It's really hard as a single mum

Lamp, The, April, 2008 by Leanne Courts

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'It's really hard. Your life is a complete inverse to everyone else's.

'There is no time to readjust the time clock. You sleep the first day off and then you only have one day to get over night duty. It knocks your time clock around.

'I've been lucky with family support but it's still hard. I have to drop my daughter off. That means she's not sleeping in her own bed. That's all right for one night but not for four nights in a row. And if you have to pay for a babysitter it's almost not worth it.

'It's difficult to keep in touch with friends with shiftwork. It's hard to have a social life. You work weekends, they have weekends off so you can't go to things like barbeques. Sport for the kids is on the weekends, too, and that's difficult. Children's sport is usually in the morning so you can make it after night shift, but it's difficult to stay awake and be attentive. And driving with a child in the car when you are so tired can be dangerous.

'If you add up the health risks, the relationship losses, the friendship losses, 15% (current penalty rate for night duty) is not a lot to be awake when everyone else is asleep.'

Leanne Courts, EN, Dubbo Base Hospital