I’m a nurse, who should I date?

I’ve never held much validity to the concept of seeking out potential dating prospects based on compatibility of zodiac sign or Chinese calendar symbol.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not discounting those who fervently believe in these ideas, but I’ve always been more of the traditional dater, seeking out chemistry as opposed to matching based on the month of my birth. However, I do think that paralleling the idea of the zodiac signs, there are certain professions that are more likely to “mesh,” if you will, in the dating scene. Being that I’m in my mid 20’s and unmarried, I have had the opportunity to date a plethora of gentlemen, some more favorable than others, and have decided that a new criteria that I seek out involves occupation. Throughout the interview process that goes into getting to know somebody, I find myself bringing up the “so what do you do” question early on in the game. Keep in mind this is all just a matter of opinion, but nonetheless I wanted to highlight some professions that I have found to parallel the nursing world nicely.

Who should a nurse date?

Doctor–  I love medical jargon and discussing my workday with somebody who doesn’t look at me like I have three heads when I start throwing out medical terminology is a bonus. It’s also nice to be able to speak of blood and guts at the dinner table without causing your significant other to lose their appetite because, in reality, most medical people talk about that stuff at inappropriate times. If you are fortunate enough to be dating a doctor who works at your same hospital, then you can see him at work. This becomes tricky though when your boyfriend is also the one writing your orders. He gets it when you’ve had a rough day at work because that one family was very difficult, but he doesn’t get it when you voice complaints about that one obnoxious attending, because that same obnoxious attending was his mentor. You are probably the only significant other he’s had that truly understands why he has to work such long hours because you see it firsthand.

Teacher–  People oftentimes say that teachers and nurses are very similar individuals in different professions. Both are in service-like arenas that demand caring, patient personalities. The flexibility of a nurse’s schedule bodes nicely with summers off that teachers get. Teachers and nurses share a passion for people in general, lending to a shared interest that can be the framework for a relationship. I also think that these two professions, although both very important, sometimes don’t get the recognition they deserve, and perhaps humility is another shared trait between the two working individuals.

Accountant–  These are the type of guys you scare away with talks of that bloody chest tube insertion, who pass out when you bring home supplies to practice your IV skills on him, and who believe girls don’t poop and babies don’t throw up. However, if you are at all like me being the girl who can’t stand doing my taxes or anything having to do with money, you’re set. I have found that these number-focused minds ground me when I have irrational urges to take a sporadic trip to Italy for a week. And let’s face it, when you have kids and want to stay home with said kids, you won’t have to worry about the finances.

Lawyer–  Bottom line, if you ever get sued, you’re good to go  🙂

Pilot-  Perhaps one of the other professions next to firefighter or security guard that has a wackier schedule than you. These three or four day work week guys have days off in the middle of the week just like nurses: ideal. However, they can also be gone three to four nights a week, off flying people to exotic locations around the US or even the world. If you are a person that likes to travel (like myself) hold onto these guys tight, because nothing is more conducive to traveling than a nurse’s three day work week, and nothing is more conducive to cheap traveling than dating a pilot. A negative? They fall into that category of looking at you funny when you mention comments about ventricular septal defects…

Fellow nurse–  Nobody will understand the hurt of losing of patient better than a fellow nurse. Nobody will revel in your joy of seeing a former patient doing well better than a fellow nurse. Nobody could have your same exact schedule, week after week, unless they were a nurse. You won’t ever run out of things to talk about, that’s for sure.

Obviously I have left an innumerable amount of occupations off this list. But in this game called life, I have decided that much like ‘Scorpios are most compatible with Pisces or Cancers,’ nurses have to take into account compatibilities as well. Some of you will say “there is much more to a person than the job they have,” which is indeed true. But I also feel as though I am the person who I am today because of my occupation, because I am a nurse. And my hope is that the career stars will align when eventually choosing my life companion.