You know you've been a nurse too long when...

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You know you've been a nurse too long when you can't enjoy a movie because of the half minute of CPR compressions only being given at about 50 per minute, with bent arms and there's a flat line on the monitor DURING the compressions. Oh, and it's the obstetrician doing the compressions.

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Specializes in ICU.

You go shopping at Walgreens and someone opens a fire door out back or something and you think they just called a code!! :eek:

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

Your immediate response to all new grads is "No, trust me, you'll learn to hate your job soon enough."

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Specializes in ICU, step down, dialysis.

Instead of songs getting stuck in my head, it's IV pump and vent alarms.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
You know you've been a nurse too long when you can't enjoy a movie because of the half minute of CPR compressions only being given at about 50 per minute, with bent arms and there's a flat line on the monitor DURING the compressions. Oh, and it's the obstetrician doing the compressions.
And the pt is in some high fowler's position while they do compressions!

You've been a nurse too long when you notice great looking veins on the cashier/checkout clerk at the supermarket.

Or you move to the back/other side of the elevator when another rider starts coughing and you don't like the sound of it.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

When I noticed the veins popping out of the arm of the statute of David in Italy and I was thinking, I could get an IV in him, no problem! :yes:

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When I noticed the veins popping out of the arm of the statute of David in Italy and I was thinking, I could get an IV in him, no problem! :yes:

Skin might be a little tough though...

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How about when you avoid all ill, frail, decrepit looking person in public, for fear of something happening that will require your help?

Or when you are unloading your groceries at the checkout line, and notice that your package of meat has leaked. I automatically "look" for gloves before touching the bloody liquid!

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But I know that I've been a nurse too long and it's rubbed off on my son---at a recent family gathering the kids were playong outside. Soon I hear dramatic sobbing from the backyard with calls of "Mom! Mom!" I race to the scene and see my son standing near his cousin, the victim. As I assess the situation I see a scraped shin, oozing a bit. I calm the "victim" and start to tell him that I'll take him inside and clean it up. My son pipes up and says, "Look, Cousin, it's just an abrasion. We'll wash it and apply some triple antibiotic cream and put a gauze pad on it. You'll be fine. But make sure you watch it to make sure it doesn't get infected."

Cousin gets fixed up and the play resumes. I later hear Cousin say something about "going to the doctor" to get his "leg checked out". Boy then says very matter-of-factly, "You don't need a doctor. My mom checked you and nurses know more than doctors". ****Crap, I gotta stop talking about work in front of him!

Guess my boy's been paying attention all this time!

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Aww, Messy Momma -- how sweet!! Buy that Boy of yours some extra treats tonight from all of us!

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
When I noticed the veins popping out of the arm of the statute of David in Italy and I was thinking, I could get an IV in him, no problem! :yes:

Not to mention the massive edema in his feet :eek:

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Aww Messy Momma -- how sweet!! Buy that Boy of yours some extra treats tonight from all of us![/quote']

Thanks, I will. Maybe a yummy pancake breakfast, with thoughts from all my AN buds!

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