MY MOST CHALLENGING SHIFT

Nurses play one of the most vital   roles in delivery of care within the healthcare industry ,caring for people when they are at most vulnerable and offering support are some of  the fundamental tenants of  of nursing.

Night shift are horrible, but I prefer it to Day duty because I love to have my days to myself.

I was on my Second in a row and I was tired- the sort of tired where your eyes feel hot and sunken and blinking takes three to four seconds, and you never knew a reflex could be so tortuous.

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On that day , I took over ten patients, six were critical, I mean four of them on non rebreathable mask and two in NIV Helmet Ventilation but oxygen saturation was less than 60% on oxygen 15L/minutes and 45L/min respectively at that moment. I knew am in for a sleepless night.

I was monitoring vital signs every quarter hourly and also answering & calling Covering Nursing Office about state of patients and need for more oxygen cylinders, Oxygen buzzler and Alarm were the only Music tune I could here after every few hours. 

Funnily enough there was also a bird that was producing a similar tone to that if Oxygen Alarm, so I had to go and check the percentage of oxygen available in the cylinders. 😂😂

My attention was drawn to one of the patient at around 1am, On getting to the him, he was already gasping, SPO2 has dropped to less down 50%....then 30%. We immediately informed the Physician , all emergency medication including CPR despite not recommended in Covid set up prove abortive. I lost my patients 😭😭

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As if that was not enough, my attention was drawn to another patient that was panting for air. I couldn't save this other patient too
I lost 2 of my patients on that dreadful night😭I was so confused and helpless.
I didn't start writing report until around 7am when I am supposed to be handing over the shift. I was tired and exhausted. And I ended up closing that shift at 1Oam.
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That day I learnt that, no matter all we do to save a patient life. What will be will surely be and that God has the final say, He alone can give and take life...

Then I look at one of the bereaved son and this quote by Arthur Golden  flash my mind-

"Grief is a most peculiar thing; we're so helpless in the face of it. It's like a window that will simply open of its own accord. The room grow cold but we can do nothing but shiver. But it open a little less each time, and a little less; and one day we wonder what has become if it"

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What really helped me that night was  staying positive through out the shift and this helped a lot in achieving greater job satisfaction even though I end up losing patients , I know I have try my best.

#TheCovidNurse #TheNurse