If I was worried about it enough I would change my job, but it's addictive in a strange sort of way....Since 1982 I have always worked in areas that have some or all staff on internal rotation to nights. The best ones were 7 on 7 off. By the time you got to Wednesday your sleep pattern was set and I often would work a few extra, which paid for my driving lessons. Or Take a weeks holidays on the end and get a 2 week break!
This 2 and 3 night rotas is criminal. It's unhealthy too. Occ health shouldbe more proactive! The whole thing about family friendly too. Hospitals are two faced through and through.,while the wards need to be safely covered, if night workers or Day workers knew they would not be asked to work shifts they couldn't then they would attract more staff. I don't mind the odd night but I can only do one at a time or a whole week. The rules about switching from nights to days is abused, not using sleep days as days off and expecting a turn around say N on Monday and back on an early on Wednesday. I love my job and could probably do it in my sleep, but just because I could doesn't make it right. We have only had one staff out of 6 replaced since I started on my current ward. Yet if a manager leaves, the post is filled seamlessly.
To add insult to injury, the night staff turned up late, public transport issues....just as well as we were so busy we nearly forgot the tea time drug round :0(
Never mind now I have 2 days off, we need a games thread as sad as it is doing the songs games it is surprising how it takes my mind of all my trivialities for a few moments.....