‘She’s Gonna Kill Me For This Pic’: Sister Reveals The Gritty Details Of Her Twin’s Life As A Nurse
On a theoretical level, we all know how difficult it is to be a nurse, doctor, or any other healthcare professional. However, thinking we know something and actually knowing something from firsthand experience is vastly different. Do most of us know what it’s like being a nurse? No. But those of us who have nurses as family members or friends are closer to the truth. And the truth ain’t pretty, I can tell you that much.
“She’s gonna kill me for this picture, but can we just give it up for nurses for a minute?” That’s how Laura McIntyre started her story about her twin sister Caty who is a nurse. She posted a photo of her sibling looking absolutely exhausted and in tears after her 4th (fourth!) shift in a row. And you know what? The picture explains everything about the high pressure and stress that nurses face every single day at work. Scroll down for Bored Panda’s interview with Laura about her sister.
This is what Laura McIntyre’s twin sister looked like after her 4th shift in a row
Image credits: Laura McIntyre
Laura told the world what her sister’s job as a nurse is really like
Laura told Bored Panda that what drew her sister to nursing was “a gradual realization that nursing would be the perfect career for her.”
“She didn’t really follow in anyone’s footsteps or have a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. One day, she just decided to go for it! Once nursing school started, she definitely knew right away that Labor & Delivery was her passion.”
According to Laura, she and her twin sister are “like two peas in a pod,” that’s how close they are. “We are identical twins, so we have a very close, unique relationship. We do almost everything together, and we talk all day long. Our husbands didn’t know what they were in for! Oh, and we live only 1 mile apart!”
Laura also revealed what we can all do to help nurses and other healthcare professionals: “We can all pray for them! We can reach out to them with encouraging words after their shift. We can check in on them throughout the day with encouragement. We can send them food at work. We can treat them to Starbucks. Anything!”
“Caty has always kept a level head in stressful situations. Of course, she has her occasional break down (like you see in this picture); but she handles herself so well, which is part of the reason she makes an incredible nurse.”
Laura’s sister Caty puts her patients first
Image credits: Laura McIntyre
Most of us work around 40 hours each week, which is nothing to laugh at, but also nothing too intense. But imagine having to work more than 53 hours in just 4 days at a job that saps you emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. A job that makes you sacrifice everything you have inside of you for the sake of your patients. A job that very few of us would have the inner strength and conviction to do well.
It’s no secret that nurses usually don’t have enough time to eat decent meals, to stay hydrated, or take long breaks because the job is everything and your patients can’t wait. “Caty, and all other nurses, you are SPECIAL,” Laura thanked nurses everywhere for their hard work. “You bless your patients and their families more than you will ever know. Thank you for all that you do.”
The twins love and support each other as much as they can
Image credits: Laura McIntyre
Top Nursing writes that dealing with stress and burnout as a nurse is possible, but requires very serious strategies to manage your life. That means being extremely organized in your life, leaving little to no space for chaos and randomness.
But it also means taking care of yourself first and foremost: you can’t take care of your patients if you’re fainting from a lack of food and sleep.
What’s more, meditation, a positive and optimistic outlook on life, as well as sharing your thoughts and feelings with others are other things that make up the bedrock of a healthy and capable nurse’s daily life. Do you have any experience of what nurses deal with every day, dear Readers? Share your stories with us in the comments section.
The post made a lot of people want to share their own experiences and opinions
Nurses / doctors / surgeons and police officers are real heroes and they never get enough credit or enough pay for what they see and go through and sometimes having to to put their lives on the line to save others. Which is why it makes me so angry when people don't have patience with them or they waste time.
Its something we don't think about, what people like nurses see on a daily basis. They are human as well, add on to that exhaustion and you may began to see what they go through.
I was a psych nurse for 5 years. A psych tech for 10 before than and now have my doctorate in psychiatric nursing. This story is so spot on. Twelve hour shifts with people screaming at me, swearing at me, trying to hit me, while I don't have time to eat or drink or use the restroom because the patient can't just be ok on cue for a few minutes. I've also had 52 patients commit suicide within 48 hours after discharge, largely related to insurance not covering an appropriate length of stay and it never gets easier.
Storys like this should wake people up about the crappy insurance situation in the US.
Load More Replies...My mom was 45 years a nurse. She started in trauma, ended in geriatrics, and her shift was only 7-3 on paper. In reality, it was 6 AM (to take reports and be there for shift switchover) until 5 PM (paperwork, one last check on patients before she left)... All while yelled at, attacked, paid c**p, no food but what she could eat while also inputting patient data, performing CPR, lifting/moving people three times her size, holding hand sof the dying, hand-holding the grieving, being exposed to God knows what... A HERO
Labour laws and unions for the win. You guys seriously have a f****d up system. I have the greatest respect for her and other people working like crazy. Take care of yourself too.
I don't understand why this comment was voted down. That many working hours in 3 days isn't good for employee and as a result not for the patients either.
Load More Replies...I had a 3 year realtionship with a nurse. I heard a lot. It was her way to comfort her. I listened. Not with details, cause there are privacy laws. But I know a lot even if I was never a nurse. I really can't do this work by myself, but I am grateful that other people do this job. Without you, we are screwed.
I guess America is ready for a totally new concept called labor laws. In the Netherlands the law says you are allowed to work 60 hours per week, but over a period of 16 weeks your average working hours may not exceed 48 hours.
I don't have any experience with Labor & Delivery nurses but I can speak to the absolute angels on Earth of the nurses that took care of my dying mother at Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa, FL over the Summer. I would never be able to fully express my gratefulness for their kindness, compassion and care. I can only begin to imagine how hard their job is, but I never once saw it. So to all of them on floor 4 and to any nurse reading this..THANK YOU for doing what you do.
The for-profit “healthcare” system should be banned. Making people work this long at one stretch isn’t just inhuman to the workers, it’s also dangerous to the quality of work people do. Hire more people, you hospital management bastards. Why are we as a society allowing this to continue?
My wife was a former emergency room physician (now a hospitalist) and I saw her come in many nights like this. Nothing like pouring your heart and soul into saving someone's life only for them to pass. Add the exhaustion of a 12 hour shift to that emotional roller coaster and it is almost more than a person can handle. We spend a lot of time arguing about healthcare, how much doctors make, etc...we don't spend enough time thanking people who do this work.
21 years as a labor/delivery nurse i have seen a lot. the highest joys and the deepest sorrows. some of the best years of my life and some of the hardest.
I wanted to be a neonatal nurse for the longest time because my favorite Aunt was (still is) one. When I was about 15 she showed up at my grandma's house where I was and which was over an hour out of her way home. She sat me down still wearing her scrubs and looking sad and tired. She said "Do you still want to be a neonatal nurse?" I said "Yes, so much. I love babies and want to help the sick ones." She said "Then i need to tell you this.... Yes it's amazing to be able to help deliver these perfect babies into the world. It's great to see the parents smiling and families celebrating. But have you thought of the sick ones? (I nodded). It is so rewarding to help the sick ones go home. But before you make your final decision I want you to remember this. This morning I delivered a set of twins." "awww how awesome" I said. And I'll never forget her next words... as she stared at the ground. "I just had a set of twins die in my arms this morning." to be continued....
That moment she saved me. I couldn't imagine. Not ONE but BOTH babies died in her arms. Not the Mother's. The parents would never see BOTH of them grow up. I couldn't even imagine the pain they were going through. I could SEE the pain my Aunt was going through and I knew right then and there it takes a special soul to do that job and It wasn't me. Years later I had my own kids and as I held my first Daughter I thought about that day and knew I made the correct choice because there's no way I could handle that. I'm too soft. So I went into Law Enforcement instead. I still see horrible s**t daily. But I'm much more cut out for that. I can stay calm in the moment of Chaos then fall apart at home. And the area of LE I work, I don't have to see horrible s**t with innocent kids. I just deal with the aftermath. Still crappy. But a LOT easier to cope with. God Bless you medical professionals.
Load More Replies...Nurses are incredible! I have had one healthy baby girl born but have also had three miscarriages (20 weeks, 11 weeks-twins, 15 weeks). Every single time I was in the hospital in agony (physical and emotional), the nurses held my hand, loved on me, my husband, and our little girl.
Seriously, though, WHY DO NURSES AND DOCTORS HAVE TO WORK SUCH RIDICULOUS HOURS??? This is insanity! :(
I worked in all areas of maternity as an RN, from high risk Antepartum to NICU. Loved it, especially NICU. It's an area of nursing that is very high stress, it's technical and emotional. You see a lot. You watch spouses bond like never before, and you watch marriages break apart. I'm still trying to get back to that area of nursing, even though I'm retired. I loved it so much- but most nurses will tell you, Ob-Gyn/NICU are areas of nursing where you either love it, or you hate it.
As a nurse, currently getting through a 81 hour workweek, I thank you for your kind words and the attention you've brought to the work we do.
I owe my life to nurses, and I'm glad they're getting credit where they're due, but I think it was a bit unnecessary and disrespectful of her to post that picture :/
I had a couple L and D nurses who saw me come in with my 3red. For some reason, that labor was difficult even though it was relatively quick. These 2 nurses had a bet going to see who delivered first, me or the other lady who came in about the same time. They stayed past the end of their shift. I won....lol. but they were awesome and made me laugh during the hardest labor I had.
I love her drinking water from a jar. Either, you're so bone tired you can't afford to get an actual glass (with a second trip needed as the jar holds two glasses) --- or you're a hipster restaurant serving overrated cocktails.
These two young women are beautiful not only on the outside, but the inside as well. I have the most heartfelt appreciation for anyone that does what they do. They offer aid and comfort to so many of us in our time of need and get so little in return. Thank you to you all from the bottom of my heart for all you do.
As I grew up, I was always mesmerized by my mother ironing her nurses cap with heavy starch and her uniform, late ‘60’s and on. She was an emergency too: nurse, my grandmother was a nurse also, but she was extremely proud of her uniform. But it must have been emotionally difficult as my mother never spoke of her days as a nurse. I have the greatest respect for nurses and it infuriates me when they are treated badly. Thank you to ALL of the active and retired nurses!!
Many nurses work 4 x 12hour shifts then 3 days off. Let's not forget Social Workers, therapists, paramedics, firemen, postal workers ........ people work hard in America. We all work hard and many jobs involve seeing tragedy and hearing about suffering. I agree nurses are awesome but we are all awesome ...... :)
Working too hard, without proper compensation. Because Murrika worships money and the corporations rule us, including the for-profit “healthcare” companies.
Load More Replies...Huh your a nurse...you can literally work anywhere in the world...why would ypu subject yourself to such an employer
Your comment shows how ignorant you are about the various and different laws that countries have for those who want to come and work in them. Also, you should address the nurses’ husbands and not the nurses themselves, because many of the nurses are females and they probably wouldn’t mention that to the husband because then both the nurse and her husband would have to leave their jobs and relocate. Also, do you really think it is logical for you to want a woman to leave her very own twin sister whom she’s very close with? The US’s system is abusive, so it is the one that should make changes and not the nurses. One more thing: as some of the comments mentioned, some nurses have abusive husbands, so what do you think will happen to the nurse if she mentioned that topic to her husband? Technically, she should leave him if he’s abusive anyway, but did you know that 3 women get killed daily in the USA by their current (or former) psychotic, lacking in manhood male partners?
Load More Replies...Hey joke name dude bro: people work TOO hard and get pathetic compensation in the for-profit “healthcare” system in the USA. But yeah, just blow it off as “normal” and “expected”.
Load More Replies...Nurses / doctors / surgeons and police officers are real heroes and they never get enough credit or enough pay for what they see and go through and sometimes having to to put their lives on the line to save others. Which is why it makes me so angry when people don't have patience with them or they waste time.
Its something we don't think about, what people like nurses see on a daily basis. They are human as well, add on to that exhaustion and you may began to see what they go through.
I was a psych nurse for 5 years. A psych tech for 10 before than and now have my doctorate in psychiatric nursing. This story is so spot on. Twelve hour shifts with people screaming at me, swearing at me, trying to hit me, while I don't have time to eat or drink or use the restroom because the patient can't just be ok on cue for a few minutes. I've also had 52 patients commit suicide within 48 hours after discharge, largely related to insurance not covering an appropriate length of stay and it never gets easier.
Storys like this should wake people up about the crappy insurance situation in the US.
Load More Replies...My mom was 45 years a nurse. She started in trauma, ended in geriatrics, and her shift was only 7-3 on paper. In reality, it was 6 AM (to take reports and be there for shift switchover) until 5 PM (paperwork, one last check on patients before she left)... All while yelled at, attacked, paid c**p, no food but what she could eat while also inputting patient data, performing CPR, lifting/moving people three times her size, holding hand sof the dying, hand-holding the grieving, being exposed to God knows what... A HERO
Labour laws and unions for the win. You guys seriously have a f****d up system. I have the greatest respect for her and other people working like crazy. Take care of yourself too.
I don't understand why this comment was voted down. That many working hours in 3 days isn't good for employee and as a result not for the patients either.
Load More Replies...I had a 3 year realtionship with a nurse. I heard a lot. It was her way to comfort her. I listened. Not with details, cause there are privacy laws. But I know a lot even if I was never a nurse. I really can't do this work by myself, but I am grateful that other people do this job. Without you, we are screwed.
I guess America is ready for a totally new concept called labor laws. In the Netherlands the law says you are allowed to work 60 hours per week, but over a period of 16 weeks your average working hours may not exceed 48 hours.
I don't have any experience with Labor & Delivery nurses but I can speak to the absolute angels on Earth of the nurses that took care of my dying mother at Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa, FL over the Summer. I would never be able to fully express my gratefulness for their kindness, compassion and care. I can only begin to imagine how hard their job is, but I never once saw it. So to all of them on floor 4 and to any nurse reading this..THANK YOU for doing what you do.
The for-profit “healthcare” system should be banned. Making people work this long at one stretch isn’t just inhuman to the workers, it’s also dangerous to the quality of work people do. Hire more people, you hospital management bastards. Why are we as a society allowing this to continue?
My wife was a former emergency room physician (now a hospitalist) and I saw her come in many nights like this. Nothing like pouring your heart and soul into saving someone's life only for them to pass. Add the exhaustion of a 12 hour shift to that emotional roller coaster and it is almost more than a person can handle. We spend a lot of time arguing about healthcare, how much doctors make, etc...we don't spend enough time thanking people who do this work.
21 years as a labor/delivery nurse i have seen a lot. the highest joys and the deepest sorrows. some of the best years of my life and some of the hardest.
I wanted to be a neonatal nurse for the longest time because my favorite Aunt was (still is) one. When I was about 15 she showed up at my grandma's house where I was and which was over an hour out of her way home. She sat me down still wearing her scrubs and looking sad and tired. She said "Do you still want to be a neonatal nurse?" I said "Yes, so much. I love babies and want to help the sick ones." She said "Then i need to tell you this.... Yes it's amazing to be able to help deliver these perfect babies into the world. It's great to see the parents smiling and families celebrating. But have you thought of the sick ones? (I nodded). It is so rewarding to help the sick ones go home. But before you make your final decision I want you to remember this. This morning I delivered a set of twins." "awww how awesome" I said. And I'll never forget her next words... as she stared at the ground. "I just had a set of twins die in my arms this morning." to be continued....
That moment she saved me. I couldn't imagine. Not ONE but BOTH babies died in her arms. Not the Mother's. The parents would never see BOTH of them grow up. I couldn't even imagine the pain they were going through. I could SEE the pain my Aunt was going through and I knew right then and there it takes a special soul to do that job and It wasn't me. Years later I had my own kids and as I held my first Daughter I thought about that day and knew I made the correct choice because there's no way I could handle that. I'm too soft. So I went into Law Enforcement instead. I still see horrible s**t daily. But I'm much more cut out for that. I can stay calm in the moment of Chaos then fall apart at home. And the area of LE I work, I don't have to see horrible s**t with innocent kids. I just deal with the aftermath. Still crappy. But a LOT easier to cope with. God Bless you medical professionals.
Load More Replies...Nurses are incredible! I have had one healthy baby girl born but have also had three miscarriages (20 weeks, 11 weeks-twins, 15 weeks). Every single time I was in the hospital in agony (physical and emotional), the nurses held my hand, loved on me, my husband, and our little girl.
Seriously, though, WHY DO NURSES AND DOCTORS HAVE TO WORK SUCH RIDICULOUS HOURS??? This is insanity! :(
I worked in all areas of maternity as an RN, from high risk Antepartum to NICU. Loved it, especially NICU. It's an area of nursing that is very high stress, it's technical and emotional. You see a lot. You watch spouses bond like never before, and you watch marriages break apart. I'm still trying to get back to that area of nursing, even though I'm retired. I loved it so much- but most nurses will tell you, Ob-Gyn/NICU are areas of nursing where you either love it, or you hate it.
As a nurse, currently getting through a 81 hour workweek, I thank you for your kind words and the attention you've brought to the work we do.
I owe my life to nurses, and I'm glad they're getting credit where they're due, but I think it was a bit unnecessary and disrespectful of her to post that picture :/
I had a couple L and D nurses who saw me come in with my 3red. For some reason, that labor was difficult even though it was relatively quick. These 2 nurses had a bet going to see who delivered first, me or the other lady who came in about the same time. They stayed past the end of their shift. I won....lol. but they were awesome and made me laugh during the hardest labor I had.
I love her drinking water from a jar. Either, you're so bone tired you can't afford to get an actual glass (with a second trip needed as the jar holds two glasses) --- or you're a hipster restaurant serving overrated cocktails.
These two young women are beautiful not only on the outside, but the inside as well. I have the most heartfelt appreciation for anyone that does what they do. They offer aid and comfort to so many of us in our time of need and get so little in return. Thank you to you all from the bottom of my heart for all you do.
As I grew up, I was always mesmerized by my mother ironing her nurses cap with heavy starch and her uniform, late ‘60’s and on. She was an emergency too: nurse, my grandmother was a nurse also, but she was extremely proud of her uniform. But it must have been emotionally difficult as my mother never spoke of her days as a nurse. I have the greatest respect for nurses and it infuriates me when they are treated badly. Thank you to ALL of the active and retired nurses!!
Many nurses work 4 x 12hour shifts then 3 days off. Let's not forget Social Workers, therapists, paramedics, firemen, postal workers ........ people work hard in America. We all work hard and many jobs involve seeing tragedy and hearing about suffering. I agree nurses are awesome but we are all awesome ...... :)
Working too hard, without proper compensation. Because Murrika worships money and the corporations rule us, including the for-profit “healthcare” companies.
Load More Replies...Huh your a nurse...you can literally work anywhere in the world...why would ypu subject yourself to such an employer
Your comment shows how ignorant you are about the various and different laws that countries have for those who want to come and work in them. Also, you should address the nurses’ husbands and not the nurses themselves, because many of the nurses are females and they probably wouldn’t mention that to the husband because then both the nurse and her husband would have to leave their jobs and relocate. Also, do you really think it is logical for you to want a woman to leave her very own twin sister whom she’s very close with? The US’s system is abusive, so it is the one that should make changes and not the nurses. One more thing: as some of the comments mentioned, some nurses have abusive husbands, so what do you think will happen to the nurse if she mentioned that topic to her husband? Technically, she should leave him if he’s abusive anyway, but did you know that 3 women get killed daily in the USA by their current (or former) psychotic, lacking in manhood male partners?
Load More Replies...Hey joke name dude bro: people work TOO hard and get pathetic compensation in the for-profit “healthcare” system in the USA. But yeah, just blow it off as “normal” and “expected”.
Load More Replies...
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