Night Shifts

Its 3am, the hardest hour on the night shift. I'm on my second night of four and I'm more than halfway through :) The night shift is from 9:30pm to 7:30am. Not too bad, but it is a challenge to stay energized and from falling asleep when being the only nurse on the ward.

Last night, there was only 7 patients. However, there was also about another 20 people on the ward which we are calling the Bed&Breakfast patients. They are members of the Hope Center who are being housed here for now until their surgeries take place. Because the seven who are patients are the only ones that require nursing care, only one nurse is needed and its my turn! Last night was very hard. I slept in yesterday morning and then took a 3 hour nap during the day thinking that may be enough to get me through the night. There is only so much you can do before getting bored and the patients on the ward are very stable and don't need much care during the night. I did have a day volunteer, Harry, with me, and he gave me a Krio lesson which lasted about an hour. I read some of a book. I'm reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan, an amazing book about the love of God. I then read some of my Bible. I checked my email. Harry and I talked about lots of stuff. He shared with me how this experience working with Mercy Ships has changed his life and has been unlike any other experience he has had. He loves being a part of something so wonderful and loves seeing the impact that is occuring in the lives of his people. We did a word search, looked at pictures on his cell phone. Anything to stay awake. By 3am, I was so tired. My eyes just wanted to shut and I was so hungry. I never realized how much staying up affects ones body. God bless all those that normally work night shift! By the time 5am came around I got a second wind, did all my vitals, finished charting and prepared to meet the day shift, which was also just one nurse who came in at 7am.

I slept until about 3pm today, and then woke up to meet me two new roommates and then go to dinner. I just hung out until it was time to go into work.
Tonight is much better. I have ten patients. I am by myself again and Harry is my day volunteer. I have a bit of a challenge tonight in that 6 of my 10 patients are children. I don't have any pediatric experience, and two of them have malaria. In addition, another one spiked a fever. Each child is an interesting case.

• One is a long term patient who had a burn contracture to her axilla and arm after burns to one side of her body. Her donor graft site became infected and she has been with us for a long time while that heals. She is 5 years old and doesn't really require much care at night.
• My second child is a 7 year old boy who had a colostomy reversal done. He's progressing very well and is such a joy. He loves to pray with us at change of shift and is always giving hugs.
• The third child was post op today after having an iridectomy done after some trauma to his eye. A piece of metal had gotten caught in his eye and caused damage to his cornea and iris. He is 6 years old.
• The last three children are all infants. One is an underweight 20 month old with bilateral cataracts, who is preop for surgery tomorrow. The child was also diagnosed with malaria today after spiking fevers.
• The next is another 20 month old infant with bilateral cataracts who also is preop for surgery tomorrow. The child spiked a fever tonight so I don't know what the plan will be in the morning. I did a quick malaria test which was negative. The child does have an upper respiratory infection which could be causing the fever.
• The last child is another 20 month old infant who has webbed hands and feet. The child was also diagnosed with malaria today and was started on treatment and is going to the OR on Friday Lord's willing for surgery to his hand and feet.

In addition to the children, I have four adults who are self sufficient and don't require much during the night. I need to make it to 5am to get over this hump. I am very grateful for a better night. I think I'm just getting used to the night routine. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Leaning on Him for the strength to make it through each night.

During the down time each night shift, I have really gotten to spend some time meditating on how good God is and how much He loves us. This may sound cliche; however, this book Crazy Love has helped me see God in a different way. I was challenged by the irony the author states "God doesn't need us but still wants us; we desparately need God but don't really want Him most of the time." Why is this? I pray I can get to the place where all I love the Lord with ALL my heart, mind and soul.

That's all for tonight. I'm trying to make some plans for my one day off this week, Friday. I'll be sleeping the whole first half but want to do something in the night. There is a Jesus Film showing out in the community that night. So I may do that or I was invited by a day volunteer to his church for a worship service. It is at the church I first went to, Word of Life. I may do that instead. I don't know right now. I'm also hoping to go back to the Hope Center tomorrow after I wake up. Some who went today said that Simeon was asking for me, and that Umaar and his family are leaving in the morning. I am sad that I will miss them, but I'm very happy that he is now well enough to go home.

Please continue to pray for the patients and for Umaar as he goes home; and for our surgeons as they do many surgeries each day.