Last night I was worried about my night shift, I always get nervous beforehand especially if I haven’t been in the saddle for a while. I do bank night shifts as a nurse on hospital wards but have also been doing clinic days for over a year now and have an interview on Friday for a part time job in clinic. The last night I did on a ward was the 7th January.
Before heading in I silently called to my spirit guides, asking for a nice, quiet and easy shift. Then I asked for some specific things explaining I was nervous and needed assistance to stay calm.
On the ward we had extra staff which is unheard of and not one was taken away plus I was not moved to cover a contingency ward like usual – a very good start.
I was allocated 6 patients – normally as bank I am given one of the acute bays in that ward anyway so less patients then the main sides of the ward.
I found out 2 of my patients were confused and one was physically abusive, having swung punches at 2 members of staff. And both patients had created havoc all day before I took over.
I was given one of the more senior hca’s to be one of the 1:1’s and later was given another for the other patient.
So did my usual routine and we all got on with doing what we needed to.
The aggressive patient turned out to be extremely calm and polite, even if he did have delirium and ended up sleeping all night waking up only occasionally.
The other one settled to sleep after an emema.
Only a third one was restless on and off but all in all a settled bay.
I had also asked my guides to allow the charge nurse to remain on the ward most of the night and if he did have to go to a&e with the stroke bleep to do it when it was quiet and not busy.
The charge nurse was in a&e at the start of the shift for a couple of hours but remained on the ward the rest of the night.
It was one of the best shifts we had in a long time, my hca said the best he has had in a year I believe.
I was so grateful to my guides that I was given everything I asked for and more.
Very happy and thankful indeed x