Night Nurse Hysteria

I really should get up.

The little red clock on the bedside table says 13.15

I have been in bed four hours fifteen minutes

A record for me after night shift

I feel as though I have been hit by a train.

Last  night was hard work.

The girl working alongside me had an incredibly busy patient

The whole unit was snowed under

So me and another colleague not only had to look after our own patients 

But had to chip in to support this nurse

teamwork is what gets you through

when everything goes tits up at 3 am in the morning.

The three of us, and our patients made it through the night

But by 8 am the hysteria was beginning to show

" Night nurse hysteria"is a well known phenomenon 

on busy shifts

It occurs when something that is only gently amusing takes on a huge significance

The resulting hysteria is often infectious and to

onlookers insanely perplexing.

Years ago , when my mother was admitted to hospital she recounted a cracking example of 

" night nurse hysteria"

Lying in bed at night she watched as the three ward staff raced around like

blue arsed flies without a break.

Finally at around 6 am, a knackered looking support worker

Dragged herself to the nursing station to where the two trained staff were gulping down

a cold cup of tea, their first one of the shift!

There she hissed in an exhausted stage whisper

" staff!...I've found another one dead!"

And promptly the three women burst into fits of uncontrollable giggles.

Exhaustion can play very cruel tricks on a person in the wee small hours!

Anyhow, Like I said, I really should get up.

It's now 13.40.

and I have to move the new chicks from their broody box.

somehow the dogs have found their way into the bedroom

( thanks chris)

They will need a walk before we all have to go around to Mrs Trellis' house

She has invited us round for a cup of tea.

And I still feel like a bag of shite.

Winnie, giving me the dead eye......