Nurses are on the forefront of the healthcare industry. They’re often the first point of contact for patients and they’re also the ones there to provide comfort and support during times of crisis. Anyone who knows a nurse will say the same thing: Nurses are often the unsung heroes and they’re the hardest working members of the healthcare profession.
When it comes to dating a nurse, it’s important to understand the different kinds of schedules that nurses can have, as well as how different places of work will yield very different work schedules. There are many different kinds of nurses, from RNs to nurse practitioners and a variety of specialized nurses, and understanding the complexities of the nursing field will help you to successfully date a nurse.
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Things to Know When Dating a Nurse
The most important thing to know about dating a nurse is that not all nurses are the same. Some work in private offices while others work in busy hospitals. Nurse practitioners are at the top of the nursing food chain, and their schedules vary as much as everyone else.
Nursing is an incredibly demanding profession full of the most selfless people out there. They give and give unto themselves and so when it comes to dating they need to have a partner who understands the demands of their job (and the things they can’t control, like overtime, schedule changes and stress, or night shifts) as well as someone who can support their emotional needs.
Dating a nurse comes with challenges just like any other profession, but the rewards that come with dating a nurse make those challenges all the more worthwhile.
Pros of Dating a Nurse
They are Awesome
With the exception of scary nurses from horror movies, nurses are awesome people. They have a genuine passion for what they do and that translates into an outgoing personality and a zest for life. Dating a nurse is an adventure, to be sure, and you’ll find that their enthusiasm can be contagious. If you’re looking for someone who shares a passion for living life to its fullest, you will find that when you date a nurse.
Scheduling Benefits
Nursing schedules vary. Nurses in private practices might have a normal 9-5 schedule while ER nurses could work three 12-hour shifts per week. Some nurses are on call for 24-hour periods. Nurses can pick up extra shifts when colleagues call in sick, or they might take on more hours to make extra money. While they work long hours, they are usually rewarded with more than two days off each week and that means more time together.
Another benefit to dating a nurse comes if you’re someone who likes a little personal space in a relationship. The long shifts give you some space and personal time, which in turn helps to make time spent together all the more valuable.
Nurses Will Always Keep You On Your Toes
The realities of nursing, and life in hospitals in general for that matter, are nothing like you see on television. That said, a few things still ring true. Odds are good that any nurse you meet will have a story about an on-call room hookup, and you might be pleasantly surprised by your nurse’s sex drive. (There’s actually a reason that naughty nurses are a “thing”) Nurses are passionate in everything they do, and that includes their love lives. You will never be bored when dating a nurse.
Compassionate, Great Listeners
Nurses are known for their compassion. There’s nothing they haven’t seen, and they make everyone around them comfortable. For anyone who has struggled to date in the past, dating a nurse could be a major turning point for you.
Nurses are also great listeners. Listening is a huge part of their job, so if you have felt like no one listened to you in the past then dating a nurse will be a breath of fresh air. Just be sure you return the favor. Nurses have a lot to deal with at work and decompressing outside of work is important. He or she might need to talk through the day’s challenges and that means you need to be a good listener as well.
Cons of Dating a Nurse
Schedules Can Be Rough
There are as many negatives with nursing schedules as there are positives. For nurses who don’t work in a 9-5 setting, and even those who do, it doesn’t mean that there won’t be overtime. Some overtime is one thing, but in some areas there are nursing shortages and so hospitals ask nurses to work more. Overtime, and long hours at work, can wreak havoc on a relationship.
While there are lots of benefits to having a flexible schedule with more than two days off each week, nurses don’t get holidays off. They can be called into work when there is an emergency or when the hospital is short staffed. If you’re looking for someone who will be around a lot, then dating a nurse will be problematic.
Sleep Trumps Sex
Nurses who work long hours enjoy catching up on their sleep. It makes sense given the pressure they’re under at work. When you’re feeling amorous, be forewarned that a nurse might be feeling sleepy. And sleep trumps sex.
In fact, a nurse might opt for a quiet night in as opposed to a night on the town when they’re feeling worn out. This can be challenging for a relationship when one half of the couple is ready to go out and the other one doesn’t want to go anywhere.
Workplace Romance
While Grey’s Anatomy is nothing like the reality of working in a hospital, it’s not to say that workplace romances and hookups don’t happen. If your nurse partner is finding your relationship lacking, it’s possible that he or she might hook up with someone at work.
Sex is a form of stress relief and nurses encounter stressful situations all the time. It’s not uncommon for hookups to happen in hospitals among staff members during those long shifts and if you’re someone who worries about infidelity this could be a major issue.
Wrap Up
The bottom line is that the cons shouldn’t keep you from dating a nurse. Nurses are awesome. They make fantastic partners and it’s not difficult to imagine a future together. You’ll find that the pros greatly outweigh the cons and your efforts in dating a nurse will be rewarded tenfold. And let’s face it, scrubs are hot.
