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When we saw this headline over on The Nerdy Nurse, we had to smile and chuckle. But after reading Brittney’s reasoning, we tend to agree!
After purchasing her childhood dream car–a baby blue convertible VW bug–the nurse blogger wrote that “there are some decisions that you make for you in the now and not the you in the future. I bought my convertible because I wanted one since I was a little girl and knew it would make it happy.”
Not only does owning her dream car make her happy, she’s convinced convertibles are the perfect cars for nurses, and outlined her thoughts in nine thoughtful bullet points. We’ll share our five favorites here:
Airing Out Your Scrubs
There are some shifts that you really feel that instead of a shower, you need to be autoclaved. On the days when you just can’t get your scrubs off fast enough, being able to air them out of the ride home sure would be nice.
Waking You Up and Keeping You Alert
Whether you are first shift or third, there are times when you are probably nodding off on the way into or home from work. Even if it’s 6 a.m. and dark outside, dropping the top and getting a little wind in your hair is a nice way to start the morning. You’ll arrive at work alert and read to start your day.
For night shifters, there is nothing worse than driving home exhausted and not being able to keep your eyes open. A convertible drive home may just be the thing you need to wake you up and keep you alert. If you’re too tired to drive then stay off the road, but if you’re okay to drive but could use a little energy boost, then riding with the top down could be the right medicine.
Reduce Stress
Nursing is a stressful job. People count on nurses to take care of them when they are ill, give them advice, feedback, reassurance and support. It can be so overwhelming at times that you just may feel like you have nothing more to give. This can build up stress that if left untreated can cause serious permanent psychological damage. Many nurses like to go for a drive as a way to relax and burn off stress.
The term “Drive It Out” is often used when you just need to get in your car and go. While a ride in any car may help you reduce stress, the smiles you create, the cool wind in your hair and the sunshine on your face will make your troubles seem less bothersome. You certainly can’t drive away from your problems, but you can drive some of the stress related to them away.
Cool You Down
Air conditioning is fantastic. It’s one of the best inventions ever created and on a hot summer day, I’d probably give up food before I’d give up the AC. However, the air circulation you get when driving a convertible is on a whole other level. The circulating air around your body has the potential to be more cool, at least initially, that full powered air conditioning.
Get Some Sun
Despite what you may have been lead to believe about sun exposure, a little sun is actually good for you. Nurses who work night shift are notorious for not getting enough sun and therefore not getting enough vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency can cause bone deformities, and research suggest that a lack of vitamin D might also affect blood pressure, immune function, heart disease, and cancer risk. Wearing a light moisturizer with sunscreen can help protect you from UV rays while allowing you to get a few rays of sun. The convertible fun in the sun doesn’t have to stop after supper. You can drive a convertible in the winter if you know how.
Check out the rest of what Brittany has to say about nurses and convertibles over on The Nerdy Nurse. Then, in the comments below, tell us what you think about her list and what you drive yourself!
