Fifteen Reasons To Date A Nurse

November 21, 2013




I just saw this on Facebook and had to share it with you. It really gave me a laugh this morning. I know all my nurse friends will love it also. My comments are in parentheses. Feel free to add your own.

1. Nurses are compassionate and patient, and are often great listeners. (  WE are mostly compassionate but patient?     Not if you work in the  surgical setting)

2. Nurses are super-smart. If you’re into both brains and beauty, your date can deliver. ( ALWAYS true!)

3. Tired of nursing that hangover? Let an actual nurse work his/her feel-better magic. ( ? ) 

4. Nurses have seen bodies of all shapes and sizes — and witnessed every kind of bodily function imaginable. Your    insecurities and body quirks will likely leave your date unfazed. ( Some things should remain a mystery.)

5. No waiting in line. You’ll get a quick diagnosis every time you feel under the weather. ( What you'll really get       is, "Suck it up. You're not dying." Unless of course you actually are.)

6. The uniform. It’s not just sexy on Halloween. (Translation: those scrubs just look so cute and comfy.)

7. Impressive nerves. Nurses remain calm and collected in pretty stressful situations. You want to be dating a nurse     in times of emergency and chaos. 

8. Nurses work long hours. So if you want a little alone time, a nurse’s crazy schedule might suit you just fine.
    (especially if she wakes you up in the middle of the night for a call shift.)

9. Nurses make great future parents. No pressure or anything. ( Why?)

10. You’ll be safe. Date a nurse and you’ve got instant access to CPR, safety advice and disease-prevention tips.

11. Awesome “How was your day?” stories. Nurses have endless tales of patient and/or doctor drama. (Totally            true.)

12. You’ll start to understand the medical jargon on your favorite medical dramas.

13. Nurses will love your thoughtful gestures. They give to others all day and can often feel unappreciated.

14. Nurses understand selflessness, one of the key ingredients to a healthy relationship. ( Finally, someone                   understands us!)

15. Your date saves lives. That’s brag-worthy.

Tell us, why else should one consider dating a nurse?

Epic Go Live

June 6, 2013



This week was the start of our new computer documentation system at work.  After HOURS of training we finally got to work with the program in real time. All I can say is "It's about time!!!"


Stress levels were very high for everyone. Nurses don't take to change all that easily. I worked Saturday and Sunday so was able to get familiar with the chart while we were slow. But Monday morning we began a typical day. When we arrived at work there was a plethora of tech support. Staff from Epic in Wisconsin inundated us with their presence. And they were all so YOUNG. I was asking 22 year olds to help me navigate my charting. But finally after some glitches and frustrating moments I finally got the hang of it. And when all else failed old fashioned note writing is available. Only now it is legible and accessible to all.


Through out it all we had to remember to LOOK at our patients. The reason we were there! And for the most part I think we succeeded in putting them at ease. Lots of explanations and reassurances that they would be taken care of just like they were in the past. At least I hope we conveyed that sentiment. And I know in a few weeks this will be old hat to us. I am continually awed at the adaptability of nurses. We are able to modify the craziest of changes and STILL care for our patients. And to all the colleagues I work beside everyday and all the nurses who came to support us from other areas, you are the BEST. It is going so well because of you and your commitment to superior patient care.

Nursing Reform Bill

May 31, 2013



Senator Barbara Boxer, D-California has proposed a bill in congress that establishes nurse-patient ratios, protects whistle blowers, and invests in nurse mentorship. Its a long time coming. California has had minimum staffing ratios since 2004. It is imperative that we maintain a safe environment for our patients.


What the lay person may not always realize is your nurse is your first line of defense when you are hospitalized. They are with you 24 hours a day and are your best advocate. We are a team, physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapist, etc. But only your nurse is responsible for you every minute of his/her shift. We will most likely be the first to notice a change in your condition and report it to your physician. We will make sure you receive all your medications, get bathed and fed, get to tests on time and be there to listen to you. We wil advocate for you. We are an invaluable asset to your speedy recovery. And when recovery is not possible it is most likely a nurse who will be there to comfort you.


This bill was before the senate in the past. I hope it is passed this time. Proper staffing ratios allows us to provide the kind of compassionale care that all patients deserve.

Nurses Week

May 8, 2013





I have always wanted to be a nurse. It's the only profession I ever considered, except for law. And that would have taken too much time. After all I wanted to get married to my "soul mate." I wanted to be Jesse Brewer. Who remembers her? I have never regretted my decision to become a nurse even though the soul mate part didn't exactly work out.

But when my daughter called me in her freshman year at college to tell me she wanted to switch her major from teaching to nursing I actually cried and begged her to reconsider. Nursing is hard. The hours are brutal, the physical part is tough and working with mostly women is not an easy task! You are constantly dealing with people who are in stressful situations. Staff as well as patients. You work weekends, nights and holidays. Sometimes even your birthday! Which I hate!!!

But there are few professions where you can make such a difference in someone's life. Even for a short period. To be able to ease someone's anxiety, relieve their pain and help them return to their lives is an amazing thing. I love working in the Recovery Room or, as it is now called, the PACU. The relief on the face of my patients as I lean over and say," Your surgery is over. You're waking up," is so gratifying. 

I'm not going to pretend that it is paradise. It is stressful and challenging each and every day. I am so proud of Hilary for listening to her instincts instead of mine. Even if there is a lot of truth to my warnings. Especially the one about snowstorms. You are never going to get a call to stay home! More likely you will have to get up even earlier than usual so you won't be late.

So, happy nurses week to all my fellow nurses. I am proud to be counted among you. Let's encourage each other and mentor new nurses. And let's take care of ourselves so we can care for others.

Advanced Directives

March 5, 2013



Last night I saw a story on the news about a nurse in California who refused to give CPR to a resident in a retirement home. The 911 dispatcher was begging her to give CPR but she refused citing her facility policy. And without knowing any of the circumstances the nurse was condemned in every article I read on the internet.


This morning several publications have now stated they do not know if the woman was actually a nurse. At the time of the news story it was not known if the resident had a Do Not Resuscitate order. Just a generalized disgust at the person who claimed to be a nurse.

I do not know all the details of this particular circumstance. Apparently the elderly woman did not have a DNR order. But ANYONE can give CPR. To immediately exploit the story to bash the "nurse" is irresponsible. Would I have done the same thing? Maybe not, but I have no way of knowing. Perhaps the woman was afraid she would jeopardize her job. Perhaps she wasn't really a nurse. Let's wait to hear the whole story before we start to condemn a whole profession of dedicated care givers.

And while I'm at it EVERYONE should have advanced directives. Patients jokingly respond when asked, "He/She gets everything." Not the same thing at all. I don't care who is getting your jewelry or your house. I need to know who is responsible for making health care decisions for you. PUT IT IN WRITING. It is the kindest thing you can do for your family.

Blizzard 2013

February 11, 2013


Okay. First of all, I'm not listening to WTNH for weather in the morning. They pooh poohed the whole storm thing. But I listened to Channel 3. They predicted a BIG storm. So thankfully this time I was prepared. Except for the fact that I left the big shovel in the shed which I couldn't open so I had to use the teeny shovel I keep in my car. I'll add that to the list of storm preparedness for next time!


I had gas in my car, cash, food and lanterns. So when the power went out Friday night at 7PM I was under control. I reached for the Coleman lantern I had charging (thanks to Annemarie) and all the other flashlights I strategically placed in each room (thanks to Annie) and I promptly went to bed. And instructed Hilary to get under the covers also because it was going to get cold. But....I couldn't read because I was worried about running out of batteries and I couldn't sleep because it was too early. So I took an Ambien, something I haven't done in months. But "what the heck," I thought. If there was ever a time for Ambien it's when you have no heat. I guess it worked because when the lights went back on again at 10:30 I thought it was the middle of the night. And when my iPhone alarmed and vibrated off the nightstand to give me a blizzard warning at 4AM I nearly hit the ceiling. Why 4AM? They surely knew long before then.


Anyway I was so glad to have power. It made being snowbound so much easier to bear. My street wasn't plowed for three days. Hamden, it seems, got the most snow, 40 inches. So I was understanding about the roads not being plowed. Even after my driveway was plowed I could not drive down my street. I actually got tired of cooking, doing laundry and cleaning. One day I just sat around reading, watching Dexter and sleeping in front of the fire. Oh, and did I mention eating nonstop and starting cocktails way sooner than an ordinary day? Why did I do that? Because of the snow or the fact that I couldn't leave my house? Whatever the reason, it will be good to get back to a normal routine.


And to everyone who worked and stayed at work because they couldn't be relieved (nurses, doctors and first responders) as well as all the public works crews and utility employees and my neighbor Dom, who plowed my driveway, thank-you. You have made it possible to survive another storm as a single woman! The only thing that didn't go well was getting Hilary to work. And all you nurses out there know how guilty she felt about that.

Happy Friday

December 14, 2012


Not much to say and no time to say it anyway. Running off to work. I survived my first Pilates class. Going to try Zumba and cycling next! In spite of creaking joints and groaning on my part.

I used to work with someone who proclaimed "Happy Friday" every week. At that time it really was happy. No weekends, holidays or call. We didn't know how good it was. But we still have jobs. So think of everyone who is working this weekend to keep you safe and healthy. Not just nurses and doctors, but policemen, firemen and EMTs.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Can Computers Replace Doctors?

December 11, 2012


Last week the Times had an article about computer diagnosis. Programs that allow one to input symptoms and it will give you a differential diagnosis. And apparently some systems are quite accurate.

But to replace a doctor? I don't think so. I know many physicians who can outsmart a computer. Really. They are compassionate and caring people. They spend time with their patients, answering questions and going over things again and again. Sometimes so much so that I want to go behind the curtain to rescue them(or at least hurry them up!) I would like to think we can exist side by side. Computers to AID human contact not replace it. Some of the best treatment involves just listening to patients. And some of the best doctors really listen to their patients. And the really terrific ones listen to the nurses as well!

Check-up

November 29, 2012


Yesterday I took my sister to the Yale Stroke Center to see the doctor who became like family to me last year. I won't name him to protect his privacy but at a time when I was literally on the edge, hanging on by my fingertips, he provided a calm and compassionate outlook. I asked for him everyday and came to rely on his advice.

You may remember that a week after Dave left to live with his lesbian lover, my sister had a stroke. I was literally inconsolable. But I knew I had to take care of her because she had always taken care of me when I was young. I talked myself into getting up and going to the Yale Neuro ICU every day for 6 weeks. I carried a legal pad and wrote down everything that was said to me. Every diagnosis, the name of everyone who entered the room, her vital signs and sometimes, what she ate. I knew I was risking staff alienation (no medical person likes to see someone taking notes on everything that is being done) but I had to have a record because I was so disconnected I couldn't remember anything. I wanted to explain my situation but it wasn't about me so I kept quiet. I knew sometimes I looked like a lunatic but I didn't care.

I was sure my sister would never leave Yale. But she eventually went to an ECF and worked hard at physical, occupational and speech therapy. She is home now with lots of help and her doctor today was very pleased with her progress. And he was the same calm and rational presence that I remembered from a year ago.

So I have to thank all the nurses and residents who graciously endured my crazy behavior. Who took all my phone calls no matter what time. The staff who explained to me over and over what was happening and what was being done. I am proud to be a member of the same profession. It is always harder on the other side of the bed. But they made it much easier for me. I will be eternally grateful.