I really enjoy nursing. Granted, you have your stressful days, but I enjoy my career path. But one of the things I have noticed is that nursing is not just a job: It is a way of life. The skills you learn carry over into all areas of your life. Your nursing career as a Registered Nurse RN doesn’t stop when you clock out.
Ways that Nursing Spills Over Into My Personal Life
Nursing does affect many aspects of my personal life. I often find myself lecturing my papaw about taking his heart medication regularly. I even take his blood pressure sometimes for him (as he gets nervous in the doctor’s office and often has a higher reading).
When someone in my family gets sick, they often ask me questions about the safeness of their medications ( such as if I have ever given them at my job), and so forth. I don’t mind at all, and I am always glad to offer any help or advice. I know that when people get sick or have health issues, they often stress about their health and medical treatments. So I am glad to provide any advice or tips I can.
I even find myself helping my husband as much as I can. Any time he gets sick, I treat him just like a patient. I do everything in my power to make him recover. He also has one of the physical urticarias known as Cholinergic Urticaria. This is a type of hives that develop in response to heat. So whenever he gets hot, exercises, or anything that raises his body temperature, he can develop the Cholinergic Urticaria symptoms. So I often find myself helping him avoid situations that cause hives, and I help him monitor the condition. I also make sure he treats his Cholinergic Urticaria by taking antihistamines or other medications.
I also lecture my mother (asking her to stop smoking), and I also try to persuade her to stop eating junk food (high cholesterol).
And I even find myself giving nurse advice to myself! I often give myself a mental lecture if I find that I am eating too much fast food, or if I am not getting enough exercise.
All in all, nursing has definitely spilled over into my personal life. I have learned that nursing isn’t just a job, but a philosophy. It has certainly made me more aware of my own health, and I make sure to do everything I can to protect that health.