Growing up, I was fortunate to have a friend whose mother was a dedicated nurse. I loved spending time at their house, captivated by the fascinating stories she shared about her patients and the high-stakes situations she encountered in her bustling medical unit. Their home felt like a mini-hospital: instead of regular Band-Aids, they had medical supplies galore, complete with cotton and medical tape. Gift-wrapping involved bandage scissors, and I found her crisp white uniform and stethoscope around her neck awe-inspiring. She was the go-to mom for any neighborhood mishap, always ready with the right remedy.
As I matured and contemplated my future career, it was this remarkable woman who inspired me to volunteer at her hospital. I spent my days delivering flowers and mail to different patient units, getting an inside look at the hospital’s rhythm. The sounds of the ICU and the hustle of the emergency department enchanted me. The day she guided me through her nursing station and described her responsibilities as a head nurse, I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I graduated from nursing school in 1997, largely due to her influence.
However, it wasn’t until I became a parent that I truly appreciated the incredible resilience of nurses who are also mothers. Nurses inherently prioritize their patients’ needs above their own, often sacrificing meals or bathroom breaks to ensure someone else receives the care they need. Moms, too, are selfless, often neglecting their own needs for the sake of their children. Combine the two roles, and you have a powerhouse of dedication that is nothing short of badass.
1. Endless Duties
For nurse mothers, the challenges are constant. They spend their days tending to wounds and dealing with bodily fluids, and then return home to face the chaos of parenting, especially with toddlers in the mix.
2. Wrong Orders All Around
Hospital food is notoriously subpar, and when patients are unwell, the standard meals simply won’t suffice. Nurses often cobble together nutritious meals from whatever is available. At home, they switch gears to become short-order cooks, sometimes still navigating wrong food orders.
3. Crying Never Stops
Nurses encounter emotional crises daily, from supporting families facing loss to comforting patients in distress. When they return home, they still have enough energy to soothe a child’s fears from a nightmare or mend a broken heart.
4. Skin Issues Galore
From diaper rashes to odd skin conditions, a nurse mom’s life is filled with rashes. If you know one, it’s best to avoid asking her to examine that strange bump you have—she has seen more than enough.
5. Laundry Mountain
In hospitals, nurses change sheets and patient gowns frequently, often facing a mountain of laundry. At home, they tackle a similar situation, compounded by the endless laundry from kids.
6. Always on Duty
Nurses are accustomed to emergencies, and a mom nurse is never off the clock. Be it a playground accident or a medical crisis, she’s ready to leap into action, even when she’s off duty.
It’s a universal truth that every one of us has been cared for by a nurse at some point in our lives. Given that we all have mothers, it follows that we’ve witnessed their incredible strength firsthand. If you encounter a nurse who is also a mom, take a moment to express your gratitude and perhaps refrain from discussing your last doctor’s visit—she’ll appreciate it.
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Summary
Nurse moms embody resilience and dedication, balancing the demands of their profession with the challenges of motherhood. They are skilled caregivers in both the hospital and the home, often facing a whirlwind of responsibilities and emergencies. Their ability to provide care under pressure, coupled with their unwavering commitment to their families, makes them true heroes.