![](https://www.mcknights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/09/jackievance230_875647-2.png)
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Recently, I had the privilege to visit Europe. It was my first vacation in five years.
First, I want to say, DO NOT do that! We as nurse leaders are not that important. If we set up our bench strength as a leader, we can take some time off. We need it for our mental health or else we will become a grouchy pants! But, as usual, I digress.
So, what I wanted to talk about was all these strange signs I saw in Europe.
This first one I saw in a bathroom stall in County Cork, Ireland. I think this should be posted in every bathroom stall in the United States because I am thoroughly convinced that US citizens do not know how to sit on a toilet. Otherwise, there would not be pee all over the floor and seat, right? Then, I will only make my scared-opening-a-bathroom-stall face when opening nursing progress notes, not both!
![](https://www.mcknights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/sitting-on-a-tiolet-1024x514.jpg)
I also saw this one in a unisex bathroom in Ireland. Just in case someone is tempted to peek! Please, I am a nurse on vacation. If I see one more …
![](https://www.mcknights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/no-peaking-2.jpg)
Then I saw this sign all over Ireland and England. Caution, elderly? Are there feral senior citizens you must be alert for? But this one also points to a cemetery. Too “Night of the living dead” for me!
![](https://www.mcknights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/caution-elderly.jpg)
This next one I love. It is used instead of our Yield sign. But I think we should hang it on our med carts so we can help poor nurses not get interrupted a million times while passing meds. Or put it on the front of that resident in the motorized wheelchair who runs over everyone on his way to bingo!
![](https://www.mcknights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/give-way.png)
This next one has nothing to do with our profession, but I had to include it. It was in England. Wonder if Hogwarts in hidden somewhere near. Harry Potter, watch those birds, please!
![](https://www.mcknights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/harry-potter-2.jpg)
I also love the ambiguity of this sign. Hmmm, reminds me of survey?!
![](https://www.mcknights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/touching-sign-2.jpg)
But just returned to dear old USA and saw this one on my way home. Who knew we could get our senior citizens washed and vacuumed for less than $16?
![](https://www.mcknights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/wash-and-vaccum-2.jpg)
Lastly, just wondering if we should put this sign out on some of our visitor days. Just saying …
![](https://www.mcknights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/beware-2.jpg)
Just keeping it real,
Nurse Jackie
The Real Nurse Jackie is written by Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC, Senior Director of Clinical Innovation and Education for Mission Health Communities, LLC and an APEX Award of Excellence winner for Blog Writing. Vance is a real-life long-term care nurse. A nationally respected nurse educator and past national LTC Nurse Administrator of the Year, she also is an accomplished stand-up comedienne. The opinions supplied here are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her employer or her professional affiliates.