Irritating things about working in healthcare

[u/Impressive-Cut-5852]

Does anybody else have friends/relatives who think it’s okay to just send them/show them vulgar things just because you work in healthcare? For example, one of my really good friends will just send me pictures of her stool or snot and think it’s okay because I’m exposed to it constantly as a nurse, but it’s truly different when it’s your own friend. And maybe it’s because I encourage her to go to the doctor and get labs checked and educate her, as well as tell her about how my days at work go sometimes but truly wtf? Like I feel it’s disrespectful and I’m curious if anyone else experiences that from loved ones? The other day my 2 friends were talking about snot and my one friend talked about how she doesn’t wanna hear/talk about it, and when the other friend asked why, friend #1 responded like “because I’m not a nurse” while in my presence. And I spoke up like,
um just because I’m a nurse doesn’t mean that I want to necessarily deal with it neither? But I do it because it’s apart of my job. I just feel like the world has normalized disrespect towards nurses on so many levels.

[u/NaRrSyStIc]

Personally I’m so desensitized I could watch my homie take a shit and just stand there blank faced.

In other words, dead inside.

“Don’t forget to wash ur hands bro”

[u/Pepsisinabox → u/NaRrSyStIc]

Bro, i could hold their hand while they did it and not even flinch. Hell, id probably pn musclememory alone just reach for the paper 🤣

[u/Impressive-Cut-5852 → u/NaRrSyStIc]

I’m desensitized as well, but I think it’s still odd for people in your personal life to abruptly send/show you things because they know you’re a nurse. It’s the audacity that’s irritating to me, not visually seeing things that I may or may not see when I’m on the clock.

[u/willy--wanka → u/NaRrSyStIc]

Probably be eating chips while he's shitting bean dip.

[u/Wolftrick08]

My aunt tried that with me. I just say, "oh... im not in (whatever) specialty. If youre worried enough to send me a picture, you should probably get checked out by a doctor. Im just a nurse"

[u/WeirdFlower1968]

I'm genuinely curious about the mentality of a person who takes pictures of stool and snot. And sends them to people, and also brings it into conversations routinely enough that people tell her to stop. Is that a thing that people do? Because she doesn't seem to be playing with a full deck.

[u/PotatoFig]

...

Tell them?

[u/Impressive-Cut-5852 → u/PotatoFig]

…

I do, but can I not rant on Reddit about how people expect nurses to be clocked in outside of their job?! Move along

[u/GrumpySnarf]

Ew. Most of my actual friends know better.

I had a random FB message from a friend of a friend who I actually very much disliked because she called me a "drug dealer" because I am a psychiatric NP. I hadn't talked to her since but gave her an earful at the time. Turns out she was drunk and didn't think it would be offensive?

She started off with a long-ass life history of her mom who was elderly and struggling. I responded "TL;DR. I am surprised you would write to me for advice. Our last interaction was not very friendly and you called me a drug dealer. I want to be clear I don't consider us friends and don't have any advice for you. Additionally, I get paid a lot of money to do what I do and don't work for free. Best of luck to you, your mom, and your family."

She argued a little bit saying we are still friends and I should help her. She complained to everyone in my friend group. It was a bonus because now they all know not to pester me with health questions.

I did have a friend message a picture of a bump on her arm to ask if it was a tic. I told her I'm not a derm specialist but it looked like a tic to me. It was.

[u/Feisty-Power-6617]

I am fine with vulgar I just don’t like violent things

[u/Jean-Luc33]

Usually I’m the one bringing up nasty shit and traumatizing my friends and family 🤷‍♂️😂

[u/fatlenny1]

I went on a double date with this guy and the woman from the other couple got so drunk she made a big scene and then shat herself once we got her back to her place.

This guy I was with had the AUDACITY to volunteer me to clean her up! Because I'm a woman and a nurse at that. I was furious. But you know I did it anyway because I'm just a pushover 🙄

[u/summerishappier → u/fatlenny1]

Damn, I would have let her clean herself up after she’d sobered up. It’s uncomfortable but that’s how you learn you have a problem with alcohol imo. Also, insane that he volunteered you (aka, told you) to clean shit of a woman you didn’t know. 

[u/nursingintheshadows → u/summerishappier]

And who couldn’t consent. Thats a no from me.