I survived!! And I didn't stick to my plan of doing nothing but the phone. Because the place was a tip and also, if I'd have stayed sat down the whole time I would have died from boredom! It was actually crazy to start off with. I started just before 8 to help out and we didn't get rid of the last clients until 2am!! We all pitched in with in patients and the private vet team went to bed at some time around 3am. So, it was just me!!
I had my tea at around 1am I think. literally inhaled it and burnt my tongue
Honestly, I don't know how the night team do this stuff day in, day out and not die from stress. I always stand up for them when people are slagging them off and always had respect for them. But, having worked a whole night with them I have realised that they are absolute bloody heroes! Honestly, what an incredible job they do in some pretty awful conditions.
The current issue with them is a severe staff shortage and also their management not taking any notice of what's going on. We were very lucky last night and had a vet student and a 2nd nurse to help until midnight. But usually all they have is one vet and one nurse to provide emergency care for both charity hospitals as well as private clients from their member practices. So, they're basically doing 3 people's job each. It's insane!!
Anyway, work politics aside, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I think it being busy helped because I honestly didn't realise the time lol. It wasn't mental, crying in a corner busy, but bloody busy enough. About an hours waiting time to be seen. Loads of actual emergencies and not the usual emergency fleas or nail clip
I did have a nightmare client who got the RSPCA involved, so I'm waiting for that to come back and get me. I tried my best though and put on my super customer service hat, but there's only so much you can do isn't there?
My phone eventually stopped ringing just before 2am I think. And I didn't get another call till after 7am. In the quiet times when everyone was in bed I kept thinking "If that rings now I might actually sh*t myself"
I tell you what, I did some serious, serious body magic last night!! I spread out a lot of my jobs over the time the others were in bed. I did have some reading and relaxing time, but as soon as I felt my eyes closing I got up to do stuff. Will try and remember everything I did....
General tidying and cleaning of consult, prep, theatres, kennels, kitchen, and staff room
Packaging and sterilising surgical instruments
Topping up the consumables drawers
Putting together suture needle packs
Endless, endless amounts of washing - beds, blankets, towels, surgical drapes, etc.... I put the last wash on at 7:30am. There wasn't any time when there wasn't a washing machine or drier going!
Putting dry washing away - sounds easy, but they're all kept in cupboards above the kennels like 6ft+ off the floor. So a lot of stretching!! I'm far too short for that building...
Checking the animals and changing beds/cleaning kennels/taking them to the yard/giving cuddles
I'm a big believer in the TLC part of animal nursing!!
Setting up and settling in Jeff Seagull - yeah, I named him
Sorted out some bodies
Emptied/changed a LOT of bins.
Brushed and mopped the main consult rooms
Brushed and mopped the whole waiting room - picking up all the junk our horrible clients leave behind!! What is wrong with people?!!
That'll do. it was hard! I got very sweaty. But, decent body magic indeed. Would have loved to know what sort of calories I'd burned or steps walked, you know?!
I ate most of my food. But did not cave in to any sort of temptation and didn't let it ruin my SW run!
I stopped at the chemist on the way home but it's not open till 9!! So came home, fed the dogs, nipped back round to the chemist, sat with the dogs for a bit, and then headed to bed at 9:30. Took me aaaaages to get to sleep! And I set my alarm for 1:30 so I wouldn't sleep all day and I really wanted to be with the dogs. I woke up a lot as well tho
So maybe got 3hrs!
I can't have the stand down I'm owed for last night in one go because we're so short staffed. So I'm off today, but back in tomorrow. Have been given Friday off tho, which is good coz me, Mum, and Rachelle have plans for the day. I was on an early, so due to finish at 12, but this will be nice
Anyway, will shut up now and just add my food on.
Thanks for reading, if you managed to get thru all that lol!! xx