As a nurse we are required to be "on call" a certain amount of times throughout each schedule. I have developed a love/hate relationship with this particular part of my job.
I hate it because you can't really make plans for the 12 hour span that you are on call and if it is night call you may or may not get sleep. I love it because I get paid at time and a half and they have a rule that when you come in regardless of how long you are there (20 min or 4 hours) you automatically get paid for 4 hours worth of time.
I have been picking up extra call lately to get some extra moola but unfortunately it is usually the night call (7pm-7am) because I am low man on the totem pole. I am trying to decide though if the extra money is worth the sometimes sleepless nights. As you can see from the time on this post I am wide awake and blogging. We are in between patients and it is such a game. They may tell you it will be an hour and it could turn into 3 or they could be done in half an hour so... to sleep or not to sleep that is the question? We have the option to lie down in between patients if we so desire but as you can see from above I never know what to do - if I knew for sure it would be 3 hours I would be all over it, but then to just lay down and and be awakened after only just falling asleep since the patient was ready quicker really doesn't agree with my body. So.... instead as you can see I mindlessly post unimportant stuff on my blog that most of you probably won't bother to read to try and stay awake. Call - I love it but I hate it too!
6 comments:
3:35 AM??? You are just a crazy woman. I could see how you would love and hate being on call. The money sounds great and who needs sleep?!? We used to pull all nighters all of the time and now you get paid for it. ha ha Just throw in a double feature with some of the other "on callers" :) Love you guys. What are your Thanksgiving plans?
I say sleep! Maybe they won't wake you up! You're a better woman than I am.
I don't know how you nurses do it. All I know is that if I had the sleep schedule that you had, my immune system would be shot! Hence the reason why I could never make it in the medical field. :)
Not to shabby of an idea Nat, I just might try that!! Oh wait we don't have a tv. (Lightbulb) but I have a portable dvd player he he I knew there was a reason they made those!
I don't know how you do it I would be a mess with sleepless nights.My sis is a cna and works 7-7 and goes to school it kills her but, You dod what you have to do huh!!
Ah the joys of call, and the crazy shifts! When I'm on call I never sleep well, and I typically don't get many calls. Thankgoodness! I cannot do the crazy shifts, I'm just glad there are 8-5 jobs in nursing!
Love ya
Jana
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