Nurse's syndrome

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2004

I have never heard the term before, but I find usually the opposite, for nurses and their families. At least in the ER, we see so many trivial things that we tend to overlook things that may need to be checked out. Nurses and doctors children sometimes are the sickest kids we see, because we wait until they are REALLY sick to take them in. I saw a doctors kid with a ruptured appendix because Dad thought the child was just trying to get out of school. I waited 2 days before having my son x-rayed because I couldn't believe his wrist was actually broken and would be better in a few days. We see bad ear infections and pneumonia because nurse mom or dad will treat at home until it is clear it will not go away. I have seen a very few nurse "hypochondriacs", but they are few and far between, at least in the ER. So, don't worry, you will harden somewhat and will stop taking all these diseases you learn about too seriously.

leslie :-D · Oct 2, 2004

i agree with dixie.

i find nurses to be some of the worst patients out there.

they disregard every little ache and pain, and/or try to treat themselves.

we hate going to the doctors.

(i'll change 'we' to 'me' and many others i know.)

every time i've had to be in the hospital, i've signed out ama.

one particular hospital had social services sent up to me, trying to get me to stay...blah blah blah.

so in summary, i am the most non-compliant pt you will ever ever meet.

and i have a feeling, i am not alone.

leslie

Katnip, RN · Oct 2, 2004

When I was in school, we saw it a lot. Medical students go through the same thing. Most people who are studying diseases think they have every symptom in the book. Therefore it must be...cancer, DVT, CHF, MRSA, etc.

You will grow out of it before long and become like the rest of us...immune to everything, even if you really are on your death bed. :chuckle

weetziebat · Oct 3, 2004

Kristiina,

You should have seen me when I was in nursing school. Certain I had it all. Heart disease, cancer, lupus, brain tumor. Would wait till I knew I was a hopeless case, then drag myself in to the docs office. Used to think I was a great bother to him, but actually now believe I gave him a lot of laughs. Once went in certain I had multiple sclerosis. No sooner had the words out of my mouth when he started laughing and couldn't stop. Was bent over, slapping his knee and shaking his head. In between fits of laughter he was saying "no, you don't." I was quite flabergasted that he could be so certain without any testing. But this was a small town, and he was a good, old-fashioned family doctor. He was the one who told me "You could have prostate problems if you thought about it hard enough."

So, no, you are definately not alone. But, over time, you realize that is it just the fact that you are exposed to all this knowledge of illnesses, and being surrounded by sick people makes one feel that no one in the world is well. Thus you MUST have something! But eventually I came to stop feeling that way, and you will also. Hang in there.

mariedoreen · Oct 3, 2004

every time i've had to be in the hospital, i've signed out ama.
one particular hospital had social services sent up to me, trying to get me to stay...blah blah blah.
so in summary, i am the most non-compliant pt you will ever ever meet.
and i have a feeling, i am not alone.
leslie

I worked in a hospital path lab for 10 years and was the same way.. the first words out of my mouth when I began to come out of anesthesia for a T&A as an adult were "Can I go home now?" No joke, I was still in the OR. My husband who was observing the surgery said everyone started laughing and he told them, "See, I told you she was serious!" I was the last one to have my tonsils out that day and the first one to go home.

Anyway, to the OP, working in a path lab I got the same way. I was sure every pain in my chest was lung cancer (I was in my 20's and didn't smoke...), every headache was potentially a brain tumor, every time I was a little bloated I began to think of ovarian cancer... The best time of my life has been the last few years that I've been away from the lab and working on classes for my RN. How liberating to be able to feel blissfully ignorant again and live my life instead of worrying about my potential demise!

Here's hoping that when I return to the hospital as an RN, I don't return to my old hypochondriac ways!

aileenve, ASN, RN · Oct 3, 2004

I've never heard of "nurses syndrome", most of us have to be dragged to a Dr's office, or told by other nurses you need help!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2004

That didn't happen to me except in my Abnormal Pysch. class. I felt like I was crazy and was reading about myself. LOL

But like Leslie said, I think I'm invincible. I haven't been to a doctor for lab work in over a decade. I'm 45 and don't know what my cholestorol level is. :)

NurseStacey143, ADN, RN · Oct 3, 2004

wait until Psych, then you'll be diagnosing all your family and friends.

OHmom2boys · Oct 10, 2004

wait until Psych, then you'll be diagnosing all your family and friends.

LMAO!! Oh man, did I ever!! :rotfl:

Every darn one of them has a major psych "condition" of some type....

everyone but me that is!! OOOOHHHHAAA HAAAA HAAAA HAAAA!!!!!!! :devil: