive in nature and a few are, well, difficult

What I am referring to is the Flip Flop that is night shift. Working overnight isn't really a big deal in the hospital setting. You walk in and you work no different than any other time of the day. The crew on night shift always seems to be a little different...Again in a positive way. There is a sense of calm and silence in the hospital on night shift. That I can assure you is the same in any hospital I have ever worked at. Unless you have worked a night shift or two it may be difficult to understand. Think about it though...There are no administrative people, not too many visitors, everyone else is or should be sleeping...It is nice.

The hard part is trying to figure out your sleep schedule. You get off bright and early in the morning (most people are waking up and heading to work) and you go home to the bright sunshine of the day. Sometimes sleep is so needed you crash and Ah, the sense of rest...Sadly most of the time your brain tricks you and thinks that it is time to start your day. So then becomes the flip flop wonder. Do I stay up late? Sleep in? Get up early? Take a nap? Who knows. It is difficult but then there are the few people that never flip back. They simply always maintained the night shift hours.

I have never found what works best for me. Usually my contracts are short enough that by the time I figure it out and get into my own rhythm the contract has come to a close.

So tonight it my first night shift in awhile. I stayed up later than normal last night and got up early. I am hoping to take a nap in a few hours and power through the shift....Oh how I wish coffee worked.