Silliest thing you ever did after a long shift...

[elizabells]

So my unit is way over census and understaffed. I've had an utterly ridiculous assignment the last few nights; you know, the kind of shift where when 0700 rolls around the fact that you and all your patients are still alive seems like a victory? Yesterday morning I arrived home just beat. My legs felt like the bones might shatter any minute, my lips were puffy (a weird thing that happens when I'm overtired), my hands were shaking and I just felt like hell. I went to brush my teeth, as you do, and after a few seconds I realized that something didn't taste right and my mouth felt really sticky. I looked down at my sink and discovered that I was not, in fact, brushing with toothpaste. Turns out that Crest Vivid White and Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Hand Ointment are packaged in tubes of almost the exact same size and shape. That'll learn me to keep them next to each other on the counter. :trout:

So dish: What's the silliest thing you've ever done after a wretched night at work?

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

I have turned left on red, took me about a mile to realize that wasn't the right thing to do.

Another time, I bought an MP3 player, then when I realized it wasn't compatible with my current computer, instead of returning the thing and getting one that was compatible, bought a new computer as well!!!

Luckily I have never been in any accidents... those stories are scary!!!

[bigsyis]

I literally fell asleep in the bathtub. It wasn't until I slid under the water and snorfled up a noseful of it that I realized I'd totally conked out in there.:imbar

Been there, done that, scared myself half to death! Snort, glub, gasp!

[bigsyis]

one of the girls who graduated in the class ahead of mine was killed in a single-car accident coming home after a wicked night. they weren't sure if her bs bottomed out (she was diabetic) or she simply fell asleep at the wheel. another nurse i worked with did 3-11 followed by 2 16 hour back-to-back shifts every weekend; she would then drive 4 hours home after getting off work on monday without any sleep. on the way home once, she awoke to find herself curled up in the floorboard of her car as it was hurling across the median. she crossed 4 lanes of highway and the median before coming to rest against the opposing lanes' guardrail. never rolled or hit anything else. god's hand was definitely on her that morning.

he obviously intended her for bigger and better things. i didn't wind up on the floor, but had worked 7-3 in the er, went home, took a nap, and from 1900-0630 worked as the night nurse at a camp for kids. i didn't sleep, and went from there back to the er for 7-3. at about 1000 census was low, and they offered to let someone go home. i jumped at the chance. i had 30 miles to go, most of it on an interstate. about halfway there, i suddenly awakened to the loud "rrrrr-rrrrr-rrrrr" noise your tires make as you cross the bumpy edge of the road before you hit the grass at the side of the road. i was in a sharp curve, headed toward a ditch and an overpass. i was only 36, but even when you are younger, your body can only take so much. i almost didn't make it to 37!:uhoh21:

like emmanuel said, be careful!

[nyapa, RN]

I looked down at my sink and discovered that I was not, in fact, brushing with toothpaste. Turns out that Crest Vivid White and Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Hand Ointment are packaged in tubes of almost the exact same size and shape.

Oh no...you poor thing!

I know after a bad shift I have come out in 'automatic pilot', got in my car, and driven somewhere totally different to where I intended to go...

Perhaps the most stupid thing I have ever done is offered to do another shift straight after because the ward is short of staff...

[nyapa, RN]

Addit: I didn't read the other posts until I'd finished my own. Just about everyone is talking about cars! How scary is that!!!

[bethin]

After 18 hours, half on med surg and half in ICU, I went home feeling like crap. N/V/D all day at work. I took 50 mg of phenergan and 2 tablets of vicodin. Went to sleep for an hour. Woke up still in alot of pain. I also thought that it was 6 hours later. So I take another 50mg of phenergan, and 2 tabs of vicodin. On top of that, since I thought I wasn't sleeping well I'd add 10mg of ambien. Went back to sleep for another hour. Woke up. Still in pain, now with a headache. Grab benedryl and another ambien and 2 tabs of vicodin. I just wanted to sleep!

I slept for a very long time. I woke up the following day, confused. I call my mom at work and ask her what day it is, and why is it so sunny out in the middle of winter? Mom calls the ambulance, rushes home. I'm confused. I think it's Feburary when it's June. I freak out because I think I have to work and I missed my shift. Finally, I came to the conclusion I took 2 ambien, benedryl, 6 vicodin, and 4 phenergan in the span of 2 hours. EMS takes all the pill bottles with them, they're worried about my bp, sky high. 231/125 on a 24 yo. Given lots of fluids and dr's orders to never ever work more than 12 hours again and the dr did give the note to the supervisor. I was so mentally tired. I'm amazed that I did not cause any damage to my liver. My poor mom thought I was having a stroke - she said my words weren't clear, like I'd been drinking, and she said a jackrabbit couldn't follow my train of thought.

Apparently, I took much more benadryl and vicodin than I thought - I was missing a total of ten vicodin and the prescription was filled that day. I was soooooo incredibly desperate for some sleep.

[hikernurse]

I am new to nights doing 12's which turn out to 13-14 becuase understaffing. On my 4th night in a row, I came home and fell asleep against the steering wheel. I was mortified when someone woke me up to make sure I was alive. I am still embarassed but I bet my neighbors thought I was partying all night. Ugh, if they only knew..........lol

BTDT, more than once, unfortunately. I can make it home, but it's too much effort to make it to the door. Just a *little* nap .

Once when I was getting out of report late, I heard my name over the overhead speaker asking me to call Security. DH had called the unit clerk who looked at the board and seeing only day shift's names up there said that I had already left. DH, afraid I had gotten into an accident on the way home, called Security to make sure my car was still at work. It was (since I was, LOL). I felt a little silly having Security trying to find me (although they never did get around to checking the unit where I actually worked ). DH knows I'm a girl who likes to get her sleep :).

[rnang123]

I came home after a 13 hour shift with no break, looked at my dog and thought he sounded like he was having expiratory wheezes and that I needed to check his pulse ox. After he rolled over to lay on his side, and saw he was sound asleep...I snapped out of it...and fell fast asleep when I went to bed =)

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I went through Hardee's to get something to eat after a long night. Paid for it, got my change and drove off with no food. Luckily i realized before i got out of the parking lot and went back around,, i dont do anything but go straight home now.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Many times I have gone to put the milk in the pantry and the cereal in the fridge.

A coworker of mine wrecked her car and is very lucky to be alive after being asleep for 20 miles and plowing into 15 mailboxes or something like that.

I agree with all above - please let's be careful when we drive.

[Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN]

I wish I could count how many times I have fallen asleep on the toilet. I only wake up because my butt starts hurting. I have fallen asleep in the car in the driveway. Once DH woke up saw the van in the driveway and I was fast asleep on the floorboard using a spare tire for a pillow.

[Duflinkka]

I started looking for my keys once after I started the car... so they were in the ignition.

Also, if I stop at Wal Mart I will wander for hours, randomly purchasing things I never use. For example: hideous clothing, ugly purses, backpacks (3 this year), school supplies, food items that look good at the time but are never eaten...