Sometimes I hate being the nurse in the family

masstudent · Aug 16, 2006

How does anyone else handle this? I have a husband and three kids. Two of the kids are older teens, the baby is 2.5. Baby is sick right now and is one of those who pukes whenever she gets sick with anything. How come, when this tiny morsel of humanity throws up, Dad and Bro and Sis freeze and forget how to do anything except yell, "She's throwing up!!" No matter where I am in this house I have to come running to clean things up. How do the rest of you handle this with your families?

Tazzi, I feel for you. I am not even in nursing school yet but because of my knowledge about health/nutrition I am often the one who gets asked the questions in my family. At times I don't mind answering their questions but when my father asks me the same question time and time again (ie Isn't peanut butter healthy?, yes in small amounts) I get frustrated. Its like he is going to keep asking me until he gets the answer he likes, probably sounds familiar to many nurses out there and their experiences with certain patients. I know teaching is a large part of nursing which I am fine with and don't mind sharing what knowledge I have but at times I think the patient/my father needs to be proactive and be willing to take your advice, read a nutrtion book/pamphlet you have given them, talk with a nutritionist, or their doctor.

firstyearstudent · Aug 16, 2006

Is this because you are the nurse in the family or the mom in the family? I bet you that moms all over the world who are accountants, policemen, musicians, lawyers, and go-go dancers are cleaning up vomit right this minute. Why? Because if they don't nobody will...

LADYFLOWER · Aug 16, 2006

Is this because you are the nurse in the family or the mom in the family? I bet you that moms all over the world who are accountants, policemen, musicians, lawyers, and go-go dancers are cleaning up vomit right this minute. Why? Because if they don't nobody will...

I'm not a MOM or a NURSE(yet), but I agree with you!

dano · Aug 16, 2006

My mom always comes up with something like "You're going into the medical profession and you don't know why my foot hurts?" Granted I've had A&P, but just passing the course doesn't make me the new family practice doctor on the block!

Kristiern1 · Aug 16, 2006

I feel for you. And I do agree its called parenthood. Friday my 4 year old daughter got in bed with us and promptly proceeded to throw up everywhere....of course she passed two perfectly good bathrooms on the way to my bed. Not to mention we have the only bed in the house without a waterproof protector.....For all of you with older kids, do they ever stop coming to throw up on you?? :-)

mtnmom · Aug 16, 2006

my nursing education also makes me the most qualified to clean up after any pet accidents or barf (at least my family thinks so)

But what of the family members who call for medical advice? Surely I am not the only ones who has that happen!

Jo Dirt · Aug 16, 2006

Yea, they expect you to know about everything.

colleennurse, ASN, RN · Aug 16, 2006

I think the throwing up thing has to do with being a mom. I am not a mom, but I remember when I was a kid, it was my mom who cleaned up and took care of us kids when we were sick. And she is not a nurse. And as far as the questions, people are always asking me. I just tell em, you will have to call your doctor, I am not trained to diagnose illnesses :)

LuvMyGamecocks · Aug 16, 2006

For all of you with older kids, do they ever stop coming to throw up on you?? :-)

:roll I've wondered the same thing!!!! :roll

I find it funny that family members....it's like they forget how to be people now or something.

"I stepped on a piece of glass and it's dirty!! Will it get infected? What do I do?"

"Uhh, yeah....my best guess would be to clean it and bandage it."

Then again, I did discover my MILs DANGEROUSLY high BP while practicing how to take it (172/104 resting), and I did get to pass along a little BP education. Whether or not she uses it......

TazziRN, RN · Aug 16, 2006

Yes, you're right, it probably is because I'm a mom. I was a nurse before I became a mom.

I guess I grew up in an unusual family.....whenever I was sick my dad and big brother were right there with my mom taking care of me.

SportyNurse · Aug 16, 2006

This got me thinking about another post about wearing your scrubs into stores. It's gotten me some really weird questions. A lady at Target wanted to know if it was still possible to get pregnant a day after her period, but the all time winner was the 7-11 guy who tried to show me this "weird rash" he had and wanted to know what to put on it.

People will always be asking for advice. If it's something that I can give a little teaching on, I'm a sucker and I'll usually take the time to do it. Other than that, "you should really see your doc"