Going to the dark side

So, as I round out week one working nights here are my random thoughts on the whole thing.
First off, I am getting my ass kicked. I am having a bitch of a time figuring out how and when to sleep and live a life. Tricky balance, let me tell ya.

Of course, AFTER I brag to my pops about how this is a cakewalk shift in that all I have to do is make sure people are still breathing and sleeping I walk into this shift to learn I have 3 geri patients and a CIWA. Twiggy Fuck could never get his tiny little brain about why I love my geriatric patients. There is a sense of humility when you have to wipe an elder's ass. Now up the ante to include not only a mental illness but dementia too and it's probably the sadest state of humanity one can experience.

So, while my peer sits a one to one, I am left to work the floor making sure each of my geri patients is repositioned in bed every two hours to make sure they don't get bed sores and change their briefs. Wanna see a woman get really pissed? Call them a diaper around me. Let's just take away every last ounce of dignity from these people shall we?

Now for the CIWA. As a former research assistant formally trained in giving neurometrics I love that this instrument is used. The problem is that I'm not an RN so I don't get to administer it. My only contribution is taking vitals every two to three hours as the dotor has written the order. Why does this suck? Do you really think in nursing school they teach you how to use this instrument? Oh, no. That's on the job training. At least I know when I get there I will have one up on my peers if I opt to work in a detox unit.

Three hours into the shift I'm being asked by my peer who is sitting the one to one to bring him apple juice. I whisper yell down the hallway "What the fuck do I look like? A fucking waitress? I expect a fucking tip for this!" He laughs and I fetch the apple juice. This is after I bring down his food that he ordered with a plate, fork and napkin. Then I offered my hand sanitizer that I carry in my pocket and advice him it might be wise to wash his hands before he ate.

Meds and working nights has been a trick. I know I'll figure out how to do this, but right now it's a real challenge. Not to mention that I'm just getting over being sick and I don't want to start on a manic episode. I think of my friend and how much working nights jeopardized her homeostasis. I think I'll get there. My concern is taking my doses too close together or not at all. I like taking the Cymbalta at night on the nights I work. I think the Lamictal will work best if giving mid day, and then on my days off administer Cymbalta at the same time. The Neurontin, the Klonopin and the birth control pill can be taken at the same time regardless of work. I also take a multivitiam and some times an allergy pill. Lately I've been holding it though because of the progression of my head cold. Okay, I know I've bored you enough with my thinking "out loud" , but if anyone has any opinion otherwise please chime in.

The other down side of working nights is all the cool people are gone. Night Mar, Sorority Sister, Wise beyond her years, and now SSRT. Tonight is her last night and our first night working together offically. I'm happy that she's moved on and well maybe I can follow in their foot steps of getting the hell out of 7 west. If only one of them had left me a map.....