I have been conducting a research project over the last year.

There is a particular source of stress affecting Registered Nurses that has yet to be quantified, qualified or even discussed in higher academia.

It affects one registered nurse at a time, unless there is more than one RN in the family.

The more RNs in the family, the more nurses it affects.

It is called the “Nuptial Effect”.

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The onset can be up to one year before the peak of symptoms.

Beginning with tachycardia and euphoria, over the next few months a sense of foreboding evolves. The nurse struggles to hold onto her paycheck with all her strength as various forces work to divest her of her savings.

Oh, at first she loses a little here, a little there. Once the momentum picks up every waking minute, more money is lost.

Eventually the nurse gives up the fight and hands over all her money to the sucking void that is known as the “Nuptial Effect”.

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At first there is denial that there will even be any stress. Months can go by without symptoms.

Then it happens. Nausea, dizziness, anxiety creep up on the nurse, even as she tries to maintain psychological homeostasis while counseling family members who are even worse than she is. Oh yes, the family is affected by the Effect. One particular family member, actually.

The Bride.

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You see, this post is a dignified attempt to cover the fact that I have no column for this week.

My landmark research was a on particular registered nurse.

Me.

I have, for better or for worse “The Nuptial Effect”.

My daughter gets married this weekend.

And six weeks later my son gets married.

Uh oh.

What excuse am I going to have for no column that week???

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My series on the National Institute for Nursing Research and the online course for nurse scientists will resume next Wednesday. It’s an amazing online course and for research newbies like me, it is invaluable.

In the meantime, I’ll be busy as the Mother-of-the-Bride.

Geeze, that makes me sound old.