Sometimes, We Just Have to Laugh

Our jobs as nurses can take a lot out of a person. We are subject to some of the most intimate and stressful moments of a person’s life. But it’s not always serious and I know I’ve had many laughs with coworkers. The stories we could tell about former coworkers, bosses, patients, and families...

I think that as long as we are not identifying people and are not being disrespectful (telling these funny stories where the general public can hear them and quite possibly misunderstand them), then there’s nothing wrong with a good laugh. It’s what gets most of us through a particularly hard shift sometimes.

I received an email the other day from a friend of mine. It was one of those “you know you’re a nurse when…” and some made me really and truly laugh out loud. How many of these have you experienced or done?

1- you believe that saying "it can't get any worse" causes it to get worse just to show you it can.

2- you have ever had a patient look you straight in the eye and say "I have no idea how that got stuck in there."

3- you've had to leave a patient's room before you begin to laugh uncontrollably.

4- you don't get excited about blood, unless it's your own.

5- you've sworn to have "do not resuscitate" tattooed on your chest. Soon.

6- discussing dismemberment over a gourmet meal is perfectly normal to you.

7- your idea of fine dining is anywhere you can sit down to eat.

8- your bladder can expand to the size of a Winnebago's water tank.

9- you have seen more penises than any prostitute could dream of.

And my particular favorite:

10- you've ever heard a patient with a nose ring, a brow ring, and twelve earrings say "I'm afraid of shots."