First year working as a nurse on New Year’s Eve? Don’t worry, you’ve got this! Here’s an idea of what to expect so you can arrive feeling prepared.
Intoxicated patients
Not to state the obvious, but be prepared for an influx of intoxicated patients who may have slightly overindulged while welcoming in the new year. Although engaging with drunkards is challenging at the best of times, it is actually really important they are prioritised as they may not be able to communicate what the problem is and it could be something that needs urgent medical attention.
In the event that the individual is being disruptive, you may want to remove them from public view and into a more private area. Of course, this may be next to impossible on a busy night such as New Year’s Eve. As long as the patient isn’t at risk of putting themselves or anyone else at harm then don’t panic.
A full department
Expect A&E to start filling up around 11.30PM; the general public will have been drinking for a good few hours at this point and that’s when things tend to start going south…
It’s likely you’ll spend a good chunk of your time putting people into the recovery position, performing neurological observations and running fluids. As the sun starts to come up, most people will be in a good enough condition to send home so you can free up some beds.
Remember to look out for any colleagues who look like they’re struggling - they will definitely appreciate the help if you have a minute to spare!
You will need coffee
By the time 2AM rolls around, you might need a little caffeine boost to get you to the finish line. Again, offer to get your fellow nurses a drink if they’re too busy to have a break.
It can be emotional
Watching a patient take their last breath while the world outside continues in a state of celebratory euphoria is a feeling no one can prepare themselves for. As always, remember to decompress after your shift, and remind yourself of all the positive work you’ve done and continue to do as a dedicated nurse. Allow yourself to feel every emotion and try practising mindfulness to help you process them.
Celebrating with your colleagues…at around 4AM.
Although you may not feel like celebrating, it is always nice to raise a glass on New Year’s Eve. We recommend bringing in some alcohol free bubbles to share with your colleagues when there’s the chance to and welcome in the new year as a team!
And we raise our glass to all of the dedicated nurses and healthcare staff who continue to work tirelessly across the festive period. We appreciate you.
Looking for a new nursing role? Reach out to our team today on 0203 929 4010 and explore the variety of nursing positions we have to offer!
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