Oops, I Did It Again (Nurse Life Chronicles)

Last Sunday, I shared the soft, shiny version of nursing, the one where I brush my hair with care, sip coffee from my pink mug, stamped “The Queen’s Mug,”like it’s a sacred ritual, and let the stillness between shifts wash over me like a calm breeze. But come on let’s keep it 100, nursing isn't always that cute. Behind the shimmer there is also the messy, exhausted, somehow still showing up side too.

I knew I was tired, but I didn’t realize I was that tired until I got home from my night shift, peeled off my scrubs, and realized…

I had brought the keys from work home in my pocket. The work keys. From the memory care unit. After a 10-hour overnight shift. Lordt!

It was one of those “You can’t make this stuff up” moments. I was literally about to hop in the shower when I reached into my pocket and heard the familiar jingle of my unintended souvenir. So there I was; messy bun, sleep-deprived, not yet showered and right back in the car, retracing my 8-minute commute like some kind of exhausted key bandit.

And the best part? I walk in and say, “Oops, I did it again,” and my day shift coworker bursts out laughing and goes, “Wait… I thought I was dreaming! I swear you left hours ago!”

She then tells me her own “oops” moment from her day off: she went to the nail salon, got her nails done, wasn’t feeling the color, so she took the polish off immediately afterward… and when she walked out, she accidentally opened someone else’s car in the parking lot. Like, completely opened it, got in, and sat down before realizing it wasn’t her car. Same model, same color, same vibe. But when she saw all the random shoes inside, she had that “uh oh” moment.

We laughed. Hard. And in that moment, I felt seen.

Because if you’ve ever worked in memory care, you know sometimes the forgetfulness rubs off. But you also know that grace and grit live in every hallway. And sometimes, they ride shotgun with you back to work at 9 a.m.

Some nights (like the one I had), I romanticize my nurse life with the hum of the med cart and the calm of dawn. Other nights? I just survive it with a flat white and a playlist. And that’s okay too.

So if you’re here because you’re a nurse or curious about the behind the scenes realness just know: we’ve all used our badge reel to try to unlock our front door. Or opened someone else’s car. Or brought the work keys home in our pocket. You are not alone.

Oh and speaking of night shifts and giggles, I will be sharing more about one of my favorite side gigs soon, especially for nurses and caregivers who want a little flexibility (or extra cash flow). Let’s just say the Clipboard Chronicles are coming.

Until then, my friends, may your scrubs be soft, your coffee strong, and your pocket empty of keys on the way home.

PS: Have you ever had a “nurse life” mix-up moment that still makes you laugh (or cringe)?

Tell me in the comments: I promise, no judgment here. Only laughs and love.