Nurse, Heal Thyself

Have you ever heard someone say that doctors and nurses make the worst patients? Well, as the daughter of a nurse, I can tell you it’s true.

My mom has been complaining about her knees needing replaced for over two decades. She has more excuses to not have it done than anyone can imagine. My guess is that she’ll wait another two decades, which will put her in her 90s, and then figure she’s too old.

The other thing that drives me crazy about my mom is that she doesn’t wear her medical alert bracelets to let emergency personnel know that she’s allergic to penicillin. You’d think a retired nurse would know how important that is, right?

This is the woman who encouraged me to quit smoking – for decades. This is the woman who every single person in the family calls for medical information or to translate doctorspeak. You know she’d read any of us the riot act if we were avoiding needed surgery or refused to wear a bracelet that could save our lives.

The woman thinks she’s invincible, though. I love her, but she makes me crazy!