Like a broken record

Not too delighted on picking up my next set of off-duty to find that I am practically nocturnal for the foreseeable future. Returning to the ward this week (following our trip to Cornwall) right up until my next week off in May I am working predominantly nights. In fact I only have six days shifts in the coming six weeks and the rest are nights; I don’t know if this is typical of everyone, but it’s certainly a growing concern for me.

I didn’t sign-up to be a night nurse; although I always understood that nights, week-end and working over bank-holidays was unavoidable (simply The Job) I didn’t expect my shift pattern to be so one dimensional. At no point during the last nineteen years has my working life ever been so night heavy.

For many years the hospital employed night staff who simply only worked nights, for many it suited their family commitments and childcare needs. A few remain, but overall all staff are expected to cover all shifts irrespective of commitments (family or otherwise).

There was a feeling that you could perhaps hide away on nights, get away with it slightly. It was certainly easy to not take on as many responsibilities, consequently have less questions asked about your practice and performance. For a long time there were significantly less demands placed on staff and services during the hours of darkness, but now things are more equal. It’s generally as busy on a night as it is during the day.

I feel I am heading towards an inevitable conversation with the powers that be about the legitimacy and fairness of my current shift pattern (… who know doubt will completely lack sympathy)

I do get the feeling that because I don’t moan or make a fuss (hard to believe after reading all this I accept) it’s often a case of “Give ‘em to old reliable Rupe’s!” and most of the time this is fine. I just don’t like the undercurrent of feelings of being taken advantage-of or underestimated.

Well, I’ve almost survived this run and no doubt things will look a lot rosier in the morning when I tuck myself in at HH for a sleep?