Well, another weekend of work is almost officially in the books.

Saturday was a 12-hour shift. Today? Sixteen hours, broken up into an 8-hour day shift followed by an overnight.

Oof.

I’m tired just typing that.

The Weekend Plot Twist: The Sleeping Aide 👀

Apparently, the office has been looking into an aide who has allegedly been sleeping during her overnight shifts.

And let me tell you, the amount of plotting and planning that goes into catching someone sleeping on the job is something else. 😂

Listen, I understand overnights are exhausting. I’m currently living proof that staying awake when your body is begging you to close your eyes is no easy task.

But if you’re scheduled to work overnight, wouldn’t you try to adjust your sleep schedule accordingly? At least, that’s what I would think.

What makes the situation even more concerning is that there have apparently been ongoing issues with this particular aide, including complaints from some of our residents.

And when residents with dementia are consistently expressing concerns about someone, I think that’s worth paying attention to.

Yes, short-term memory can be affected by dementia, and every resident is different. But we shouldn’t automatically dismiss what someone is telling us just because they have a dementia diagnosis.

Sometimes they remember more than people give them credit for.

And that’s something worth listening to.

Birthday Dinner Over Sleep. Because Mom Life. ❤️

Yesterday, we celebrated the now 19-year-old!

Instead of going home and getting some much-needed sleep, I sacrificed my precious resting hours to take her out to dinner.

Because birthdays matter, and apparently so does being a functioning human being after working all weekend. 😂

I did manage to squeeze in a little rest before coming back in for the overnight, but let’s be realistic.

By 7 AM, I’ll have been awake for close to 24 hours.

Caffeine is currently my best friend, my coworker, and possibly my healthcare proxy.

The Finish Line Is Almost Here

After this shift, I have FIVE DAYS OFF.

Five.

Whole.

Days.

Working doubles and overnights doesn’t necessarily bother me. I like getting my hours in and having those stretches of time off. But let’s not pretend it doesn’t take a toll.

I’m pretty sure one of those five days will be spent doing absolutely nothing but sleeping.

And honestly? I have no problem with that.

Sometimes self-care looks like a face mask and a bubble bath.

Sometimes it looks like not moving from your bed for an entire day.

I’ll let you guess which one I’m choosing. 😂

5 AM: The Final Countdown

It’s now 5 AM.

Med pass and final rounds are still waiting for me, so hopefully I can get everything wrapped up without any last-minute surprises.

We’ve had one resident who was literally awake for most of the night. After assessing the situation, I became concerned about a possible UTI, so we addressed the discomfort and followed up appropriately.

Another reminder that sometimes what looks like restlessness or a behavior issue can have an underlying medical cause.

Dementia care isn’t always just redirection and reassurance. Sometimes you have to stop and ask yourself, What else could be going on here?

And that is where the nursing brain has to kick in.

Healthcare Gods, I Owe You One 🙏

Overall, this has actually been a smooth overnight, and I am NOT complaining.

I legitimately prayed to the healthcare gods for an easy night, and so far, they’ve been pretty generous.

I’m not saying QUIET.

I’m not jinxing anything.

I’m just saying I’m grateful.

Now, let me finish this med pass, get through final rounds, give report, and make it to 7 AM.

Five days off are calling my name.

And I plan on answering.

Scrubs and Side Eyes
Just trying to keep it together one shift at a time. ❤️

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