Nurse Moms are Incredible Humans
To the mom, who is also a Nurse: You are incredible.
I recognize your hard work, and I empathize with your struggle. And you are holding it together way better then you realize.
Being a nurse is hard work. Being a Mom is hard work. Add the two together, and you have one incredibly hard-working, badass, multitasking superhero with skills that can save lives. It’s a pretty awesome combination.
When I first graduated from college with my journalism degree (many years before I went back for my BSN), I entered the field of medical equipment sales. I spent my time selling medical devices to surgeons in operating rooms up and down the west coast. I probably worked with hundreds of nurses during that time, and from an outsider’s perspective, I thought the nurse’s job was easy.
Then I went to nursing school. And it pretty much kicked my butt from start to finish. I can honestly say it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.
There is a nurse’s code of ethics that requires we protect our patients and give them the best care we possibly can. When Nurse Moms leave after a long, often grueling 12-hour shift, their job doesn’t stop. In actuality, they just go home to their other full-time job: motherhood.
Nurse Moms know that toddlers are like tiny little psych patients.
In the emergency room, I deal with every single type of mental and psychiatric disorder ever documented in literature. Nurses work with everything from homicidal schizophrenia to depression or anxiety and everything in between.
Some of the irrational conversations I have with my two-year-old remind me of some of the patients I have had to deal with at the hospital. For example, I have watched her throw herself on the floor in a fit of tears because I didn’t peel the banana “the right way.” Sometimes it even happens in public, which is always a fun treat for me!
Nurse Moms learn not to react to these toddler meltdowns because it only makes things worse, just like it does with an irrational patient. Unfortunately, I can’t call a security guard to help me with my toddler like I can with a combative patient (although it would be nice!).
For the Nurse Mom, the poo never stops coming.
Nurses deal with a lot of poo. Sometimes patients are incontinent, or they have diarrhea, or they just need help. As a Nurse, it’s absolutely no big deal to clean and change adult diapers. Its primary care, and it is essential.
After work, the Nurse Mom with little ones continues to deal with poo. Therefore, poo pretty much exists in every aspect of their life, both at home and at work. For that reason, I think the Nurse Mom deserves some acknowledgment.
But its OK. Its just poo.
Nurse moms never stop caring about others’ needs first – despite the many challenges they face.
Nurse Moms don’t sweat the small stuff.
Moms who are also nurses are usually more concerned about the things that might kill someone.
Sure, a broken arm would suck, and NO mom wants to see their child in pain. But a broken bone won’t kill you. Like, for example, falling out a window in a home that is not childproofed.
Nurse Moms make sure their homes are safe for their kids, but don’t helicopter parent them from ever injuring themselves. Kids grow and learn a lot through play, and they are going to get hurt once in a while. Minor injuries are a part of childhood.
Additional recommended reading: Alternative Medicine: Unique Careers Within Nursing
Nursing and motherhood are a work of heart!
Being a Nurse Mom makes me appreciate how lucky I am to have healthy children.
During my ER nurse training program, I got an opportunity to work in our pediatric unit. I assure you pediatric nurses I worked with are nothing short of amazing!
Many pediatric nurses work with parents who practically live at the hospital for weeks, months, or even years at a time because their child is sick. A ‘normal’ crazy busy day with their child at home would be the best gift in the world.
The motherhood/nurse combination is a challenging balance (especially for the pumping mom!), but it is also an honor and a privilege that many women are grateful to have. So next time you run into a Nurse Mom who looks tired, know that it’s possible that she hasn’t slept in a week. And give her a high-five.
Additional recommended reading:
- 9 Tips For Working As A Nurse While Pregnant
- Is Nursing A Good Career For Moms?
- Why Nurses Need To Practice Yoga?
- Simple Ways To Exercise As A Busy Nurse Mom?
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