I'm transitioning back into a clinical role after some time off and am realizing how different I am when I'm practicing as a nurse vs. in my mundane "off" time. At home, I'm cluttered, scatter-brained, meek, passive and always looking for someone to tell me that what I'm doing is right.
At work, I use clinical judgment and critical thinking, I'm organized, I anticipate needs, and I'm more patient than I ever thought was possible. I'm also more relaxed and at ease in conversation.
Obviously, I put on my "game face" for work and it works (and should!), but who else experiences this phenomenon? Are you a different person at work than if I were to bump into you at the grocery store?
It's the new nurses who aren't ironic and sarcastic when the patients/supervisors aren't within earshot that I worry about. They're the ones who often don't make it. They're in for one too many disillusions. Being positive and upbeat 24/7 must be exhausting.
Count me as another "people hater" who is frequently commended for my caring attitude toward my patients. My daughter frequently says she doesn't understand how I can be a nurse. :)
I'm also very organized and deliberate with things at work. My house on the other hand looks like frat boys live here. And I'm probably going to get cited by the city if I don't mow my front lawn this week.
Wow. I am the complete opposite. At work, I am crabby, stressed out, impatient, and a mess. At home I am smiling cherry, nurturing, loving, and patient.
I can relate to this kind of two personalities, I guess we put a different face when we are working and when we are relaxing at home with our loved ones.
At work, I am the sweetest, kindest person ever. My manager adores my "work personality" I go with the flow of things and never complain.
At home, im the complete opposite. I get home and rant about everything and everyone at work. I let it all out when I get home. I tell people like it is, I don't take crap from anyone. I go back the next day with a big fake smile on my face that can fool just about everyone. Heck...I got a nursing excellence award this year. I wanted to laugh and turn down the award because truth is, it is all fake.
At work, I am the sweetest, kindest person ever. My manager adores my "work personality" I go with the flow of things and never complain.
At home, im the complete opposite. I get home and rant about everything and everyone at work. I let it all out when I get home. I tell people like it is, I don't take crap from anyone. I go back the next day with a big fake smile on my face that can fool just about everyone. Heck...I got a nursing excellence award this year. I wanted to laugh and turn down the award because truth is, it is all fake.
Of course it's not a fake. It's a testament to your excellent game face. Think of it as an Oscar for your award-winning performance in the role of the nurse.
Wow. I am the complete opposite. At work I am crabby, stressed out, impatient, and a mess. At home I am smiling cherry, nurturing, loving, and patient.[/quote']
Kind of the same here. At work, I'm closed off and quiet. I only try to talk about work related things and never bring my personal life up. Off work, I'm very personable, sociable and amicable. A lot of people don't get my humor and sarcasm so it's often misconstrued as actual malice.
Specializes in Geriatrics;Cardiology;Pain Management;.
Me too. I feel like I have emptied my "bucket" of compassion for whining, complaints, etc. I need to have "me time" to re-load for another day at work.
It can get so tiring to be emotionally available all the time to an extended circle of people. I LOVE my profession, but do not advertise myself as a nurse to the public for this very reason....people can treat you as a sounding board or podium to tell ALL their medical problems/drama to. My friend and family try to understand, but unless you are a medical person, I don't think most really "get it"!
I am definitely two people. Maybe even more than two... xD
I get told by my patients quite frequently how refreshing it is to have someone who really cares. I bend over backwards to get them anything they need and 99% of what they want. I always try to make time to talk, I'm friendly, I'm patient, I'm personable, and I'm highly organized. I am also very perky - I had a manager tell me it was refreshing to see someone around with so much positive energy, and that I was a great influence on the rest of the staff.
When I get off work, I'm a total sarcastic people-hater. It's funny how I can sit and politely listen to a patient talk when they're upset for 20 or more minutes, but I will absolutely be rude as all get out to people in the mall, on the roads, etc. I seriously have zero tolerance for the masses outside of the job. I get told often that I am really evil and sarcastic. I think I use up all of my perky and my people skills at work, and there are absolutely none of either left for when I walk out of the hospital. I also am a very messy housekeeper.
Pretty much the same. Funny as ever. Making the patients, family, and friends laugh. I like everything neat and presentable. Sometimes, I'm not as meticulous about cleaning my apartment. But for the most part I'm pretty much the same.
It's the new nurses who aren't ironic and sarcastic when the patients/supervisors aren't within earshot that I worry about. They're the ones who often don't make it. They're in for one too many disillusions. Being positive and upbeat 24/7 must be exhausting.
Having a bad attitude about management and pulling off the two-faced routine must be exhausting too.
I don't even see how this relates to the original topic but I love tangents!
Lol on my down time I'm really slack! I order groceries online, I take my time doing things and walk incredibly slow vs at work I'm always bubbly, work to my schedule and organised....
Me too. I feel like I have emptied my "bucket" of compassion for whining, complaints, etc. I need to have "me time" to re-load for another day at work.
BrandonLPN, LPN
3,358 Posts
It's the new nurses who aren't ironic and sarcastic when the patients/supervisors aren't within earshot that I worry about. They're the ones who often don't make it. They're in for one too many disillusions. Being positive and upbeat 24/7 must be exhausting.