Why I Work Nights

For 25 years at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital I’ve worked the evening shift, known to nurses as “3 p to 11 p.” People figure I must have the seniority to get different hours, so I’m often asked why I work nights. The reason is simple. I love it.

My first job in nursing was here at St. Luke’s – from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. It didn’t take long to realize I wouldn’t want it any other way. Frequently, the majority of admissions, transfers and discharges occur on my shift. I thrive on the fast pace.

When I went to college, I had an inkling evenings were for me. I studied and thought better at night. I wish all my tests had been at night. Besides, I don’t like getting up early.

There’s another reason working at night is right for me. I hate traffic jams. I can zip into town from the Woodlands just like the real-estate commercials say you can. It’s even faster going back. It’s hard for me to understand how those on the day shift can stand morning and afternoon rush hours. To me, doubling or tripling your commuting time twice a day is a lot more strange than working nights. But, it takes all kinds to make a world.

It goes without saying that people who work nights have a wonderful camaraderie. We understand we march to a different drummer, so we become closer. It’s not unusual for those on the night shift to head to each other’s homes and watch Blockbuster’s best. When I was a tad younger, I frequently went to Memorial Park with a group after work and played softball until the wee hours of the morning.

My husband, Jesse, a businessman, works days. Before we got married, I explained the facts of my life to him. Now we have special lunches, sometimes dinners at midnight. We’ve been happily married for 12 years. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.

With each passing year, I have more wonderful memories of my time at St. Luke’s. Even when I have a flat tire at night, it has only happened when I could roll my car into the driveway.

I have so many memories ...

I remember when we held a “wedding shower” as a practical joke for two caregivers; they were not even dating or engaged. This was done because other employees were often having special events like marriages or births, and these two never seemed to be on the receiving end of presents. You should have seen their faces when they walked in and discovered that everything was decorated elaborately, and gifts were provided for their wedding shower.

I remember when we were invited to a nurse’s house to eat lunch prior to coming to work. We thought it would be sandwiches and chips. It turned out to be a five-course meal. Now he cooks for the team at least twice a year and often brings in homemade cookies.

I remember when a nurse called to report that a lady visitor with a “big bag” was “really acting strange” as she walked off the elevator and inquired about a patient. It turned out she had a little puppy to cheer her friend up.

I remember when I joined Dr. Rosemary Luquire, our senior vice president of patient care and chief quality control officer, and registered nurse Marjorie Steele, who’s been at St. Luke’s for more than 40 years, to bring food up from a cafeteria with ankle-deep water. Every one pitches in to get the job done at St. Luke’s.

With the new St. Luke’s Community Medical Center – The Woodlands close to my home, I’m sure I could work there and stop driving 65 miles a day. But I can’t. I’ve enjoyed the night shift here too much. As athletes say, you don’t change a winning game.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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