15 Incredibly Stressful Hours

I went to work this morning at 0630, excited because I was sure that it was going to be a wonderful day. We have recently switched to primary care, which means that each nurse is responsible for the total care of each patient. In team nursing, one nurse gives medication while another does assessments, etc... I had eight patients today that I was responsible for giving medication, doing assessments, all of the charting, as well as treatments and all of the other hundreds of things that are required of a nurse each day. Our discharge nurse was out sick today. I discharge a couple throughout the day and then admitted a couple. Not only that but we had 4 nursing students until 1500 and a new set of 4 came in at that time. One would think that having students would take some of the workload off but in reality it makes things harder. With supervising most things they do and checking behind them, it makes the daily "routine" get off-balance. About 1700, after only sitting on my hind-end for about 15 minutes total (including lunch), I began to REALLY anticipate giving report and going home.
About that time the D.O.N. approached me with staying late because we had two call ins and our census was almost full. She let me know that she was staying late too. I couldn't very well say no when she herself was staying, now could I? It was strange to finish up a shift only to turn around and start another one all over again.
At 1630 a call came in over the radio that the ambulance was bringing in a male with end-stage CHF who was unresponsive. Come to find out it was a patient that I had recently taken care of that reminded me of my grandpa. I took care of him just last week and he was active, walking up and down the halls. He had lots of stories to tell. He really seemed to be on the mend. He is now on the vent and not expected to breath on his own when they take him off if it. That's the thing about working in a small town hospital. A lot of my patients become more like close friends or family. When they die it really gets to me.
Long, long day. I got home at 2200. I'm so tired.
One the positive side, I sort of got a new job. Well, I'll keep the one that I have a few days a month but on Wednesday's I'll be assisting Dr. S. in the GI clinic that he is starting in the hospital.