How to tell you've worked too many shifts in a row

You've worked too many shifts in a row if ;
1. When you finally get home, you check pulses, respirs, and BP on your sleeping spouse.
2. You decide to sleep in the waiting room because you're unsafe to drive.

When I got in my car to drive home - my feet hurt so bad I could hardley press the gas.

Way too funny. My favorite was a co-worker falling asleep on the toilet. Woke up with elbow dents on her knees and a BIG circle on her...well let's just say gave new meaning to circling the drain.

Nerd, I can't tell you the number of times I've read posts from you and thought "She SO should come to work on my floor!" You'd fit in great with our fun-loving, wacky team.

I recently worked four in a row, starting off with a 16 hour shift which actually turned into a nightmare of a 18 hour long shift. By the time I left on that last morning, the day charge nurse told me that I was no longer allowed to survive on coffee and chocolate alone, b/c she was afraid the patients would think I was on crack. I was bouncing around like a hyperactive gerbil who drank a six pack of Red Bull. The worst part was I was so hyped up that I couldn't fall asleep until about 1400 once I got home!

Ok tonight I have cried and now I am laughing so hard I am crying....who told you all that my eyes swell shut, and my nose swells and reddens....Here I was going in for a family portrait tomorrow now... with a hippo face. LOLOL I love every one of your posts Thank-you all. Just kidding about the portrait though.

Hmmmm more than once when I have worked too many in a row ...I get to work and realise my pants are inside out, of course not before I am on the floor and try to put something in my pocket.


TuTonka

OK now you have me LOL. What was it you were trying to put in your pocket?

You know you worked too many shifts

• when you think about taking a short nap at the 8-minute redlight on the way home.
• When you take off your shoes and steam comes out.
• When you have to peeeeeeeeel your socks off.
• When your DH makes coffee and you wish he could make it like the hospital's coffee.
• When you start to think that the hospital's food is really pretty good, all things considered.

You know you've worked too many shifts when...
1. You come home and tell your husband "You can give me report on the kids whenever you're ready"
2. You want to take some Tylenol for your pounding headache but feel the need to check the MAR and make sure you have an order for it first
3. You fall asleep after working noc shift and are awakened by the beeping of a truck backing up and your first thought is "What now? Which alarm is that?"
4. You have a BM and you think to yourself "I'll have to remember to chart that"