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I
n September, we celebrated
Scrub Tech week. It's a nice way
to thank scrubs for the won-
derful job they do. Early shift got
coffee and all sorts of warm delicate
pastries. Late shift got a couple of left-
over donuts on a napkin and coffee grounds.
There wasn't even the usual swill we drink every morning in the cof-
fee pot.
Speaking of late shift … they stuck me with a shift that has no sense
of belonging. I wasn't considered days and I wasn't considered
evenings. I was a reliever. A stand-in. I came in and gave breaks: lunch
breaks, afternoon breaks and then relief to go home. I was in every
room and almost in every case every day. Of course, I finished up the
day in the room with the slowest surgeon doing the longest case.
I was becoming more of a curmudgeon than I already am. I was los-
ing my sense of humor. I could freeze water with a single stare. Finally,
I was given my beloved late shift back. What can I say? I like to come to
work late and work late. I don't need to see the sun rising or setting. I'm
confident it will do both on its own.
• • •
We all have our favorite cases we could do all day, every day and
never tire of them. The surgeon says a certain word and you have
what he needs on the field before he asks for it. Even with less-than-
favorite surgeons, we'd still do our favorite cases.
• • •
I got to work last week to see that I'm assigned to do a robotics case.
My gut went cold and I got tachycardic.
Late Shift
Things don't always go according to schedule.
Behind Closed Doors
Paula Watkins, RN
