Do you ever turn off being a nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everybody,

I was wondering if you guys are able to ever turn off being a nurse, or if you are always in "Nurse Mode".

I went to a concert last weekend, POD and Linkin Park in case anybody was wondering. We had a good time, rocking out, out of the corner of my eye I see this girl go to the floor. Instinct just took over, threw my camera to my brother, ran over there, check on the girl, do an assessment (she is pretty drowsy, almost passed out, compination of exhaustion, overheating, dehydration and at least a contact high I would guess), start barking orders at people arround me "YOU, get me some water. YOU, fan her. YOU, find security, have them page EMS" She was allright, the event EMT's escorted her out. I stood back up, started rocking again, took pictures. Just routine, nothing exciting happened, nothing a nurse couldn't handle.

Anybody have experiences like that, when the nurse inside of you just takes over? It was kinda weird how routine it seemed, it was a little adrenaline rush, but nothing to panic about.

At a concert, people are passing out, no sweat, I'm a nurse, just routine for us, lol.

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Nope, never....

Don't think I'd want to :D

BTW, I'm seeing Linkin Park on the 1st. They're awesome!

-Dave

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Specializes in Inpatient Acute Rehab.

Not that similar, but onetime, when I was in McDonald's getting breakfast for everyone on the unit, a man started acting hypoglycemic. Luckily, he had a med alert bracelet that ID'd him as a IDDM. I yelled at the cashier to get mme an OJ with one packet of sugar, then a sausage patty. She told me I couldn't have either unless I paid for it first!!!!!!! Can you believe that??? I,politely, told her that if this man died from being hypoglycemic, because they would not help him, then the family would probably sue them. Just a little scare tactic!!! They gave it to me right away then. I gave him the juice w/sugar, got him roused around, then made him eat the sausage. When the squad came to take him to the hospital, the manager of McDonald's told them to bill McDonald's!!!!!! I then went to order my units breakfast, and guess what, the manager picked up that tab too!!!!!!

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Nope, it's never turned off. I'm a nurse thru and thru.

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yep...

I turned it off in the hospital when my 2 sons were born

I was just an expectant father...I attended to my wife and sons only...

when I'm visiting a friend or family member in the hospital, I also turn it off...The last thing the nurses need is a sideline nurse...

I did hold c-spine once (I was 4th or 5th on scene), and told the fireman that I saw it on "ER"

I'm just another regular guy when not at work...

sean

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

Graduation night(from RN program, had been an lpn forever!) we went to Steak and Ale for a quiet dinner. Walking out of the restaurant here's an elderly women laying in the parking lot! Of course over I go(realize I'm still in the graduation uniform) Assess, have squad notified, hand hold. shes alert and just fell off the curb. but as I stand up I'm covered in blood!! She cut her finger on the fall and had that hand over my shoulder the whole time. the family still laughs about it today, my florence Nightingale complex!!!

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yep...

when I'm visiting a friend or family member in the hospital, I also turn it off...The last thing the nurses need is a sideline nurse...

sean

Boy isn't that the truth...why do some nurses become such PIA's when they come to visit sick friends and family?? I've had family in the hospital and if anything I place myself in supportive role, and refuse to become another problem for the overworked staff. Too many times the visiting 'nurse' s ego seems to take over and wants to dominate the scene, etc. Many feel it's their canniballistic 'duty' to put the nursing staff under a microscope. Many times they are not even nurses but aides, techs, etc who feel they are nurses via experience....and can critique the situation.

I work hard at work and when I'm off work, I tend to let EMS handle EMS situations...and on- duty nurses do their jobs without interference. While I would likely try to help prevent harm to a victim in a public place, it is my call and I don't need to prove myself out in the public. It's a good thing to be able to seperate work time from non work time, IMHO, and set boundaries on our responsibilities. :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I'm not sure I could turn it off if a family member is in the hospital. But I would not interfere and be judgemental. I would help. If my family member needed a bedpan or help to the bathroom or cleaning up, I would do it. I wouldn't be one of those obnoxious RN family members "MY MOM HASN'T BEEN TURNED IN TWO HOURS AND ONE MINUTE!!!".

I do turn it off outside, but it comes back. I saw a pedestrian get hit by a car and just couldn't not help. I was at a concert, it was a classical concert on a lady had a near syncope episode and fell. I helped her out as well. Definately when EMS arrived in I stepped aside and quietly went on my way. But if I'm right there and it happens in front of me, I'm not going to turn away.

I don't think I could turn it off if I tried. :)

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It is not easy to turn it off. I think nursing is a way of life rather than just a profession. We just can't help ourselves. Come on, if you see someone in line at the market, don't you just scope out those pipes?

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If I'm not at work I am not a nurse. I lived in ATL for a while and when you are there you see so many things that you can get involved in. But, I'm afraid of a lawsuit so I leave it up to the people who are getting paid. I will call 911 if I can, I've done that twice and have given the location of an accident that i see but I never get involved. I was told that if you assist someone and you don't receive payment then you will be exempt from a lawsuit, however, if you get even a glass of water at the scene you can be sued by the survivor because you received payment for your services. I don't know if this is true but I don't even test the waters.

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
It is not easy to turn it off. I think nursing is a way of life rather than just a profession. We just can't help ourselves. Come on, if you see someone in line at the market, don't you just scope out those pipes?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

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i TRY to turn it off when i'm on vacation... this is a work in progress though... sometimes i just don't want to think if you get my meaning. i'm always thinking ahead, trying to organize my shift... re-prioritizing as needed ... it has become second nature to do that at work ofcourse. so when i'm off, i try not to "think" sort of speak. work sometimes takes a toll on my brain... it needs rest sometimes. although i find myself checking out people's veins when im in line for something... i laugh at myself saying hmmmm, those are great veins for IV'S.. LOL... just my 2 cents. +]=)

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