Life
Here's What It's Really Like To Date A Nurse
I have only been in one relationship with a nurse, but I gotta say: I highly recommend it. In the almost two years I've been with my girlfriend, who recently became a psychiatric nurse practitioner, it's become apparent to me that the same qualities that make for a good nurse also make for a stellar romantic partner. High-caliber human beings come in all professions, of course, but I can't help but feel that actively trying to date a nurse might possibly be a brilliant idea. In honor of National Nurses Week , let me tell you why.
My partner and I met at Burning Man, when I was having a not-so-good night
Sensing my dismay, she invited me to tag along with her and her friends
and suddenly, my night got a whole lot better
Who was this smart, kind woman?
but once we hung out Back at home, i found she was usually busy
With her nursing school studies, of course.
So I just hung around her apartment and read while she studied
Because let’s face it: Sharing common space while doing nothing in particular is like 50 percent of a relationship, anyway.
And that’s sort of how we started dating
It was during a pretty volatile period of my own life
yet my occasional (ok, frequent) emotional breakdowns didn't seem to phase her
...because she's literally had professional training on how to handle emotional breakdowns
She is a compassionate, patient listener
Because People who aren’t compassionate and patient generally don’t go into nursing
she didn’t judge me for any of my anxieties or insecurities
Perhaps because she’s seen much more severe versions of those same anxieties in her patients.
yes, when your partner is a nurse, you’ve got a medical professional by your side at all times
like that time Early in our relationship, when I fainted while on a hike
She caught me, assessed my vitals, and concluded that I was okay. it was hot.
I finished the hike, too!
and when I came down with the flu, she made sure I drank plenty of liquids and got my rest
I soon returned the favor after she caught the same flu from me.
But having a nurse practitioner as a partner is awesome, even when you're not sick
because she keeps my hypochondriac tendencies in check
The mild stomach ache I’m experiencing is probably just indigestion, not kidney stones.
And always tells me when TV shows are making stuff up
Like Homeland. If Carrie was bipolar, she proooobably wouldn’t be prescribed Clozaril.
Arguments are even easier, since she’s trained to be patient and communicative
Which has in turn made me that much more patient, communicative, and appreciative
yes, with a nurse, you even eat more healthy
and I know I exercise more than I did before
Which is to say rarely. But still, rarely is more than never.
