Which shift would you choose?

Remember that someone must work the 6pm - 6 am or the 11 pm - 11am shift. Working nights always made me ill. I'm a "need for sunshine" person. I know there are people who can work nights without issues. But I could not.

I worked 12 hr shifts in my 30's. Then after 40, I worked in nursing areas where I didn't need to work 12 hrs unless I was on call. Now that I'm 60, give me the 8 hours and less than 40 hours a week and no floor nursing. I'm just getting tired of nursing. I used to be able to handle the patients and families with their needs. 

Last year when I was hit by a car as a pedestrian, the first 48 hours were difficult. Due to the injuries, I had issues with urination. I know it made the work of the nurse difficult. I had one nurse I knew was close to my age and she was not my favorite nurse. It is sad that we old nurses get cranky and set in our ways. I was hoping never to become that kind of nurse. Unfortunately, due to the work nurses deal with each day, we do develop a type of PTSD.

I want you to know that there is no support or understanding given by your peers because an empty bucket cannot fill another empty bucket.

Nurses need a type of self-care or employee support. Yes, there is EAP (Employee Assistance Program), but 6 sessions to debrief with a counselor is a laugh. And when in crisis, and it is in crisis that a nurse will reach out to use EAP, there doesn't seem to be a simple path to access the offered help.

My suggestion is that a nurse plans for the day they crack. If that day doesn't come, then fine. But at least you can be a support to the nurse working alongside of you for when they crack.