My Last Night Shift Ever .....

[joeychitwood]

Tonight, I'm working my final twelve hour night shift in the ER after 26 years as an ER doc (and 35 years of working rotating shifts during school and residency.) No more 6AM heart attacks. No more gang fights on the reservation. No more rape exams. No more people beaten beyond recognition. And no more two-day recoveries after a night shift, during which time I feel like a truck hit me.

So why do I feel so sad? I have two day shifts left next week, and then my ER career is over, and I'm dreading it. Life on the "other side" will be easier. No nights, weekends or holidays. Clinic walk-in patients only. Monday through Thursday. I'm very surprised to find myself feeling melancholy tonight at a time when I thought for sure I'd be celebrating. Weird.