Is it just me or all nurses??

[laurasc]

I really want to know if this is just me going into what I've dubbed "stupid mode" or if all nurses do this.

When my eldest son was born in distress I should have known, it was obvious, but I was totally oblivious. I didn't have a clue.

Last summer I walked around for a whole week with an appendicitis (had all the classic symptoms too) and didn't even know it. I was shocked when it was finally discovered. My family doctor looked at me when I went to see him after the surgery and said "You're a nurse and you didn't even know you had an appendicitis?" Well, hindsight is 20/20...it was pretty obvious, yet I didn't see it.

And most recently, I've had a cold for three weeks that isn't getting better. Hubby kept pushing me to go to the doctor but I kept telling him it's just a virus. Two days ago I finally went...I have bronchitis...bad. Once again, the doc looked at me and said "You're a nurse and you let this go this long?"

All I could say in my own defense is "Hey, I'm a nurse."

Now tell me, is it just me or is this a normal state of affairs for all nurses?

Laura

[laurasc]

Originally posted by ClariceS:

On a more serious note, I have noticed from personal experience that even though I am a nurse and have had many years of experience, when I had surgery I didn't automatically think of all the factors that need to go in to recovery. (Thought of a lot of things after the fact but not while I was going through the actual event and immediate recovery time.) I think that if the stress involves us or our loved ones, we start to think less like a nurse and more like a patient. I remember this each time someone tells me that one of the patients I will care for is a nurse. I approach my teaching as I would with someone who is not in the medical field. I would rather have someone tell me they knew the content than miss teaching something they need or need refreshing on. It is really sad and sometimes scary if something is missed on our patients but it seems commonplace on ourselves.

[This message has been edited by ClariceS (edited December 15, 2000).]

Yes! When I was in labour with my first, they never bothered to tell me what was going to happen and what I was going to feel when they gave me my epidural. Because of that, I jumped a foot up and the doctor had to restart the whole procedure again. Taught them a big lesson...the next time they treated me like a non-medical person and it went smoothly.

Laura

[cannie]

You're not alone. Some nurses know when to seek treatment but I tend to minimize my ailments. Three years ago I had a HA for days that wouldn't go away and got progressively worse. Our insurance was bad so I tried to self treat. Finally, my husband forced me to the ER. I couldn't make my hands do what my brain was telling them to. I had meningitis. I take my kids in for just about anything (our insurance is much better now) and usually end up being told what I already know. Won't take a chance with my kids but I seem to be expendable in my own mind. I'm also unwilling, along with my employer, to take time off for illness. This isin't doing our patients any good but with the shortage there's an unspoken "You better be on your deathbed if you call in sick" attitude at the ICU I work in. This is very dangerous for our patients but so is overworking us. What can be done? Is there a solution? I like any comments on this subject. We seem to be in a catch 22.