I tried out half of an evening shift yesterday. It really has worked out well only having to work days. Day shift has a lot more going on. The gigantic morning med pass, the doctor visits and appointments, activities in the facility, and family members visiting. But I also like the sense of feeling supported by all of the other people present in the building. On evening shift there is one less nurse aide and the management goes home.

There was an incident that required me to stay longer. The nurse coming on after me was relatively new and this was her first time working the summer wing. I am amazed at all of these PRN nurses who who’ve got thirty-something years of hospital experience and then retire to come work here. She was able to walk me through some of the charting, and I was able to tell her whose pills are crushed and whose are whole.

So I’m not sure yet if I liked it. The only way to get comfortable with more of these things is to do them, but I do not like the learning curves, coming away from a shift without feeling at peace, or dealing with the fears of having not done something right. I used to work evening shift all the time and do not remember feeling so nervous about being alone. The main thing I remember fearing was someone coming in with a gun.

*(backlog)