Hobbies off duty as a Nurse?

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

I'm doing pre-reqs for nursing school and was wondering what people do on their down time. Does anyone have hobbies they do? Like cooking? Or motorcycle riding? Or playing video games? Or going out to eat at places or movies? Take care of kids? Take kids out to play or do stuff?

I wonder if there is some comfort off duty people can have to themselves when they're not working. I'm not in nursing school yet or even a nurse for that matter but as far as level of stress I'd like to gauge what others do in their time.

When I'm not in school(as in when the semester is over and I'm on break) play a lot of Fallout on Playstation 4. One of my dream goals as a future RN is I'd like to buy a Harley Davidson Street Glide Special if I can get into nursing school, graduate and get a job as a RN. I don't have much debt. I'd like to learn how to cook. I have some expensive kitchen appliances that I've bought over the years that are still like they're brand new. I hope I can enjoy the fruits of my labor once I get my foot in the door of this field.

What do you like to do? Are you stressed about your job? Can you sleep at night? Can you cook for yourself good food? Do you like to watch cooking shows? Do you ever travel outside the United States like I want to do?

Are you going to school again to further your education? Maybe learn a new language or get your masters or doctorate in nursing?

Do you have time for dating? Do you have time for anything? Can you work another nursing job? Would you? Would you advise that or no? These are just questions outside of the main job you work.

[VioletKaliLPN, LPN]

This is my hobby/sport, if you will. I jump out of airplanes. I fly a wingsuit and do RW(relative work).

?

I love being a Nurse.

[doodlebuttRN]

I have always loved (LOVED) to read. If I could, I'd be reading books all day long. My mother instilled this love in my siblings and I very early on; we would rather sit around together and read than watch TV or go out somewhere.

I remember being in nursing school and being unable to read for pleasure. (I mean, I COULD; but I would be overcome by a terrible sense of guilt; the knowledge that I should be studying.) When I graduated and finally passed NCLEX, I'll never forget the first (non-nursing) book that I read (one by my all-time favorite and all around BEST author ever... Stephen King). Being able to read fiction again, after all the stress of school and NCLEX, was really indescribable. To this day, I've never forgotten how that felt.

(I'm sure many won't understand... but I know there are some hard-core readers out there who know exactly what I'm talking about).

Now I have discovered the wonderful world of audiobooks... not for everyone, but now I can safely ride my bike and read a book (it was very painful before LOL-just kidding)

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I have a husband and 5 kids, so that takes up a lot of time. Throws a wrench into international travel too...airfare is expensive!! Hubs and I have gone to Mexico twice and Korea once, and once went on a cruise from Miami to the Bahamas. And then he took our oldest daughter to Korea a couple of years ago. We've taken several couple and family trips within the US too.

My job in level 1 trauma SICU has given me a hatred of motorcycles.

I like to read, I like nature photography, I'm a musician (pre-nursing, an aspiring professional), I like to hike. Thinking about taking up climbing if my DH would go for it...I've done some high altitude steep hiking and it's exhilerating.

I personally would not work 2 jobs. 1) I don't have to, and while I love my job I like a life too, and 2) it would be a lot of trouble not only coordinating schedules, but you'll have mandatory inservices and meetings for both.

I sleep hard at night.

[Farawyn]

Cam Girl

Deers shooter

Cheerios fan

Being fetch

[Farawyn]

Yes, I have hobbies, for real. Mostly hiking and reading, listening to music. I'm addicted to the internet.

I loooove to cook.

I am NOT going to further my education. Right now I work in HH and as a School Nurse.

I have traveled outside the US.

I want to go to Iceland.

[kiszi, RN]

I'd like to learn how to cook. I have some expensive kitchen appliances that I've bought over the years that are still like they're brand new. I hope I can enjoy the fruits of my labor once I get my foot in the door of this field. ...

What do you like to do? Are you stressed about your job? Can you sleep at night?

I enjoy cooking. I wasn't always much of a cook, and I've had to work at it, but now I like to think I'm pretty good at it. I learned by trying out different recipes (Allrecipes is my favorite site!) and keeping the ones I liked. After a while you get to where you can make stuff without a recipe. Or, if I need an idea, I will find a recipe to use as a framework and put my own spin on it. Cooking with wine is the best! (I don't mean in the dish)

The only fancy kitchen tools I have are a really nice set of fry pans and a Kitchen Aid blender. My wish list includes a stand mixer and a stove top grill.

Am I stressed about my job? Nah, gotta leave work at work. As for sleep, it's one of my favorite pastimes. I work nights but sleep rarely eludes me. If it does, a little melatonin and I'm good to go.

I'm also in my last semester of RN to BSN, and I plan to take the next year off before grad school. I won't know what to do with myself when I'm not in school -- might be time to brush the dust off my guitar.

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN]

I love to read! I love to hike, play with my dog and cat, visit my family and cook/bake. I love to ride my bike, watch stupid YouTube videos and SING! I could sing all day long. I volunteer at an animal shelter. The dogs like my singing. I am training for a half marathon so I spend lots of time running.

I am thinking about going back to school but I don't know if I am ready for the plunge yet. I try to travel when I can but it's expensive. That's something to work for, certainly. I wish I had backyard chickens and bees. Those are hobbies I hope to pursue later on.

I most certainly had time for dating, so much so that now I have time for planning my wedding. I do have a second job other than a school nurse, I work PRN at a hospital nearby on the weekends.

Nursing school will prepare you for the work/life balance that is critical for nurses in all fields. As you can see, we all have lives outside of our jobs and it's important that you do the same!

EDIT: This is a nice thread, thank you OP for starting it.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Cam Girl

Deers shooter

Cheerios fan

Being fetch

Mmmm, I love to eat deers! I hate to hit deers with my car. At least no deers have attacked me...

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

EDIT: This is a nice thread, thank you OP for starting it.

Thanks, some of my posts seem to be ridiculous to others. Screaming at an ignorant person is probably the stupidest thing I've ever seen or heard in my life.

[MikeyT-c-IV]

BEST author ever... Stephen King

Right on to that!

I have my one FT job and a couple (very) PRN's. I finished the RN to BSN program over the summer and decided to continue on and start the MSN program this fall. I still find plenty of time for exercise, riding the bicycle a couple times a week, jogging, etc. I spend time with the wife and kids and play some video games. I used to play the guitar and bass a lot but I don't so much now days. We also have some fancy kitchen gadgets that my wife will use. I like to keep things simple in the kitchen. But I have been learning new styles and recipes over the course of the past year. And I agree with the response about cooking with wine. :)

I enjoy my job and have been doing it long enough that now I can easily leave it at work.

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

I enjoy my job and have been doing it long enough that now I can easily leave it at work.

I hope I'll get to have that..