We asked our fabulous ModernNurse family to fill in the blank after “You know you’re a NURSE when…” and we got some pretty great responses! We think you’ll relate – see below:
You know you’re a NURSE when…
1. When you are calling in for refills of your OWN medications and hit the number for ” If you are a Dr’s office… Press 2″…Then have to explain to the Tech… Opppsss!! LOL! – Sebrina F.
2. When you are waiting until your bladder is going to explode before going to the bathroom, at home. – Katrina R.
3. When you wash your hands *before* using the toilet… – Cris L.
4. When your first aid kit at home is better then the EMT’s – Barbara W.
5. When you can spot an asthmatic, an ETOH abuser/or drug abuser a mile away. – Kenya M.
6. When you are too tired to be able to fall asleep… and your next shift is 8 hours away. – Melanie M.
7. When you can eat any food and use the bathroom in 5 seconds or less…that’s a seasoned nurse for sure. – Marcia W.
8. Standing up when you eat. – Mary G.
9. When you drive yourself 30 miles to the hospital with kidney stones. – Larissa H.
10. When you point out good veins on people… – Bill D.
11. When you are a psychiatric nurse and you find yourself analyzing people everywhere you go. – Ethelene M.
12. My family has so many nurses that we all use “nursing shorthand” in notes to each other. – Kathy H.
13. When you’re so tired that your hair hurts. – Linda G.
Share your own relatable laughs, groans, and sighs in the comments section below!
This article was republished with permission from SCRUBS Magazine.
When your daughter’s whole dorm uses the first aid kit you sent to college!! And tells their parents they don’t need one.. they just use hers!
When you decide to be Germicidal and not Homicidal after working 6 13 hour shifts in a row.
when you don’t take your children to the doctor for every little cut,bruise and then realize that they actually needed to go because it was a bit more than a little bruise ( youngest fractured ankle wrestling and it was 2 days before it swelled and we had an xray
)
With my son it was his wrist. It was bruised but until it swelled up I went with ice and elevate. Fractured on the growth plate. Oops!
You never say the “Q” word because you know you’ll jinx your shift. You also never say the name of a problem patient/frequent flyer because you know as soon as you do they will show up. You call certain patients “frequent flyers”. You know the best ginger ale in the whole wide world is Shasta and you can only find it at work. You carry an CPR mask in your car. You call the Father/Son Surgical Practice “God & Baby Jesus”. When your kids come to you with an injury or illness you blow them off because its not that serious (even when it is); however you plead with your grown children to rush your grandchild to the ER for the sniffles because it could be ebola.
That is so true with the Q word. !
When you are brushing your teeth at home and jump out of the bathroom because you heard a monitor beep!
Nurses: that’s the reason God made panty liners.
You have no time to go to the cafeteria for utensils and you use a tongue depressor as a fork/spoon/knife!
I used two coffee stirrers as chopsticks last week. Just did NOT want to leave the break room after finally sitting down!
When you refer to an ordered blood panel as the dumb ass panel. Or you think a consult with Dr. Kevorkian is in order.
When you are eating dinner and one of your grandkids vomits in his plate then on the floor and you just keep on eating. Happened several times. Rest of family can’t take it.
when you yell at people or your children to get out of your way and walk like a nurse!
#2 and 10 definitely!! I have my 55 year career as an RN to thank for my amazing bladder
Control!!
When you are 80 years old, still keep your license and CEU’s up to date, volunteer for Disaster Response and the stuff in your SUV looks like you could set up a MASH unit. My daughter makes fun of my “messy” car and I seem to remember thoughts of retiring on a beach !!!
When nothing is too gross to discuss while eating (this can be a problem for non-nurses listening).
When you refuse to shake somebody else’s hand because you just recently picked your nose, were eating finger food, had just scratched your ass, etc. Instead, you offer an elbow bump. And they just think you’re weird rather than considerate! 🙂
You’re an O. R.nurse when every time you wash your hands it’s all the way up to the elbow. No matter where you are!
I do the same, & always sure to rinse going up from fingertips to elbow. Then I wait for someone to place a towel over my hands….never happens, lol.
When a 3yr old is telling the mother she’s tired of waiting in the ER and needs to leave…who’s the parent…?
When you sign RN after any document, including when you buy your house or car.
All.The.Time.
Yes! Then have to explain….
You know your an OR nurse when you hate the word “quite” you just have been jinxed. You have call on a night with a full moon and pay day its all over….just pack a bag with food it will be a long night
True! As soon as someone says the “Q” word, we’re doomed! I once went back & forth so many times one night (only lived 10 minutes away) that I actually couldn’t remember driving there for surgery!
When you work nights and answer your home/cell phone stating your unit and name. Confuses the heck out of people!
When your work bags has the supplies for any type of emergency! Mine does!
When you can eat popcorn out of a bed pan.
My coworker and I ate Pho out of a toilet hat one day when’s we had no bowls!
When your feet hurt so bad you can hardly press the gas or brakes to drive home
After working 14-16 hours, my legs actually hummed!
Oh my God….truly! I couldn’t get to sleep because of it!
When your family and friends call you, text you or visit you to ask you a clinical question.
Always…Then the check with their MD and he/she repeats exactly what I said.
When you are sleeping and you hear a sudden loud noise. You wake up and run towards a patient’s room, just to realized you are at home and your kids are playing in the livingroom.
When you include your credentials after signing your name!
You know you’re an OR nurse when you hand a knife or scissors to someone like a surgical instrument. Safety first and always!!
My husband & I do that all the time to each other. And he says “thank you Nurse” 😀
When you cut yourself at home (ie-cutting vegetables); clean it; then steri-strip and glove the hand with the cut; and finish cutting up vegetables.
(Yes, this recently happened to me.)
2 & 13!!! ROFLMAO!