My kids love asking me all about my adventures when I was working in the hospital before they were born. They love to hear all about how I had to work all night long, while the rest of the world was sleeping. They never get tired of asking exactly what kinds of things I did during my shifts as an Orthopedic nurse.I do a pretty good job of glossing over the 3:00 a.m. runs down to the cafeteria for Zingers and instead try to focus on you the, you know, actual work my job entailed.They are endlessly fascinated hearing about the patient I had who required leech therapy to heal his finger wound. They think it is just the coolest thing ever that I had to pluck the engorged leeches off his finger and hand carry them in specimen jars to the lab to be disposed of properly. Honestly, looking back on it now, it is pretty amazing.Because I worked on a post-surgical unit, most of my work stories involve pain management. Let’s just say some patients were easier than others. For instance, we used the standard 0-10 pain scale, known in the medical community as the Wong Baker pain scale. My sister and I get endless enjoyment out of the fact that it took two people apparently to come up with a pain scale that essentially is a bunch of variations of a happy face, but I digress.
I used to tell my patients that a 10 on the pain scale was the equivalent of their hand being in a fire, since a wise mentor nurse once advised me that people do better describing things that they can visualize. Needless to say, I was pretty surprised one night when a patient called out stating his pain was a 12. I quickly gathered his medicine and upon entering his room found him to be sound asleep and snoring. Obviously, he used the “man cold” pain scale to describe the way he was feeling.
While I no longer work the night shift at the hospital, I still keep my nursing license current and use it in a variety of ways to stay active. I enjoy doing flu shot clinics throughout the fall each year. I also love having the opportunity to sub in the health room at my childrens’ school, because that is where I can combine my nursing AND mom skills!
My girls ask me a lot about my decision to become a nurse and tell me all the time that they when they grow up they want to be a nurse just like me! I tell them that they couldn’t make a better career choice!
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I’m laughing right alongside you and your sister re: the happy-to-sad face pain scale. Loved hearing a little about your nursing career. I think it’s awesome that you keep your license renewed and continue to serve so many. Love that you can go and help out at the kiddos school.
Thanks Nicole! But honestly, when you see that pain scale, doesn’t it make you think that?! 😉
I loved the way you described being a nurse and that your kids love hearing all your stories. You never do know, but bet at least one of them will follow in your footsteps!! 🙂
I could totally see it happening Janine! Honestly from either one of my girls. 🙂
My kids would be fascinated with the leech story, too! It’s like something out of a movie! (I’m pretty fascinated with it, myself!)
It really was Ginny Marie…definitely one of the coolest things I ever got to do!
I had no idea there were faces to go along with the pain scale! I had a friend who had surgery and he thought 1 meant the most pain. Let’s just say he ended up a tad more medicated than needed! Luckily his wife is a nurse and caught on quickly. 🙂
LOL! That totally made me giggle!
My mom is a nurse anesthetist and I have always been in awe of nurses and what you all do. I couldn’t do it, I can’t even look at the fake stuff on TV!
Good for your mom Roni! That is a HARD job!
Unfortunately I’ve seen that face scale given to my poor Miles one too many times this past year! Nurses are unbelievable human beings. They were my heroes both times my son was in the hospital and when I was there delivering them. THANK YOU for all that you have done, and continue to do!!
You are welcome Allie! So glad that you have received such good nursing care! 🙂
I was in the hospital for 7 weeks with Jack and Ella and if it weren’t for the amazing nurses taking care of me I would have been (more?) crazy. I learned a lot from them and about them. It is definitely a calling because you cannot work that hard and not love what you are doing.
I do feel like extensive hospital stays really teach you a lot about nurses. My grandmother was in the ICU for 12 weeks while I was in high school, and the nurses were amazing.
They gave my daughter that happy sad face scale when she was sick about a year ago she pointed to the 1 said she didn’t feel well but she was happy. I said awwwwwww. I could never be a nurse I use to run away from needles….even as an adult sadly. I don’t like needles I would be that nurse that says can’t you take a nap for that or something.
It is definitely not for everyone Kita…if you are not a fan of needles, then nursing is tricky! 😉
I truly think nursing is a calling, because it’s a tough job trying to help and dealing with people at the same time. You need a lot of patience and a very giving personality. My kids would probably love your stories…the leech one is pretty amazing!
It can be really difficult at times Michelle to balance the desire to help with the less than pleasant personalities of patients, but overall it is worth it! 😉
Nurses are heroes. Can’t say enough about the NICU nurses who watched over my son for 46 days and all of the potential fires they helped put out when he was in trouble. Nursing is a great career for anyone. And no, it’s never too late for a career change.
So true Ilene. It is never too late. And thank God for those amazing nurses who took care of your son.
That pain scale! When I was in labor they asked me how I felt and told me to look at that stupid sign! WTH?!
I always thought that as a pizza deliverer in college, and as an Urban Innkeeper after it, I had the best on-the-job stories. I imagine you really do, though..
You should do a two truths and a lie post on it!
LOL Tamara! I totally should do one of those posts! 😉 I don’t know, though, because I would imagine you have some pretty amazing job stories!
Just spent a week with my mom in the ICU, and 99.5% of the nurses were angels. Smart, knowledgeable, assertive advocates for the patients and their families. I could not do that job in a million years, but am thankful that others can.
You said it perfectly Gaye. Hope your mom is doing better.
That pain scale is so ridiculous. I rolled my eyes and sighed every time I was asked in the hospital after a c-section.
During the few times that I’ve been in the hospital, either the one time when I had my son or when a family member was sick, it was the nurses who were indispensable. Always caring, kind, and knew what to do to get things done.
The nurses are definitely on the front lines! So glad you find the pain scale ridiculous, too! 😉
Nurses are the best! I’m proud you became one, and an RN no less, and that you kept your license.
I would probably add 2-3 points when reporting on the pain scale just to make sure my suffering was properly acknowledged.
HA HA HA John! Your last sentence made me laugh out loud!
I am too soft hearted for real. I used to think I wanted to be a nurse and work in a senior citizen facility.. then realized I would get attached and be a basket case if one passed. Then I thought ohh labor and delivery, but then the thought of trying to maintain composure with a family who lost their baby was an impossibility. I can’t stand needles or to see my kids get shots or blood drawn yeah I so would have sucked as a nurse..
It can be hard to not get personally involved in some cases, but actually that is not always a bad thing either.
Girl, tell the real reason you keep that nursing license!!! We couldn’t pass the test if we had to take it again! HA!!! LOL. I’m not kidding, am I? That thing was AW.ful! Leeches? Gross. Not my bag, but I had a kid barf into my underwear. That’s for another blog.
I BURST out laughing at this comment Stacey! You are SO RIGHT. I cannot imagine trying to do that exam again!! Barfing is your underwear is awesome in every way, and you must write about it!
Typical guy for sure!!! “Man cold syndrome” hits everywhere eh? LOL
I bet you were the BEST nurse, Ashley!!! Such a great shout out for incredibly talented and needed Nurses. I am proud to know so many who have hearts of GOLD. 🙂
Thanks Chris! I like to think I was pretty good at it! 😉
I commend you because I could never be a nurse. I’m too emotional and I panic easily and my husband would tell you that I don’t have a great bedside manner. I’m glad there are people like you though that enjoy it.
It is definitely not the job for everyone Dawn…I totally get that! 😉
Reading this makes me happy all over!! I love that your daughters want to be nurses, too!!!
And - a 12, really?! I think even at my worst I never go higher than 7 because I know that there are so many people in much worse pain.
Well, Kim, in his defense he was a total jerk! 😉 So, I am pretty sure he was not thinking of others! 😉
That’s great! I have seen that pain scale before and I always found it very amusing. Pain tolerance does depend on the person. I just chalk that 12 rating up to the fact he is a guy. 🙂
Totally depends on the person for sure! You are so right!
Amazing! Seriously. I have a friend who was a nurse on the cancer floor for years, and she was ALWAYS smiling, which I found so wonderful because it surely could bring you down doing that job day in and day out. She had a great attitude in general.
I LOVE that he said he was a 12 and then was snoring. Men are dramatic about pain, whereas women tend to downplay such things.
The oncology unit nurses are heroes. 100%. I bow down to them always.
I hate that pain scale!! Actually, I think it actually helps a bit. I concentrate so hard on trying to decide which number to accurately show my pain, and I forget some of the pain! Kinda like when I was a kid and I would stub my toe. My mom would say, “Do you want me to pinch your arm? Then your toe won’t hurt!”
We are a very sarcastic family!
Oh my God, my dad used to say the EXACT SAME THING to me whenever I was hurt! This comment totally made me laugh! 🙂
I worked as a phlebotomist for years while I was in college (Nursing school until I found out how miserable all of the floor nurses were….then I switched over to business!) I loved some of my “regular” patients I would see every day and rejoiced with them when they were discharged. It’s the one’s who didn’t make it that stuck with me. It takes a special person to be a nurse, and I have a ton of friends who are and enjoy it.
You definitely get attached to certain patients…that is so true! 🙂
Anyone who is a nurse gets my “hat off to them!” My mom was a nurse for over 15 years and I knew I’d never make a good nurse. Your job requires things that I definitely do not possess. This is such a great post.
Thanks Crystal! Good for your mom! She rocks! 🙂
From personal experience I know that nurses are the best people in the world.
I don’t quite understand man cold. Men are tough and wouldn’t complain unless it was extremely bad.
They certainly are Bill. Seattle more than proved that! 🙂
Nurses are awesome!
So are Zingers.
Right on both counts Amber! 🙂
My mother was a midwife, and I remember her stories about riding her bike to deliver someone’s baby. This was in ’50s England. If you have ever watched the show “Call the midwife” my mum looked just like the title character.
Nurses rule.
WOW Jill. Those stories must have been amazing. That is so cool! 🙂
My 15 year old has been talking about going into nursing lately. She has the compassion to do it, but I’m not sure about the patience…but time will tell!
That is great Dana. I hope she pursues it! 🙂
You must have endless cool stories about being a nurse! The leech one sounds interesting! Why on earth would someone need leech therapy!? Crazy!
It helped restore the blood flow to his finger, allowing it to heal properly Britt. It was super cool! 🙂
I admire nurses so much, because they have a thankless but incredibly important job. But it’s one that I could never do. Especially considering that I fainted when I watched one insert an IV into my arm once. Oh, by the way, a big thank you to that nurse for catching me before I fell and did anymore damage to myself. She’s my hero!
LOL Kristen! That nurse was obviously quick on her feet! 🙂
I work at a hospital and my nieces and nephew think that means I’m a Dr. I’m in bed management. haha 🙂
HA HA HA Amanda! That is absolutely hilarious!
Despise the pain scale… Nurses are the bravest people I know, Kudos to you!
Thanks Amber! No doubt that you have some firsthand knowledge of nurses and their caring! 🙂
The “man cold” pain scale! Tee hee.
Nurses are so important and I know that they have made my life easier on more than one occasion!
They should probably have a man cold scale. For reals. Lisa and I should totally invent it. We could call it The Dose Girls man cold scale! 😉
My dad is a doctor, and when I was little I would tell him I wanted to be a Mommy Doctor: a mommy AND a doctor (not an Ob/Gyn). I think that was partially because I understood what doctors did, as opposed to social workers (which my mom was…and ironically what I actually considered doing as an adult). That would be awesome, though, if one (or both!) of your kids followed in your footsteps 🙂
Cracking up Bev! Love that you said Mommy Doctor…totally adorable! 🙂
Nurses sure are the front line heroes. But leeches? Really? I think that would creep me out. But then again, a lot of things that you brave and wonderful nurses do are things that I couldn’t do. You and your fellow nurses have my admiration and gratitude.
Thanks Mo! Given my normal fear of all things bug related, I am kind of surprised it didn’t freak me out as much as I thought it would!
So much respect for nurses!!! I’m sure you have great stories - cool stories - and heartbreaking ones too. Take a tough cookie to be a good nurse:)
Thanks Leah! I am kind of a tough cookie! 😉
Nurses are such an important part of our society. We take them for granted a lot, but I will never forget the nurses who took care of me and my daughter during our hospital stays!
Thanks Camille! Reading through all of these comments makes me feel totally appreciated! 🙂
Haha! The man-pain scale is so different than the woman pain scale! My mother was an ICU nurse…and honestly I never wanted to be a nurse. She does have some pretty interesting stories though - even including one near-death-experience. How many people can say they saw that in their job?
That is incredible Leslie. ICU nurses are AMAZING. Seriously, they were always the kinds of nurses I aspired to be.
Sweets wants to be a doctor fairy. Not a doctor, not a doctor for fairies, but a doctor fairy. Whatever that is.
Also, Have you seen the awesome Allie Brosh’s pain chart? Disclaimer: This is not for professional use. 😉
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/02/boyfriend-doesnt-have-ebola-probably.html
So cute! A doctor fairy! 🙂 Love it! And yes, I have seen that pain chart before, and it made me cry with laughter!!
So cool learning about your nursing career!! I have the greatest respect for nurses, they world so hard and really are the backbone of the entire medical field. I love that you sub at the school so nice! It’s so great that you keep your license current because you never know when you might need it!
Thanks Nellie! I worked hard for that license, so I would never let it expire! 😉
i believe anything in the nursing and health care field is such an admirable career position. saving lives or helping people feel less pain, i can’t imagine anything better.
Once upon a time I wanted to be a nurse but when a nurse took me to the nursing school I changed my mind. I applaud you for what you did and for keeping your toe in the water.