Not to hijack this thread, but something in Sal's last comment really struck home. The whole issue of sometimes straddling two worlds -- that of professional and that of private individual.

I think it's often the hardest when you have someone close to you that is ill or hurt. When people find out you're a nurse (or doctor or whatever) there can be this expectation (both internal as well as external) that you'll keep that professional hat on even when you're trying to deal with your own emotional responses and needs.

For some, it's good. Being able to fill that familiar role keeps you grounded. But other times, you want to "just" be the parent, or child or sibling.

I remember, back when I was a student, one of my classmates had a patient who had a very complicated situation, fraught with tragedy. The pt's wife was not only a nurse, but a very well known nurse educator. The student was at first terrified, afraid that the wife would be watching and critiquing her every move. Instead, the wife asked that she be treated like any other patient S.O. and be allowed to be in that role.

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