What are your "I'm a nurse, I can do this (totally unrelated)" things?

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Specializes in tele, oncology.

Okay, something a little more lighthearted....

There have always been things in my life where I think to myself "If I can handle being a nurse, I can handle XYZ."

I can start an IV on a morbidly obese patient with weeping edema in their arms while they are seizing...I should be able to do anything, right?

Apparently not....

Due to the fickle nature of cars, both of ours are out of commission. A family member just got a new car, we are borrowing his old one. But...it's a stick shift. I can't drive a stick. Well, I guess now I can say I can drive a stick, just not very well, and I'm sure more than one person behind me at a stop light has cursed vehemently at me as I killed it trying to go from stopped to moving. My hubby was supposed to teach me how to drive it, but it was more like a lesson in relaxation exercises for him...he just kept closing his eyes and deep breathing. I keep repeating to myself "I can code a patient, therefore I can operate a manual transmission." But it seems like coding a patient is far easier!

So, what are your "I'm a nurse, I can do this" things?

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Specializes in NICU, Peds, Med-Surg.

Often, I find myself using this expression! If something tough comes us, I'll say "If I used to be able to handle tiny babies that stopped breathing, I can do ANYTHING!" and last winter, it was driving on ICE-----ugghh!!

Not exactly the same thing that you're asking, but when someone asks me something medical and says "I don't mean to gross you out, but------" ( ESPECIALLY if we are eating--- LOL!) I ALWAYS say "i'm a nurse, you can tell me ANYTHING about your body, even while I'm eating, and it won't faze me!"

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One of my favorite mantras:

I'm a nurse, you can't scare ME!:p

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I am very skilled at things such as IV starts, blood draws and other nursing things, but I can't sew.

I have even taken sewing lessons, and I still can't do it. I will always have to pay others to sew for me.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

What a great thread - thanks to OP for introducing it.

I think that nursing basically gives us an 'edge' in believing we can conquer just about anything because of all the STUFF we have had to learn to deal with :D. We have the confidence to tackle new things - because we know how to learn. That's a real gift.

In my case, it has motivated me to become a fearless do-it-yourselfer. Srsly - gutting & rebuilding kitchens, moving walls, cutting a hole in my house & putting in a window -- done all that. Love power tools. I find that I'm not that unusual - lots of my nurse friends are pretty much the same. Heck, my trips to Home Depot become are so frequent I really deserve my own orange apron.

Electronics don't phase me either. I am very comfortable with 'innards' of most appliances & computers. I taught myself database programming, media (video, audio, animation) production because my job requires those skills and - heck, it was a lot easier than learning how to run an IABP without killing the patient.

We are nurse, hear us roar.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

How about the sideline of "I am an nurse but I still can't..." For me there are 2 things...I can't make jello (pitiful isn't it?) and I can't find my car in parking lots (quite often)...

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I joke that nothing grosses me out: blood, puke, poop, NOTHING! But, I cringe when watching the gory horror slasher movies, even though in real life I enjoy hearing trauma stories and looking at trauma pics. Weird, I know.

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How about the sideline of "I am an nurse but I still can't..." For me there are 2 things...I can't make jello (pitiful isn't it?) and I can't find my car in parking lots (quite often)...

I'm with you on the car/parking lot thing.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

I can start a wicked IV, but dare ask me to try to fix the broken copier or find out where the jam is!

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Specializes in CTICU, Interventional Cardiology, CCU.

I can stick the worst veins, start IV's on anyone, code a pt. , pull femoral sheaths, tell you about medications even hae MD's come to me about meds, can read rhythms when other people can't..but if you ask me to park my suv in a tight spot forget about it..I can parallel park like a pro which I am a total pro, but pulling into parking spots I am a total spaz.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I'm a nurse and a former computer tech, so I thought upgrading my old computer would be easy. I killed it. I think it's the power supply or the motherboard.

I also can't drive a stick shift, sew, or play golf.

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Specializes in Acute post op ortho.

I can start IV's, set up intricate forms of traction & remodel a house.

But I can't make coffee to save my ass. I'm an excellent cook, grill, smoke, bake....anything you want, unless it's coffee.....go figure.

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