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.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

Run the toothbrushes thru the dishwasher

I buy a new one every time I'm sick, for use after I feel better.

[twotrees2]

When my friends are being dumb I tell them that they had better not hurt themselves because I'm off duty.

One of the other things I do is that I am constantly listening to things around me too... some of my friends are shocked when they think I'm not paying attention to the person "choking" a few table over and they say something along the lines of "aren't you going to help them" and I tell them that the person is still making noise, if they stop making noise, then I will help them

my aunt did that once- madewt he universal sign of choking - she had good air going in with her coughing so i just sat and watched - waiting in case she did need help. when she finished she was po'd so bad she didnt talk to me for months lol - cant help it - it was kinda funny cause such a stupid thing to get angry over- even trying to explain WHY i wasnt gonna help her if she didnt need it ( lodge whatever further, etc) she wasnt having any of it. some peoples relatives lol.

[Woodenpug, BSN]

"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!!!!"

that's the one. The other stuff, checking pulses, veins, resp status - mostly goes unnoticed by others.

[zamboni]

My only motto is..."Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first."

Seriously though, I only do two things that stem from working in emergency medicine.

One, I always tell my loved ones that I love them after I talk to them on the phone or after a visit.

And every night, even a busy night at work, I take a minute to call or text the Kiddo and tell him goodnight and I love him. No matter what is going on, that takes priority.

I guess it all comes from that whole "life is uncertain..." thing.

[Valanda]

My husband and I had an Abbot & Costello moment because I think like a nurse...

He said, " This week flew."

My response, "What about this weak flu?"

We went on for 5 minutes before we finally got to the bottom of our communication problem! :)

[MrsCaseyRN]

LOL. I thought I was the only one. I make sure my bladder is empty before getting into a car. (A full one could rupture in an accident) I too, assess for edema in BLE. My husand and I (EMT, curent PA student) look for smokers or soon to be COPDers, by there cough, barrel chest, clubbed fingers, raspy voice or any thing else that gives it away. Its like being a detective picking up these little details, and it makes me more aware of these things with pts. Its not like we do it intentionally, it just sort of happens...

:selfbonk:

[TazziRN, RN]

I have been known to feel my male friends veins and that creeps them out for some reason!

Mu husband used to get reeeeeeally nervous when we were dating, because he never knew if my rubbing his hand was a moment of romance or vein-hunting!!

[RNSC]

My husband used to get reeeeeeally nervous when we were dating, because he never knew if my rubbing his hand was a moment of romance or vein-hunting!!

:chuckle

My husband gets nervous when I start running my fingers through his hair. Us NICU nurses love those scalp veins.:redbeathe He's got a couple of nice ones.

[SDS_RN, RN]

I too am guilty of searching for those big beautiful veins! I also listen to my hubby's HR, resps when were snuggling. I always make sure my kids clean their hands after going to the BR and we all get new toothbrushes after we are sick. We never, never, never leave eachother w/out saying I love you! :redbeathe:heartbeat

We just talked about this the other noc at work that our cell phone must be w/in reach in case of an accident. One of the nurses I work w/ said she keeps it in her bra when driving!