How many times does it happen—you see a patient with what first appears benign symptoms only to find out that they are much sicker than was suspected? We’ve all heard of the patient who came in for a headache and ended up having meningitis, or stomach ache that turned out to be an AAA. 

We shake our heads, wondering at the human experience as we care for our patients.
And then it happens.

What is that little twinge in my temple? Why does my throat feel scratchy? What is that strange pain in my stomach?

We try to shake it off, continuing about our tasks, reassuring our patients that we are giving them our best care all the while trying to ignore the growing sense of dread that we ourselves are actively coming down with Something Bad.
At break time we check our throat for exudate, put our chin to our chest to see if the head pain worsens. We palpate our abdomens, listen to our hearts, surreptuously check our vital signs. Just in case.

In nursing school alone, I personally diagnosed myself with lymphoma, hepatitis, several bouts of pneumonia, panic disorder, and quite possibly, early-onset dementia. My classmates had similar illnesses, thereby reaffirming our belief that we were the sickest bunch of nursing school students in the history of our school.

Of course, the real diagnosis in all cases was ‘nursing school-itis.’

The stress of nursing school, combined with learning about all sorts of disorders and diseases, led us all to assume that we had just about every one of them. (Our psych rotation was arguably the worst—at that time, we started diagnosing each other. Thank goodness it was only a 6 week rotation!)

I am sure that we all racked up many co-payments in unnecessary doctor visits in the course of those two years. I know my doctor was very tolerant. And truth be told, once or twice I really was sick…sure, not with meningitis or hepatitis, but I did have an ear infection once.

So for all you nursing students just now Googling symptoms for the rare diseases you have just learned about in school…relax. Take a deep breath and have a cup of tea. Chances are that you do not have Something Bad. See your doctor if you are concerned of course, but understand that as soon as you move on to the next unit in your studies, you will be miraculously healed of your current condition…and ready to come down with the next exotic malady.