Confess! Whats the craziest force of habit you've done in the "Real World"

[vhern246]

I have heard some of the craziest things nurses have done out of force of habit in the "Real World". Aka out of the hospital.

I've heard that some sign their checks with first initial, last name RN.

Someone ran to aisle four in the grocery store because of a "code blue! clean up! Code blue!"

Knocking on the door before entering, any door, your front door.

Answering your cell phone "Nurses station"

Admiring someones veins.

Holding your invisible steth when leaning over.

Wheres the weirdest place you've fallen asleep?

Confess!

[lamazeteacher]

I had a blood drawn from my hand today, and found myself discussing the situation with the phlebotomist, as if I was a nurse discussing a patient's lack of available large veins in my arm.....

The phlebotomist was so involved in that scenario, that she hesitated, as if to get my approval, before doing the stick!

[SpEdtacular, MSN, RN, EMT-P]

I notice everyone's veins too. After driving an ambulance or medic truck for almost 10 years I find myself reaching for the gear shift that does not exist on my steering wheel and getting ready to use the siren when I get to intersections and stop signs so I can easily flip it on when I get a call :)

[Carrie_MTC]

I'm a new grad so I haven't developed too many habits yet. I have became somewhat of a germ-a-phobe. I have hand sanitizer everywhere, my purse, car, work bag, scrub pockets. While in nursing school I would work second shift mondays and fridays. On fridays I had clincal from 6:45a-1:45p and then would go to work on fridays evenings until 12:30. I live in Ohio and it was in the middle of winter, so leaving work I usually would let my car warm up 5 minutes or so before I would drive. I guess one night while I was waiting for my car to warm up I probably fell asleep for a good 30 min., I don't know how it was freezing cold out and snowing. I've also fell asleep in my car in my driveway after getting home from those long days lol. Reminds me why I hated nursing school so much!

[kittagirl]

Hate to be the one to tell you but these habits will stay for life. . . .

I have been off the wards/floor for many years and away from cardiology for more than that but still wake up occasionally ‘hearing’ monitor alarms.

Still love palpating veins, think of it as keeping my talents up.

When my other half actually feels ill enough to actually complain to me (years of ‘Duh, I’ve gone and worked a 12+ hour shift with worse than that’. . . have taught him not to bother coming to me with any minor issues )

Anyway he prefixes all medical complaints with yes I have been drinking I’ve had xx litres of water in the last xx hours and yes I have had a BM today and it was fine but I still feel……

Someone recently asked me what the funny squiggle was at the end of my signature, had to explain it was where I’d started to write RN before I realised what I was doing.

I’m considered the hard assed aunt, as I have been regularly heard to comment its only blood, come crying when there’s bone showing. . . (My sis-in-law hates this, and can’t understand why our nieces and nephews will always come to me first, the fact that I treat them like people rather than talking down to them helps)

And I do the ‘if they’re coughing they’re breathing’ and the ‘if you’re telling me you can’t breath you’re breathing’ line.

And I still feel stupidly happy that I have weekends and all the holidays off. . . . . .

[cathrn64]

I have not worked in the hospital for 16yrs (I work home health), but I still make hospital corners. I check out everyone's veins! I notice people in stores with home IV pumps, G-Tube feedings, PICC lines, and of course O2. I also try to figure out what's wrong with the people using the scooters and w/c provided by the store.

My family also has trouble with my not overreacting to minor injuries or "choking"(when the person is coughing!) They also make fun of me for saying "check with your Dr about that", when I don't know the answer

[VicksburgNurse]

Lets see....

I sign LPNII after my name on almost everything if I am not careful. I have knocked to go into and also out of my own home. I admire viens ( does this make me a "vienophile". Oh and I my all time favorite grabbing at my name badge ( which isn't there) to "code into" my front door lol

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

We had pasta for dinner tonight. I unscrewed the cap of the Parmesan cheese jar. And started pouring the cheese into the cap.

Like you would do for stock meds in bottles.

I'm like what the hell am I doing??"

[lamazeteacher]

Whenever I hoist a large bottle with a ring for a finger, I do it by whipping the thing over my shoulder as we did 50 years ago, pouring liquid medications from a many gallon container that was used for everyone on that medication.... It's far easier to pour the right amount that way.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I got a warning from a police officer yesterday and signed. Jane doe LPN.

Whenever I hear someone is in pain I automatically ask what is it on scale from 1 -10.

Always subsconsciously assessing people wherever I go.

Collecting pens is my habit as well

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I also knock on doors before entering. So emabarassing when you are in your own home !

[Mashira]

"Mommy why are you telling the eggs you are going to turn them?"

:lol2::lol2: I nearly dropped my laptop from laughter! This was hilarious. I'm in my final semester of nursing school and I can remember 1st semester in skills lab when we had to do this CONSTANTLY!

[NICU GIRL]

I have to admit as a NICU nurse I look at adult veins in public and think WOW I could start an IV in that with my eyes closed. When I saw my new niece for the first time my first though wasn't "Oh, she's so cute", it was "Look at those veins - I could start an IV in those."

I have answered my cell phone "NICU this is _____, how can I help you" only to hear my sister laughing at me when I finished.

I have also signed First inital, last name & RN on checks and a number of forms without thinking.

As for the funniest place I've ever fallen asleep, no comment.