For the past twenty years Natalie has been a RN at a municipal hospital. As a nurse practitioner, she certainly knew what to tell her patients concerning their health concerns but in her private life, nonetheless, she clearly didn’t practice what she preached. As an example, she typically drank in a hazardous and excessive manner, she failed to exercise, she smoked almost two packs of cigarettes everyday, and she was approximately thirty-one pounds overweight.

Natalie Gets Into A Vehicle Accident, Fails A Breath Alcohol Test, and Goes to The Municipal Jail

One day on her way to work, Natalie got into a vehicle accident. Since the accident was her fault and because her speech was slurred when she spoke, the arresting police officer had her take a breathalyzer test. In accordance with standard police operating procedures, when a person becomes involved in a traffic accident and fails a breath alcohol test, the person has to spend at least six hours in the local jail.

As a matter of fact, Natalie should have known better than to drive after she had been drinking because she recently attended an “alcohol awareness” class at the hospital that centered on issues, statistics, and information about alcohol facts such as the following: binge drinking, alcohol poisoning, DUIs, and the essential differences between alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse.

Natalie is Disgraced About Her Automobile Accident

Needless to say, Natalie felt embarrassed about her automobile accident. In addition she was feeling quite a bit of shame about the fact that the accident was her fault. And maybe worst of all, she felt ashamed of the fact that she was driving while under the influence. As Natalie reflected on her situation, however, she knew that it could have been even worse because at the hospital, when a blood alcohol test is administered and failed, the individual has to go to obligatory alcohol treatment and is placed on non-pay status. This was basically one of the alcohol facts that was a reality at the hospital and not much could be expected to change this fact.

Natalie’s Shame About Her Vehicle Accident Makes Her Reexamine Her Life and Make Some Substantial and Healthy Modifications

In any case, Natalie’s humiliation about her vehicle accident caused her to go over her life and make some significant and healthy modifications. First, she was going to quit drinking in a hazardous and irresponsible manner. Second, she was going to stop smoking. Third, she was going to go on a weight-loss diet. And fourth, she was going to begin exercising.

As distraught as Natalie was about the entire traffic accident situation, she used this embarrassing experience as a catalyst for positive change. Moreover, she used her negative experience as a wake up call that she had been neglecting her own health while she openly told her patients how to live a more healthy life. At last, she eventually saw the double standard in her behavior and finally determined that she would live her life as a positive source of encouragement for other people.