Beyond the bedside – Why Nurses Are Never Truly Off Duty
“Could you have a look at my foot?”
“Should I finish my antibiotic script if I am feeling better?”
“Do you mind coming to the doctor with me, as you understand doctor lingo?”
You’ve likely studied nursing, and joined the nursing workforce, because you care about people. Or maybe you are just fascinated by the human body and how medications and therapies work to improve lives. But what you might not have realised is just how much your career would infuse into your everyday life. Let’s explore how the role of a nurse stretches far beyond the bedside and hours in a shift.
Providing advice to a friend
Being the nurse friend, your friends will likely call on you for support, advice and guidance at any time of day, often before they visit their GP. Nurses are trained to listen in a way that differs from other professions, and this is likely why nurses are regarded as one of the most trusted professions in Australia. Nurses are taught to recognise both verbal and non-verbal cues in order to make an accurate assessment.
You may have experienced some of the following situations with your friends;
- Telling a friend to “get that checked out” with a calm level of urgency, as something doesn’t look right
- Giving COVID-related advice
- Recognising signs of depression
- Having a friend snap chat or text you an image of a suspicious rash on their arm
- Encouraging a friend to take leave as you’ve recognised signs of burnout
- Helping your friend prepare for surgery and/or provide tips for post-op
Listening and supporting your family
Amongst those closest to you, there could be an unspoken expectation that the nurse will be able to help, no matter the situation. Whether it’s giving advice on how often you should change your sheets, to knowing if a particular washing detergent is bad for your skin, it’s likely they will turn to you first. If there is the faintest link to health, you are the expected expert. Whilst you’ll give it your best shot, based on prior knowledge and a logical answer, you may Google it like everyone else.
For questions a little more serious, surrounding different symptoms, your family may listen to your recommendations to see a doctor more than the next person. They trust that you love them and are genuinely concerned about them due to your level of education. They know you wouldn’t advise them to see a doctor if it was going to waste their time.
In true nursing fashion, you’d probably pull out a notepad or open the notes section of their phone and jot down some questions they should ask. This may include discussions around medications they need to take and why, their allergies and past history, because you know they will forget once they get inside. You may even volunteer to go with them to their appointment to ensure nothing is forgotten and a clear care plan is established.
Assessing the people around you
You know you’re a nurse when you’re constantly assessing strangers. From the elderly lady trying to catch her breath at the bus stop, to the young child coughing around the shopping centre. How many times have you been able to identify symptoms and suggest possible prognosis in your mind.?
Though we didn’t sign anything to say we would look out for people in public, off duty, it’s the nursing intuition that can’t be turned off. Nurses notice things that may be slightly out of the ordinary and just don’t feel right. We stop for people who fall off their bike, we ask the person sweating profusely at the store if they are okay, we help people in distress on planes and investigate why we haven’t seen our elderly neighbour for a few days. Though others may notice these situations too, the difference is that nurses stop and do something about it. We can’t just walk on by.
Caring never stops, but it doesn’t mean you can’t clock off. How do you find your zen?
If you’ve been on a plane recently, you would have been reminded that you need to apply the oxygen mask on yourself before others. Take this moment to think about what you are doing for yourself. How are you filling your cup to be the best nurse at work whilst also somebody who is relaxed and happy outside of work?
A great way to manage a work-life balance is agency nursing. Have a look at why you should work with NNA and how you can register with us today!
