inside the mind of a nurse.....

[ERRN92]

Ok. Ive been nursing too long....Have any of you had warped thoughts that only a nurse would have? When I go for a drive on the highway or interstate, it crosses my mind that maybe I shouldnt eat first in case I have a wreck and require emergency surgery? Its crazy. When I go to touch money I think about all the filth Im fixing to touch. Not just money but anything. Or, avoiding salad bars at ALL COSTS!! Im surprise I dont carry a box of gloves and can of lysol in my purse!! What, if any, warped thoughts do the rest of you have? I will be one of those elderly people obsessed with my bowel movements.

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

I may be weird but I feel like your body has to build immunity to germs and how can you if you're forever using antibacterial agents? I believe this causes the superbugs.

When I was little my Mom always said "God made dirt, dirt won't hurt". I think there is some truth to this.

I agree with you. I've recently read (can't cite the source right now) that our obsession with cleanliness, particularly with our kids, may be one reason there are more allergies and asthma now. The theory was that kids' bodies are normally fighting off germs constantly. If everything is so clean and their exposure is so limited that this isn't happening, then the immune system starts reacting to things it shouldn't react to.

My older son was a very regular visitor to his pediatrician's office when he was small (I kept expecting them to add part of the rent to our bill!). By the time he was school age, he went through the first 5 years or so without ever missing a day due to illness.

I'm not advocating anyone give up regular use of soap and water, but maybe we need not be quite so fanatical about it.

[confused101]

Two weeks ago I worked 4 12 hour shifts in a row, and for the 4 days I had at least 2 total cares per shift. I work up at 3 am the next day, and started trying to figure out when was the last time my husband had been repositioned

I have talked in my sleep about work and told my husband, "Do you need pain meds?" My husband knows by now just to say I'm not at work and to go back to sleep. Thanks for the laugh.

[confused101]

:igtsyt:

AMEN !!! I never say goodbye to my family or my kids, whether it be in person or on the phone, without adding "I Love You" and it is always reciprocated.

:ilyc:

Same thing for me! I'm glad I'm not the only one now.

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

Same thing for me! I'm glad I'm not the only one now.

I ALWAYS SAY I LOVE YOU ON THE PHONE TO FAMILY.:redpinkhe

AND I HAVE ALCOHOL GEL IN MY CAR. AND MY PURSE. AND ON MY PRIVATE DESK AT WORK (ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE OTHER GALS HERE HAVE HUUUUUUUUUUGE MILLION-USER SIZE BOTTLES OF IT ON THEIR DESKS). :caduceus:

AND I'M ALWAYS SCOPING OUT PEOPLE'S VEINS, WHETHER AT HOME, IN THE WALMART, EVEN THE DR'S VEINS WHEN I'M AT THE DR OFFICE!! AND LISTENING TO RASPY BREATH SOUNDS. AND LOOKING FOR EDEMA AND LIMITED ROM. AND WONDERING/GUESSING/DIAGNOSING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT PERSON.

AND MY FAMILY HATES, HATES, HATES TO WATCH MEDICAL SHOWS (FICTION) WITH ME BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS SCREAMING "NO, THAT'S NOT RIGHT! THAT'S NOT HOW YOU DO THAT!!!! " AND IF IT'S ME AND MY DAUGHTER (AN RN), THEY JUST ALL LEAVE THE ROOM OR BANISH US TO THE KITCHEN!!!!:nurse:

(SORRY FOR THE ALL CAPS, WE'RE AT WORK AND REQUIRED TO USE ALL CAPS!!!!):Crash:

[hikernurse]

Just this morning I saw a man smoking as he crossed the street in front of my car. My first thought was, "Good thing he's wearing gloves; his microcirculation is no doubt shot."

Yep, I'm always assessing people, with or without their permission, LOL. My kids start off most of their sentences with "Yes, I just washed my hands".

My husband poked me the other day in Church and asked why I was staring at another member's feet. Oops, I was starting an IV on their foot in my thoughts. (I work with neonates, so that's the first place I look).

[linzz]

Well I guess I do a lot of the things all the other posters do, like notice edematous feet, poor hygiene, coughing. I also carry hand sanitizer and wipes in my car. I guess I am a bit compulsive about cleaning. Oh well.

[ERRN92]

woke up at 3 am the next day, and started trying to figure out when was the last time my husband had been repositioned

Oh yes...I think about laying in one position too long at night. Wouldnt want to get a bed sore or pneumonia!!

[oramar]

I am getting kick out of this thread. Glad it was started.

[CHATSDALE]

I find myself checking out people's veins.

i worked with a nurse once who confessed that she was on a date [first date no less] when the guy kept staring at her and she realized that she had been tapping the back of his hand trying to pop up veins

as for myself, once when we had so many ivacs going you could hear beeping all up and down the hall, i would wake up hearing them

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

I check out everyone else in checkout lines and diagnose them. Cardiac, skin color, ear crease, short of breath standing still, tardive vs chewing gum, respiratory pink puffers and blue bloaters. Everyone gets some type of diagnosis in my mind, I can't help it. In the grocery store I look at what the person in front of me is buying too, healthy vs not healthy at all. I am only germ wary when I am at work, I had my own horseshoeing business prior to nursing school so dirt and germs really don't bother me much.

[Sisukas]

i avoid drinking fountains at all costs.....have been busted by my husband for staring at his cousin's veins over thanksgiving dinner....and often tell the pending heart attack guy at our local hockey games that i'm off duty so he'd better settle down.

[nursejohio, ASN, RN]

I was deeply horrified one day to discover my Shi Tzu (Sp?) had an irregular heart rate. The vet assures me all dogs do. Who knew?

ME TOO!!!! Scared me half to death when I noticed the thump thump.......thump.. thump thump thump.