I have been a nurse over 25 years, well over half my life. As you can imagine, I have seen and heard some strange things in that time. As nurses, we are privy to many vulnerable moments. Occasionally as we discuss our work, it sounds even more bizarre. As I reflect on my career, I can’t help but ponder some of the more unusual occurrences.
Last week was a first; I took a shower with a patient admitted with diarrhea who soiled both himself and the bathroom. As I went to help him back to bed to clean him up, he asked why we couldn’t just use the hand held shower hose and floor drain to clean both him and the bathroom in one fell swoop. Brilliant! I wish I had thought of it. I rolled up my pant legs and got to work.
Another time I heard myself say something to a patient I have never said before; “I just want to bite your toes”. I was holding a baby’s foot as the phlebotomist drew blood. My children are 21, 19, and soon to be 13 but I used to playfully nibble their “piggies”.
A few years ago, I had a breast reduction. A frequent patient in our small town has become a dear friend. She knew I had the surgery and asked how it went. As we talked I lifted my scrub and modeled how I looked in my sports bra.
Yesterday I had another first. I had a conference call with the first lady, Michelle Obama. (Of course, there were 5,000 other nurses on the call and I was in listen-only mode, but still!)
So, there you have it; showering with one patient, wanting to bite another’s toes, and flashing yet another before taking a conference call with the first lady. All in a day’s work for a nurse. If that doesn’t recruit people to our profession, I don’t know what will!
So, what was your most unusual nursing moment?

As nurses, we complete annual tests to demonstrate our competency in cultural diversity. I am rather well traveled and believe I am culturally competent and tolerant as a whole.
I remember more than a decade ago as Jay Leno featured his wife, Mavis Leno’s work addressing the plight of Afghan women. It was the first I had ever heard of a burqa, the enveloping outer garment worn by women over the usual daily clothing for the purpose of hiding a woman’s body when in public from the view of men that are not her family. I viewed it as an oppressive item of clothing to symbolize and reinforce women’s inferior social status. I have heard some Afghan women now choose to continue to wear the burqa long after they are no longer required. They say they feel more comfortable and confident. I, of course, being a modern, Western woman believed the women were too oppressed and afraid of the repercussions to emerge from behind their veils.
You may have read my previous blog regarding my physician’s comment I would be a size 2 after 2 years in a Chinese labor camp. As much as I hate to admit it, his comment has taken a toll on my self esteem. As I donned my favorite pair of oversized, unisex lavender scrubs to go to work, I was surprised to find myself thinking it was the first time since his derogatory comments I felt comfortable and confident in my attire. My uniform not only represents my profession but the oversized, unisex garment provides an enveloping outer garment to hide my body while at work. I realized I found comfort in the fact that I would be judged as a nurse rather than the merits of my figure.
So, I suddenly have a new appreciation of the women who choose to wear a burqa. I still don’t want to see any human being oppressed or forced to follow harsh mandates. We are so fortunate to live in a country that honors and respects liberty and justice for all. I did develop a small appreciation and respect for another culture, however. In the words of Helen Keller, “The highest result of education is tolerance.”

My hospital has a wall with “Shining Stars”, recognition to outstanding staff members. I enjoy looking at it and recognize names that seem to appear quite often.

Two nurses who consistently had numerous stars worked another department and shift. I was only blessed to meet each in person only once as each was admitted to our facility before they bravely lost their battles with cancer. I was shocked to realize many of the comments patients offered occurred at a time these nurses were probably much sicker than the patients for which they cared.

Our small hospital is also still reeling from the loss of another co-worker who went home one day and killed herself. We are all still shocked our co-worker felt such despair and pain that suicide seemed her only hope.

Another co-worker is a 50 something who finds herself living at home with her parents due to life’s hard knocks. For the last year or so, she would work her long 12 hour night shifts only to go home and care for her dying father. I will attend his funeral today.

As I ponder this I am reminded of two things. First, I must look past the patients and really see my co-workers. There really is no “us” on this side of the bed caring for the hurting “them” in the bed. We are all fragile, precious humans in need. Second, there can be beauty for ashes. The same unfair hand life dealt my friend allowed her to be home to care for her father when he needed her most.

There really is no “us” or “them”. Take time to be kind and tender-hearted; let’s be good to each other out there.