My patients would be horrified...

I am in love with my first semester of nursing school, I honestly feel like I am living the dream. I just turned 18, but I was thinking about an embarrassing silly habit I still have. At night, I would love to say that I am responsible/mature, and listen to recorded lectures or videos, but instead I fall asleep listening to fiction audiobooks. I listen to series like Percy Jackson, Mortal instruments, Harry Potter and occasionally if I feel like being really immature, an old fairy tale series based off the frog princess (tales of the frog princess). I think my patients would have a myocardial infarction if they knew... Quite honestly, I know I am a good student, and I work hard for high grades, but I feel stupid that I actually do this. Anybody else do anything that would shock their patients or makes them feel immature?

I don't think they would be horrified. I too love reading fantasy books, although lately I've been reading more scientific and economical books. What you do in the privacy of your own home is no one's business. You shouldn't be embarrassed of things you love to do. I love learning card tricks and playing the ukelele. Sure, some people might laugh, but I enjoy doing quirky things in my spare time as a way to learn new things and relax. I couldn't care less what others think - neither should you.

I don't see any thing worth feeling horrified about. We all have our little "quirks." The above poster is right, it really isn't anyone's business what you do in your own home. Plus, it is not anything that affects your ability to care for your patients so I say read on.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

Don't feel bad. I'm 41 and read those books too. My kids keep getting me sucked into them. It's brain candy. Just fun and light that gives your head a chance to relax.

It is actually a good thing that you have the ability to work hard in training to be a nurse coupled with the ability to relax and enjoy yourself. Everyone has a guilty pleasure and reading fiction novels is just fine. My guilty pleasure is romance novels. I can not seem to let them go since I was in highschool (now I am almost 30 and married with a toddler); I LOVE them and I always defend myself to my friends and family when I excitedly come back from the library with a stack of romance novels to dig into.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

You need something to do besides study nursing texts all day. I think you will find that nurses have all sorts of extra curricular activities and interests, and having a good way to decompress from a hard day's work is great

If your patients would freak out over your reading, heaven knows what they would think of some of my hobbies

Nothing wrong with that, hon. I love to read as well, and I don't think just because I will be going to school for nursing that I have to read nothing but nursing and medical books. Read what entertains you...even the frog princess

[loriangel14, RN]

What's wrong with reading/audio books? Why would anyone be horrified?

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

It's called "escapism"

We all need to unwind. Better than booze, pills, or bars.:)

No need to feel guilty or embarrassed.

[LadyFree28, BSN, RN]

What's wrong with reading/audio books? Why would anyone be horrified?

This...I really don't get it...

Your patients have no bearing on what you do in your personal life...it's called having boundaries.

Read ON, I say...:)

[duskyjewel]

What is this.....I don't even.....

[sharpeimom]

OP,

If the worst secret vice you can come up with is audio book reading,

then I don't think. you have much of a problem!

Any kind of reading is good for the soul. It relaxes you, sometimes makes you sleepy, sometimes revs you up, and transports you to another world, and through the mists of time to a time long forgotten or

not yet here.

[VivaLaVespaGirl, BSN, MSN]

My guilty pleasures are young adult novels (Hunger Games, Twilight, Percy Jackson, Chronos Files, etc.) and the Disney channel. I am not ashamed. I work all day and go to school when I am not at work. My brain appreciates the time off and the mindless entertainment.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I'm 38 and love my Twilight. I do a movie marathon on rainy weekends. I also watch a couple of odd tv shows that I have dvr'd and watch every night before I go to sleep. As a matter of fact, I watched some good I'd Phineaus and Ferb this past weekend. I don't care what anyone thinks of what I do! I am me and I like me! And since I have to live with me all the time, my opinion is the only one that counts!

You all are AWESOME! Thanks for making me feel better, I thought I was the only one who liked some of these younger geared pleasures in life! I suppose I should keep indulging, as long as they don't distract from my ultimate calling

[studentnursemon86]

I've worked in healthcare for 9 years and I just started my first year of an RN program.

I love Twilight, Hunger Games, and I even read the 50 Shades books.

I think it is a good thing to have an escape from all of it. I used to have "Beach Mondays" with one of my friends before I went back to school. It was nice to get away and not worry about things for a day.

Now I have one night off a week where I watch a chick flick or read a fantasy/romance book.

I'm almost 25 years old and I reread the Gossip girls books all the time...

[mmc51264, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I don't think your patients would be any more upset with you than you would be with them when you see them sucking their thumbs at age 30, 40, 50-fill in the blank-while they are sleeping. What you do to sleep is your business. If it helps you sleep-go for it!! Sleep is good