While I do enjoy being a Nurse, its just the fact that everyone introduces me as a nurse. Like when we were still able to gather pre covid I would go to parties and my friends / family would introduce me to other people saying "heres my friend/nephew, hes a nurse". and its like man I'm not trying to start a conversation here by explaining what I do for a living. It's not like other people introduce their families like hey here my son, hes a mailman.
I also love doing other things like swimming, playing drums in a band, but the title "Nurse" will always stick to me. Even when I try to talk to other people about other stuff non work related it always ends up by them asking "how did you work during the pandemic"?
I may be complaining too much, but this is how I feel. I take the title Nurse and everything tied to it very seriously as it has been my lifes work in my very short nursing career, but I feel like it has taken over my life in some shape or way.
Specializes in Corrections, ER, PCU, Peds, Maternity.
It sounds like you would like others to know and recognize you for who you are and not what you do for a living. That’s understandable. I have found myself in situations where family/friends have assumed because I’m a nurse I must have answers to health related questions for themselves or someone they know. Those who introduce you as a nurse are probably just very proud of you and have a lot of respect for what you do. I think your best course of action is to move past the introduction by talking about the things you like to do outside of nursing and respectfully ask that others not introduce you as a nurse.
Most people really just want to talk about themselves. So when they say “oh you’re a nurse? That must be tough during a pandemic.“ Then you just say, “Yeah a little bit! How have you been coping with it all?” 90% of the time they will start talking and forget about you.
Most people really just want to talk about themselves. So when they say “oh you’re a nurse? That must be tough during a pandemic.“ Then you just say, “Yeah a little bit! How have you been coping with it all?” 90% of the time they will start talking and forget about you.
trailrunningrn, BSN
6 Posts
It sounds like you would like others to know and recognize you for who you are and not what you do for a living. That’s understandable. I have found myself in situations where family/friends have assumed because I’m a nurse I must have answers to health related questions for themselves or someone they know. Those who introduce you as a nurse are probably just very proud of you and have a lot of respect for what you do. I think your best course of action is to move past the introduction by talking about the things you like to do outside of nursing and respectfully ask that others not introduce you as a nurse.