I wrote “Night Shift” as a result of working many nights as an RN.
The poem was published in my book “Poetic Expressions in Nursing…Sharing the Caring” in 1991.
Dedicated to Night Shift Nurses: Past, Present, Future!.
Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN Photo by Sylvia Moore Photography, 2013
Night Shift
by
Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN
Night Shift…
So dear to me
Despite
Its circadian disruption.
The nocturnal rhythms
sublime,
So inviting, so relaxing…
Making rounds, with flashlight in hand
and night vision intuition,
The serenity envelops me…
Side rails up, call bells within reach
Bedsides tidy
Breathing in sequence…
Snores and noises
(unspeakable during prime time)
status quo during night shift…
Gentle and peaceful,
Those who by day
lurk and cry and pester
And now are compliant!
And yearn for peace as well…
Alas,
Time to review and verify
and stuff and thin the charts,
Time to read the Progress Notes!
Finally a time to put it all together
Like spies looking for the clues of their lives
And if one is truly lucky
There are some chosen patients
Who decide
It is time
during night shift,
to ventilate
truly share
opening up the dam
of their fears, thoughts, feelings…
Even sharing stories.
Enhancing our knowing.
Oh please, I yearn for these nights…
When the nature of nursing
facilitates the connection of lives.
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