Humorous Introspection

stillpressingon · Feb 13, 2007

I second the drama thing. If someone really is sick or injured or whatever, I have such sympathy for them. But I too have grown extremely weary of even stuff like first time parents bringing their toddler in for "high" fever of 100.1! Definately a pet peeve of mine!

rngreenhorn · Feb 13, 2007

This is kind of weird, but I can help it. I have a habit of assessing stranger's health and imagining what they look like under their cloths. When I see a person of questionable health, even if the person is fully clothed, I see lower extremities with arterial insufficiency, edema, yeast in skin folds, unhealthy feet with weak pedal pulses, etc.... I hope this isn't a sign of serious mental health issues.

I also visually assess everyone's arms for good veins....

tiggerforhim · Feb 13, 2007

Definitely the swearing thing. I've managed not to do in front of my parents (who are both pastors), and my kid, but not my husband. Also, I used to work Peds and got into the habit of calling patients "sweety, sweetheart, honey, little one, little peanut, sweetpea, poor little thang (yes I worked in the south), bud, buddy, princess" and so forth. In my current job I've had to work pretty hard not to call my patients that since most of them are adults! Definitely got more cynical, but also more of a doing what needs to be done whether it hurts or not type of person - you really have to be able to do that when you're working with the kids and they're screaming bloody murder, but what to do but finish the job so they can get comforted sooner? My husband sometimes gets upset with me because he tells me a problem and I start telling him the things he could do to fix the problem and all he wanted was some sympathy... he he.:sofahider

spiceyqueen · Feb 13, 2007

-Swearing- Both loudly and under my breath

-I used to worry about simple cuts--- realised there are more things to worry about.

-certainly worked out how to use stubborn vending machines, especially during night shift (bang 'em, shake 'em get that F@&*!!? coke out of it)

-i have learnt to be more empathetic as compared to being sympathetic.

- whenever i see people speeding on the road I go " TBI/ SCI/broken limbs, poor thing"

- am proud of being a nurse, but sometimes when am in the mall/train (especially after a long shift) and someone goes "are you a nurse" I go, WHY???

-and i have collection of Mugs from pharmaceuticals -

and the 24 Hr clock thing.....

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 14, 2007

i've developed a black sense of humor that apalls my mother (although my father gets it.) most of my friends are nurses, so they get it.

swearing, definitely. (someone did a study a couple of decades ago and found that the last thing successfully resicuitated patients remember before passing out is their nurse saying "oh ****!")

i have limited sympathy for dramatics. (a former bf got stung by a bee as i was leaving for my night shift and wanted me to stay home and take care of him. i asked him if he was allergic, and he said no. i was still laughing when i backed out of the driveway. he told me i lacked compassion.)

i can clean up perfect strangers lying in rivers of poop while discussing what to have for lunch.

muffie, RN · Feb 14, 2007

i'm an absolute angel 'cept for my potty mouth

goes with the territory i guess

i can be a lady, prn, but ain't no lady otherwise

to me, the words are meaningless, but are a coping mechanism

i'm flawed, oh well

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2007

Introduced to cussing when I was a kid.

Was really "introduced" when I was in the Army - learned to cuss in many different languages too.

Never did really go away I guess :uhoh21:

My tongue has also started to get scars from the number of times I have to keep biting it - stop me from making a wisecrack at someone! Especially when they start describing their "big" problems (family members included).

Like the others, I've completely 're-evaluated' the whole "sick", "really sick", "emergent sick" and "circling the drain" thing. I admit I'm not perfect about it - but boy have I changed from a mere year ago!

Show utter disdain, especially from others in my generation, who complain/moan about a "lack of time". This disdain often borders on contempt.

I've also developed a new, greater and more intense appreciation for the term "responsibility".... and all it's myriad, finer aspects.

A disclaimer to "please not ask me about my day at work" before we sit down for dinner at restaurants. I see enough puke at work....

Slackers would irritate me before - now they really piss me off!

Purdue_Nurse · Feb 14, 2007

i can be a lady, prn, but ain't no lady otherwise

:roll :roll :roll

I also can be a lady, prn!! Glad to know I'm not the only one with the cursing!

nursenikki928 · Feb 14, 2007

I too have the cursing problem. My mother calls it the "Nurses Potty Mouth" I have her convinced that all nurses talk that way. It just comes with the profession.

rnurse2b · Feb 14, 2007

LOL. while reading this thread, I had to jump in also. I NEVER cussed before starting nursing! Yes, I joined the sailor club, and I work peds, so the "little angel", "peanut", "sweetie" all jumbled in. I don't cuss in front of the patients or the parents (out loud at least), but later, yes.

allnurses Guide · Feb 15, 2007

My internal (okay, sometimes verbal) response has become "no s--t, Sherlock!"

My dh would get after me at times when the cussing got a bit too frequent, well, I suppose the pastor's wife is supposed to be some kind of role model, :roll

Rabid Badger, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2007

I swear like a sailor and forget that when I'm sitting down to a meal with people who are not coworkers that talking about BMs and blood and guts is frowned upon. Hahaha, whoops.