Are you a victim of open-heart theft from a nurse? Hehe. Aww, but really, being in love with a nurse is the best.
Nurses are among the kindest, most giving, and hardworking individuals. If you are recently dating a nurse, or have been in love with a nurse for a while, it’s always good to keep things new and exciting.
Nurses often work long hours and irregular shifts—they may be on call, which will require lots of extra patience from their partner.
Understanding what to expect when dating a nurse will help you navigate practical ways to support your nurse partner.
After all, if they are the love of your life, the apple of your eye, it will be worth every heartbeat.
Here’s how to keep the love alive in a nursing relationship and some great date ideas to add to the mood.
Challenges of dating a nurse
Why do you have to go ahead and kill the mood–you ask us? The thing is, all relationships come with challenges, but dating a nurse has its own set of challenges.
What are the biggest challenges when dating a nurse?
Time constraints, fatigue, and emotional stress are among the biggest factors that can challenge maintaining relationships with nurses.
One study showed that job stress of employed nurses can endanger the physical and mental health of nurses, decrease energy, and affect work efficiency.
Of course, not every nurse dreads their job, and many find joy in nursing, especially per diem nurses who can pick up their own shifts and work as much or as little as they want.
Still, common job stressors, such as the factors mentioned above, will get in the way. Don’t fret. A nice gesture or a thoughtful date is a good way to show appreciation and keep your connection strong.
Here are some nurse relationship tips and date ideas that will make dating a healthcare professional feel effortless and full of love:
Date ideas to keep your nurse relationship thriving
What are the perks of dating a nurse? There are too many to list. Nurses tend to be super empathetic, loving, and determined individuals.
However, irregular hours, exhaustion, and burnout can all cause frustration for both a nurse and their partner when it comes to making their romantic relationship work. There are secrets on how to maintain a relationship while dating a nurse.
Understanding the emotional challenges of a nurse is a good start to supporting a nurse partner. Pair that understanding with a kind gesture or relaxing date night to help them feel seen and valued.
Here’s how to do it.
Issue: Your nurse works irregular hours
Date idea: Surprise them with a cozy breakfast in bed after a night shift. Night shift nurses are a different breed and will really appreciate these small gestures.
If your nurse loves working early in the morning, surprise them with a coffee date—at their favorite coffee shop—before they head into work.
If your nurse is a new nurse and is just starting her job, bring her flowers at the end of each week. One Reddit nurse said, “I got flowers at the end of my very first week of my first job. It was really sweet…” Aww.
Issue: Your nurse is often exhausted
Date idea: Patient care is rewarding but also exhausting. Your Valentine nurse may not have the energy for big plans—that’s okay. Instead, focus on low-key date ideas that will help them soak their feet—literally.
Draw a warm bath, or order takeout from their favorite restaurant. Rub their feet while watching a movie, who knows, a little pampering may even lead to more romance (wink wink).
Issue: Your nurse brings emotional stress home
Date idea: Patient care is also stressful. Waiting on patients day in and day out can be draining.
Show support for your partner by listening without judgment and offering comforting distractions. Take a walk, cook together, or just snuggle up on the couch and veg out to your favorite series.
Issue: Your nurse works holidays and special occasions
Date idea: At some point in their career, most nurses will be required to work a holiday or two. Instead of feeling let down, celebrate holidays on your own schedule.
- For Christmas, exchange gifts the night before or the day after.
- For Halloween, bring your nurse to a costume party on a day they won't be working.
- Plan a New Year's Eve bash early, and tell them to put on their best attire.
Keep in mind, dating a nurse while managing your own career is something to consider. Having a whiteboard calendar that sits somewhere prominent in your house (if you live together) can help you coordinate schedules and plan quality time together without added stress.
If you don’t live together yet, find an app where you are able to share a mutual calendar that’s meant only for you and your nurse sweetheart to plan quality time together.
Here are some last-minute tips for partners of nurses when navigating shift schedules in nurse relationships:
- Communication is everything when it comes to dating a nurse. Be clear from the start what your expectations are for spending time with each other.
- Be flexible and remember that a nurse's schedule can be hectic; staying empathetic and compassionate will keep you cool and calm in love.
- Small gestures and date ideas are more effective than extravagant ones. This takes the pressure off an exhausted or fatigued nurse.
- Help with household tasks during long shifts. Wash the dishes, clean out the refrigerator, fold the laundry, tend to their garden, and so on.
How do nurses balance work and relationships, and how can partners support someone dating a nurse?
It’s a combination of understanding, small gestures, and a lot of patience that will renew, maintain, and keep the spark alive in a relationship with a nurse.
Where there is love, there is a nurse behind it
Where challenges exist, rewards also follow. So, while dating a nurse may be frustrating at times, nurses are some of the most resilient and empathetic people, and they love to build a strong emotional bond with the people they love—yep, that’s you!
Whether you and your nurse are just beginning to bloom or you are a long-term couple, setting aside time and planning dates will help your love grow even more.
Looking for more flexibility in your nurse’s schedule?
Per diem nursing makes nurse work-life balance possible. Explore the Nursa marketplace to find PRN shifts at hospitals and healthcare facilities near you.
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