Screaming patients that sound like cats

BIG NEWS...I finished writing my comp exam! It only took me about 16 pages in before I started to wonder, "Geez, I might not be able to write 20 pages... this is taking forever!"...then I realized I was writing it in 11 point font. The paper is supposed to be 12 point font. You'd think it doesn't make that big of a difference, but it does. My paper magically became 19 pages and I still had 2 sections to go. But I'm done and now I just need to get it proof read and I will have a semi-life again.

Work is going well- I am totally getting the hang of it and getting into a rhythm in my shift. It takes a lot to get me flustered now which is nice since the slightest hiccup would practically send me into tears in the beginning. I'm starting to realize that I'm not a night person. As much as I try to get into it, I just always feel tired and not myself. As soon as I can switch to a normal shift (i.e. waking hours) I am done with staying up all night. Save that for when we have babies and I am required to wake at odd hours.

So, the other night I came to work and went about my normal routine: put my stuff away in my locker, get out my supplies, and checked my patient assignment. As I was looking up my patients, I heard this weird shreaking sound. It honestly sounded like an animal. Another nurse came in and asked if there was a cat on the unit. No, it was a patient. To be more specific, it was the roommate of my patient (who was only slightly less insane). Between the Screamer and the other patient who would cuss you out if you tried to change his dirty diaper, it was an interesting night.

A few things I've learned from working on the night shift:

1) If a patient has any tendencies towards dementia it will come out at night!

2) Keep crazy patients asleep at all costs! (Just make sure they are still breathing)

3) Always be on guard- you don't want to get punched/kicked/strangled by a patient and it happens more than you think!