All personnel and services that would be necessary in an emergency are available. Often the nurses actually have more time to talk with the patients during the evening than they do during the day. For those who look forward to leaving at night, there is no reason to feel guilty. You may have spent the entire day caught up in the patient's needs. After so much time spent caring for another, you have a right and a need for a chance to unwind and care for yourself.
Weekends can be both good and bad.
It is a good idea to plan some different activity for the weekend, since many hospital personnel who help pass the time during the week are off duty. For many this is a time when the entire family can finally spend some time together. The joys of reunion occasionally may be marred by the tension of dealing with the increased number of people around you and the patient. This tension can often be relieved by having one or two family members visit with the patient while you and the others leave for a short while. Parents can sometimes get away for a few hours alone.