Does anyone else find themselves doing this...

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This is going to sound sooo corny, but does anyone find themselves going into "nurse" mode when they are off the clock? Example : The other day at the grocery store, I saw this little old lady trying to get a loaf of bread. She was squinting and holding the loaves far away. She wasn't wearing any glasses. (ok, just to even notice all that, I felt was "nurse mode" looking for who needs help) and I asked her if she needed help and she accepted. I stayed until she had what she needed, and it had a far away expiration date. (She did forget her glasses and had trouble reading the loaves) So walking away I didn't feel like a person who did a nice deed, I felt like I was at work. Like it was my job to help her, like when I'm with a pt.

Does anyone else do this sort of stuff?? Am I just crazy??

Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.
This is going to sound sooo corny, but does anyone find themselves going into "nurse" mode when they are off the clock? Example : The other day at the grocery store, I saw this little old lady trying to get a loaf of bread. She was squinting and holding the loaves far away. She wasn't wearing any glasses. (ok, just to even notice all that, I felt was "nurse mode" looking for who needs help) and I asked her if she needed help and she accepted. I stayed until she had what she needed, and it had a far away expiration date. (She did forget her glasses and had trouble reading the loaves) So walking away I didn't feel like a person who did a nice deed, I felt like I was at work. Like it was my job to help her, like when I'm with a pt.

Does anyone else do this sort of stuff?? Am I just crazy??

I would hope that anyone (nurse or non-nurse) would do stuff like that. I have always helped others -- far before I knew I wanted to go into nursing. Unfortunately, many people are so "rushed" and don't have time to stop and help others.

I went to visit San Francisco a year ago and was at this restaurant waiting outside for a taxi, and this very elderly gentelman had to walk down a flight of stairs and he looked terrified to walk down them. So I graciously offered him help and helped him walk down an entire flight of stairs.. one stair at a time. It took forever but I felt gratified afterward.

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LOL that's funny, but it happens a lot..I've signed my credentials after my name on checks..I think we need to get out more!!!

LOL!! That I've done. And I was like, "OMG, I need a break!"

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Specializes in LTC.

I find myself checking out peoples veins all the time.

Gosh , I thought that was just me.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

I think I even give off a "helpful person vibe" or something. It's become a family joke, how often strangers will stop me and ask for directions or some other kind of assistance. It's really funny how often when we're travelling, and will be 100s or even 1000s of miles from home, and somebody asks me for directions, its to somewhere we've just been, and I'm able to direct them!!!!

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Specializes in PACU, PICU, ICU, Peds, Education.
... Example : The other day at the grocery store, I saw this little old lady trying to get a loaf of bread. She was squinting and holding the loaves far away. She wasn't wearing any glasses. (ok, just to even notice all that, I felt was "nurse mode" looking for who needs help) and I asked her if she needed help and she accepted. I stayed until she had what she needed, and it had a far away expiration date. ...

If this is "nurse mode" then keep me in it 24/7. I call it being a decent human being.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown.

i was eating dinner at the bar and a LOL stumbled behind me. Instantly I was on my feet and so was she. I remember thinking that it was nurse mode, 24/7.

and, I am a little compulsive about checking out peoples veins.

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i think i even give off a "helpful person vibe" or something. it's become a family joke, how often strangers will stop me and ask for directions or some other kind of assistance.

me too!:yeah: i seem to have this magnetic effect on people asking for directions etc...and i'm not even a nurse yet. but it is nice when people appreciate the help you've given...it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling!

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I don't think being helpful is necessarily "nurse mode."

However, I do find myself in "nurse mode" on occasion. A week or so ago I was in a store and noticed this older gentleman who was pushing a cart. He stopped every few feet to huff and puff. I actually heard him before I saw him; he was using pursed-lip breathing. One glance and I knew he was a COPD-er. I had to stop myself from asking him where his oxygen was!

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

Didn't it make your day? :) I think you have it backwards though,..I think that's why you are a Nurse,.not because you are a Nurse!

The world needs many more like you!

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
i think i even give off a "helpful person vibe" or something. it's become a family joke, how often strangers will stop me and ask for directions or some other kind of assistance. it's really funny how often when we're travelling, and will be 100s or even 1000s of miles from home, and somebody asks me for directions, its to somewhere we've just been, and i'm able to direct them!!!!

me too--and ditto for the vein checking and "rn" on checks. it makes my dh crazy when i attract "strays" like i have a pork chop necklace in a wolf den!!:redbeathe

i even get merchandise questions in stores--while wearing scrubs and a nametag! then i even feel guilty because i don't know if the onions are on special this week!!;)

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Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

I was in the doc office yest waiting to get in for my daughters appt. and two elderly ladies were talking the one said "Oh I'm so afraid of falling down." :uhoh21:BTW we had gotten freezing rain so it was sooo icy out. Anyhoo I was thinking to myself I'm afraid of you falling too you'll end up in my ER w/ a busted hip. I was glad I wasn't working yest disaster waiting to happen.

But yes I also find myself helping others others out esp the elderly when I'm out and about. You know all of the possible terrible things that can happen to them. You want to do what you can to prevent it and keep them safe. Nurses are just good kind hearted people.:redbeathe:heartbeat

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Like others have said, I don't think it's becuase you are a nurse, but rather possibly a reason you became a nurse. I am not a nurse YET, but I find I do things like this when the situation presents itself. I've even stopped to give an old woman a ride when she looked like she needed help. ( I live in the desert). I get stopped for directions all the time, and even get approached in stores for information because for some reason customers think I work there. Although, I have worked in retail for so long; I kinda get off on telling them I don't work there, but I end up helping them anyway. I guess it's the part of me that enjoys the satisfaction in being of use to people and helping them out. Or... makes me a doormat. I'm not eager to please, but rather enjoy helping people. Geez, the meaning of my name is "helper of mankind". I was cursed from birth.

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