I am just wondering...do any of you consider yourself a nurse when you are NOT at work???? I mean, I know we are regardless...but I really dont think of myself as a nurse when Im at home or what not. At work, I am the nurse....I work hard, I care for my residents, I deal with staff and families and the trauma that comes with that territory but Im actually pretty decent at it. Some of my residents tell me they love me and I tell them that I love them too...some hug me and I hug back. I have been the shoulder for a few when they lost their husbands or children to cry on without a blink of an eye. Same goes for my coworkers. But...at home Im not like this. I show affection to my 2 yr old son but I dont go out of my way for others when Im here. For example..this is going to sound awful. My mother in law just broke her ankle at work..2 days ago and I still havent been up to see her yet...but I have worked all week and Im tired. On top of that I dont feel the greatest today. I never make any special trips to my in laws. I will eventually get around to it...but in the meantime my sister in law is a nurse and she usually takes care of this sort of thing within the "family". Ive always stayed out if I could. When my husband pulled a muscle in his back I did wait on him like I do my residents at work but thats been a while. My other sister in law is well..shes got a huge 20 yr hx of drug addiction so I dont like being around her if I can avoid it. She seems to be doing better now but I just cant bring myself to visit her and she lives w/ my in laws. When my neices had their babies...I didnt go to the hospital. I hate hospitals. I didnt even want to be there when my own son was born. And the weird thing is...I didnt even want visitors when I had him. At home, I dont like to be bothered with anything. My aunt is at home dying of cancer of the pancreas, liver and colon and I cannot bring myself to go see her and she only has about 2 wks according to my mom. We arent close anyways...but....still...What is this?????? How can one be soooo different in 2 different settings involving the same basic theme???? Ive always been this way though. I find it easier to show affection to a 90 yr old with a UTI than I do "regular" people. To see me or know me outside of my job you would never ever guess in a million years that I am a nurse. Why dont I feel like one when Im home? Ive been a nurse for 3 yrs and in LTC for 9 1/2 yrs total. Has anyone else experienced this or am I just a weirdo????? Another PRIME example, a few yrs ago we were at the beach and a woman got stung by a jellyfish, she was in alot of pain,crying, etc...and I couldnt muster up the guts to go help her. I did call 911 but I didnt even stop. I just walked by. I knew what it was as soon as I saw her legs. I didnt stop for fear of getting sued even though there is that good samaritan law and all....I just couldnt do it. Is this normal for some people? Is it a nursing curse? Or is it just who some of us are???
I love being a nurse and I wish I could turn off my nurse role when I'm not at work but I can't. According to my hubby I even tAlk nursing in my sleep. I know I know I have serious issues.
I was just browsing on the general page when this jumped out at me! I won't even go out with the girls from work for a drink, I like them and all but I DON'T want to talk about work on my time off!
My neighbor was having a psychotic episode outside and another neighbor commented that 'I should go over and help because I'm a nurse'. Um nope sorry not trained in psych, thank you very much but she has a husband holding her down.
I love my job but when it comes to my time off I totally shut it off, except when I come here of course. And I don't give advice to the in laws because they don't listen anyway so why waste my breath?
al7139,,,,hehehe about your husband...i do that to mine too.......ah come on flo he says,take care of me.....
one day he called and asked me to come to the hunting camp as a hunter broke up a fight between 2 dogs and he was bitten.....nope.....told him to take him to the er if it is bad..otherwise just clean it good.....:twocents:
I definitely agree with you. Don't we give 125% at work? Just sometimes it would be nice if WE got one of those nice back rubs we give to our patients at work.
Specializes in LTC, Neurology, Rehab, Pain Management,.
Who has time for back rubs? That is a thing of the past, a V E R Y long time ago! With so many demands by patients, I only rub backs for those who request it. I don't do that for all of them that's for sure, especially the mean patients!
People who can't leave the job behind when they are off are the ones who burn out and find themselves huddled in a corner sucking their thumbs. Or they end up alienating their families and friends to the point they have nothing else and the job is all they live for.
Nursing has enough demands during the 12+ hours we put in on our regular schedule. I'd say the OP has a rather healthy attitude.
Wow! I am surprised at just how many more people feel the same way I do! For the past 3 yrs Ive thought it was just me. What a huge reassurance this is. My mother in law is now getting around good with a boot. I still havent made it up to see her. Shes back to driving and doing the same ol thing she's always done minus her new accessory on that foot. I finally get a day off tomorrow! I might get around to working on my house. I actually took the trash off the other day...that was a job! I am currently making hot wings and cupcakes for a baby shower for a coworker tonight at work. Not quite sure how I got stuck making all this stuff..plus the decorations but....hopefully people will like it. Next task is going to be figuring out what to do about my xmas shopping. UGH!
:twocents:
al7139, ASN, RN
618 Posts
OMG,
I am totally the same way. When I am at work the patients/family gets my all, but when I'm at home, my reply is "Call your Doctor, I'm just a nurse."
I even say this to my husband when he is sick.
My home time is for me, not every relative who has an ailment.
Amy