On having 2 titles: Nurse and Patient

Thank you for sharing your inspiring personal story and for using your struggles with a chronic disease to be a better advocate for your patients. Take care of yourself!

Great article! Thank you for sharing your experiences and take care of yourself!

As I run downstairs I try to determine if I want waffles with butter or mini muffins with a glass of milk. I choose the former, grabbing two, toasting them, and running out the door. It's still dark and my eyes have to adjust once more. I'm frustrated. My blood sugar is in the 80s, but I'm feeling weak and shaky. I know I shouldn't drive, but I cannot be late to my clinical. Driving on the I-75 and then I-595 I start to feel dizzy while I stuff the two waffles down my gullet. I know that as a nurse I tell my patients to always correct their blood sugar before getting behind the wheel, yet here I am going 80mph while praying my blood sugar rises enough to stop the dizziness and shaking. I arrive at the hospital and stumble out of my car. I call my best friend to alert the instructor to my late arrival because I just can't even stand.

Quote from macawakeThis will probably come out as judgmental. I think it needs to be said though. You need to stop driving when you're in no condition to do so. You're scaring me.As former law enforcement who's been on the scene of too many accidents and a nurse who has worked in the ER it actually upsets me that you do this. Do you understand the havoc you can wreak doing 80 mph? Get up twenty or thirty minutes earlier in the morning so you have enough time to eat before you get behind the wheel. I wouldn't sugarcoat my message with a patient and I won't sugarcoat it with you either. You are gambling with both your own life and the life of others.

As someone who is a Type II Diabetic I empathize with your situation. I think sometimes that those who don't understand are those who have never had to deal with an unknown chronic condition like diabetes. It's a hassle to not know what your body is going to do that day. It's frustrating that you want to push through and your body betrays you without any previous notice. I completely feel for you.As far as being a student - I understand what that's like to feel the pressure to be on time and to put yourself last when you're trying to learn to take care of others. I really do hope you have better days ahead

Quote from macawakeThis will probably come out as judgmental. I think it needs to be said though. You need to stop driving when you're in no condition to do so. You're scaring me.As former law enforcement who's been on the scene of too many accidents and a nurse who has worked in the ER it actually upsets me that you do this. Do you understand the havoc you can wreak doing 80 mph? Get up twenty or thirty minutes earlier in the morning so you have enough time to eat before you get behind the wheel. I wouldn't sugarcoat my message with a patient and I won't sugarcoat it with you either. You are gambling with both your own life and the life of others.

Quote from MariposaLPNSadly, you just sounded like the Peds instructor, who, had I continued the story, commented the same thing. Unless you are a diabetic, you don't personally understand how quickly a normal blood sugar can drop. I had it recently happen that it was 84 and driving to get something fast to eat, ended up dropping to 68 just sitting at the drive thru line. Had to eat quickly in the parking lot. Yes, I know I should correct it and I had two waffles, thing is it takes longer for carbs to kick in than it does a simple sugar.

Quote from OCNRN63I stopped driving when peripheral neuropathy from chemo made my feet and hands too numb to drive safely. I've even lost a good degree of proprioception, so finding the brake in an emergency would be difficult for me.I sympathize with the OP, but not to the extent that her desire to be a nurse puts other peoples' lives in danger. Think of how you'd feel if you harmed or killed someone driving while you were dizzy. To me it's no different than driving impaired. See if there's someone you can carpool with if you can't drive. Get up earlier so you have time to eat properly, rather than guzzling down your food. If nursing is what you want, you're going to have to make some lifestyle changes so you don't harm others.

Honestly, if you have nothing positive to say whatsoever, then please refrain from even commenting. I wrote this article to share my experiences without judgement. For the one poster who said my instructor was correct, you don't know the whole story so you are basing your opinion on one sentence. I still cared for my patients successfully. Being diabetic does not warrant me to not care for patients. Hypoglycemia is a temporary problem with a simple solution that was occurring. Instead of focusing on the speed I was driving or whether YOU believe 20 minutes to get ready is unhealthy(?), focus on the major picture: advocating for my patients and how I was able to use my life experiences to improve my skills as a nurse.

Quote from OCNRN63Your instructor was wise. You shouldn't have even been caring for patients if your glucose was making you that altered.Someone who is diabetic should know better than to only allow herself 20 minutes to get dressed, brush teeth, then eat something. You don't need to be a diabetic to know that's a very unhealthy way to start your day.Lest you think I don't know what I'm talking about, I gave up my nursing career because the effects of my cancer treatment left me unsafe to care for patients. It was a painful decision, one that haunts me almost every day. But I would rather be the one dealing with it than cause irreparable harm to a patient.

Quote from MariposaLPNHonestly, if you have nothing positive to say whatsoever, then please refrain from even commenting. I wrote this article to share my experiences without judgement. For the one poster who said my instructor was correct, you don't know the whole story so you are basing your opinion on one sentence. I still cared for my patients successfully. Being diabetic does not warrant me to not care for patients. Hypoglycemia is a temporary problem with a simple solution that was occurring. Instead of focusing on the speed I was driving or whether YOU believe 20 minutes to get ready is unhealthy(?), focus on the major picture: advocating for my patients and how I was able to use my life experiences to improve my skills as a nurse.

The thread of "no good deed goes unpunished" pops into my head. I recall posters talking about someone who wrote an article that was meant to provide insights and was instead being attacked personally. Some of the same posters are on this thread doing exactly what they criticized. Funny how the internet works.To the OP I hope you learned from any mistakes you made and that it made you a better nurse. I am sure it did. Don't let random people on the internet have enough control over you to make you upset. It is a recipe for failure.