lrgreer1

Do you have anything special you do in your unit for parents/families for Thanksgiving or Christmas?

I have to agree with the previous commenters. As a nurse living & working in Memphis, I have never felt unsafe. The hospitals in the area all have excellent security personnel, and most are happy to escort you to your car. Just be mindful of where you are, don't leave valuable in your vehicle, try not to walk around at night alone, etc. and you'll be fine. Unfortunately, all that people hear about is the bad things that happen in Memphis, but it's no more dangerous than any other city. There are areas that are more prone to crime, but you will more than likely not be in those neighborhoods. Welcome to Memphis! Hope you enjoy your time here! :)

I just recently started working in the NICU and have had parents tell me the same thing. Even though I do plan to have children eventually, the comment makes me a bit uncomfortable. Providing nursing care and being a mother are two completely different things that cannot be compared like that, I don't think. I think it would be much more appropriate for parents to comment in how good a nurse is with children, or on how they interact with them, not whether a nurse will make a good mother or not. I find it to be a little inappropriate, especially when parents don't know about a nurses personal choices regarding having children.