For the past six years Natalie has been a nurse practitioner at a small public hospital. As a registered nurse, she undeniably knew what to tell her patients regarding their health issues but in her off-duty life, however, she undeniably didn’t practice what she preached. As an illustration, she usually drank in a hazardous and irresponsible manner, she avoided any physical exercise whatsoever, she smoked approximately two packs of cigarettes everyday, and she was approximately sixty pounds overweight.
Natalie Gets Into A Vehicle Accident, Fails A Breath Alcohol Test, and Goes to The Community Jail
One morning on her way to her job, Natalie got into a car accident. Since the accident was her fault and since her speech was garbled when she talked, the arresting officer administered a breathalyzer test. In accord with standard law enforcement operating procedures, when an individual becomes involved in an automobile accident and fails to pass a breathalyzer test, the person has to spend at least four hours in the county jail.
In reality, Natalie should have known better than to drive after she was drinking because she recently went to an “alcohol awareness” class at the hospital that centered on issues, statistics, and information about alcohol facts such as the following: alcohol poisoning, DUIs, binge drinking, and the key differences between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction.
Natalie is Humiliated By Her Traffic Accident
It almost goes without saying that Natalie experienced more than a little shame about her traffic accident. Furthermore, she felt disgraced about the fact that the accident was her fault. And perhaps worst of all, she felt disgraced about the fact that she was driving after she had a few drinks. As Natalie considered this event, however, she realized that it could have been far worse because at work, when a alcohol blood test is administered and failed, the person has to go to compulsory alcohol treatment and is placed on non-pay status. This was in effect one of the alcohol facts that was a reality at her place of employment and not much could be expected to change this fact.
Natalie’s Shame About Her Traffic Accident Helps Motivate Her To Reevaluate Her Life and Make Some Important and Healthy Modifications
At any rate, Natalie’s embarrassment about her car accident helped persuade her to reexamine her life and make some substantial and positive alterations. First, she was going to quit drinking in an excessive and hazardous manner. Second, she was going to stop smoking. Third, she was going to go on a strict weight-loss diet. Fourth, she was going to begin exercising. And fifth, she was going to initiate more meaningful dating relationships.
As troubled as Natalie was about the entire car accident situation, she used this sorrowful experience as a trigger for positive change. Moreover, she used her painful experience as a wake up call that she had been neglecting her own health while she openly told other people how to live a more healthy life. At the end of the day, she eventually saw the pretense in her actions and came to a decision that she would live her life as a constructive example for the patients she saw at the hospital.