Hobbies off duty as a Nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

I love watching my son play football and I love spending time riding and training my horses.

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.

Hiking and visiting national parks/museums ... and video games... yes, gamer here so is my husband. Very contradicting hobbies lol

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
I love watching my son play football and I love spending time riding and training my horses.

Oh my goodness horses??? I would looooove to learn to ride. There is a farm right next to our little neighborhood that has this adorable elderly horse, she's white with grey spots. I gaze and just go gaga over her every day we pass by. The ppl who own the property open their farm up to the public seasonally, like this coming pumpkin picking time. I love taking my kids over there and interacting with her and the other animals. Sorry I guess I had no point but to tell you how awesome and happy I am for you that you get to have such a beautiful animal! Lol .. yeah I grew up a little sheltered! :geek:

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Carolinapooh-my birth state is one of the ones you haven't been to! I was born a Michigander (haven't lived there in close to 20 years). I highly recommend a visit in the summer or fall. I have the misfortune of having to return in the dead of winter though for family stuff. I'm east coast now but 4.5 years were spent in the south and my area of the midatlantic doesn't get hit like MI does with winter. I have memories of going outside for recess in the winter no matter what [b']unless[/b] it was BELOW ZERO!! The kids where I live now don't go outside if there is snow on the ground or if it's in the 20's (maybe even in the 30's).

I am really looking forward to Michigan. I've seen the Aerial America on Michigan and both my husband and I are very intrigued by it. We don't mind cold (I've been in Minot, ND when the temp was -48F) and he loves fishing. So many people (myself included at one time!) don't realize how much more there is to the state than Detroit. I had no idea how stunningly beautiful it is until Smithsonian!

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
Do you have time for anything?

I wanted to point out too....this question comes up a lot:

Working 12 hr shifts, the full time nursing workweek is 36 hours, maybe a tad more if you have to stay late to chart. The typical non-exempt employee's workweek is 40 hours. Exempt employees can work way more hours! Example, my CFO-husband doesn't even really keep track of how many hours he works; he works until the work is done. He travels too, and while he has downtime it's not the same as being home. He has taken red-eye flights and gone to the office. Years ago he worked as a corporate tax auditor...good night. :oldman: During tax season, he could work 90-100 hrs per week!!! (I did keep track then, because we had a newborn and he left at 0400 and came home after midnight.) Our CPA friends experience similar tax hell. Minimally educated single parents sometimes have to work multiple, totalling more than full time hours.

So anyway, for most nurses I think it's a needless concern to wonder if you'll have time for anything. We work less hours than many (most?)

Disclaimer: Some specialties like OR that have call hours, or acute dialysis where there may be two RNs for the hospital and emergent admits, or LTC if short staffed and mandating OT...may work very long hours.

For most though, we don't work these out-of-control hours that some pre-nursing students ask about.

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I'm in school and working part-time as an RPN (LPN). I also have a 6 year old daughter. I didn't do much while I was taking the RPN program, but now I'm making time for hobbies and family. It's still insanely busy, but I make time to ride my horse a few times a week, spend time with my daughter other than the obligatory meal times and such, and relax.

Once you're out of school, it will be even easier. Yes, you'll have family responsibilities and things like that, but just not having to study 24/7 frees up lots of time.

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DEERS !! I remember the deers thread ! :roflmao:

"Memmmmmmmmreeeees, like the corner of my mind...misty water colored MEMORIES...of the way we were..."

I wonder how that student is doing? S

he was such a good sport, and that thread was so much fun.

She must be in her second year, already!!!

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I love to make stuff- wreaths, burlap door hangers, jewelry, all sorts of crafty stuff. I also help with my daughter's Girl Scout troop(not a hobby, more like, how did I get roped into this?!) I try to read as much as possible, but never get to read as much as I'd like. We like to escape to our camp whenever possible.

As for sleep; this school nursing gig allows me to sleep better than my hospital job did! When my anxiety is bad, I have trouble falling asleep, but since I started using a delta waves app, I've found it much easier to sleep.

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I'm a proud foodie so I love finding good places to eat

Reading (favorite authors Stephen King, Michael Crichton and Lisa Kleypas)

Watching Tv (American Horror Story, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Naked and Afraid)

Playing with my dogs

Shopping!

Traveling with my wonderful hubby!

I also love drinking wine but that's on hold for now since I'm 18 weeks pregnant with our first :)

Mostly I love laying around being lazy in my days off haha

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I love to travel! I work my 3 days then off to somewhere on my 5 days off :cheeky:

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I love traveling.

Been all over Europe, Asia & Australia and seen all 50 states twice.

Driven to all 49 and every province in Canada

Love roadtripping & sightseeing and have been to every National Park out west except Saguaro Cactus in Tucson.

Love cooking and hiking.

Love cars!

Love listening to music and watching old commercials on Youtube

I'm a big foodie and love try ing to new cuisines and eating at new restaurants.

Love learning how to fix stuff and learning new technology and history.

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