Just a 'butt-wiper'

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

Anyway, I have this 37 year old friend who, along w/ her 10 year old daughter, always refer to me working as a 'butt-wiper'. They both get HUGE kicks out of it. "Do you have to go to work and wipe butts tonight?", or "You don't mind wiping people's butt's all night?", sometimes the mom will say to the daughter "Stop it, she went to school to learn to wipe people's butts" etc. There are many, many more degrading ways they phrase their questions. I can't really tell them off 'cause the 10 year old is best friends w/ my daughter, and I don't want that friendship to end. I've mentioned my job involves other things too, like vital signs, washing, dressing, I even had to do the Heimlich Maneuver the other night. Any ideas on some tactful ways I can say 'knock it off'. Any links I can post on my facebook page about how valuable CNA's are, the mom will see it and maybe get the hint.

Thanks in advance,

i'm late responding, but this is insane! that being said, there will be a time (and i'm not wishing it on anyone) that this lady will need, want, and value a "butt wiper" greatly. sadly, and i was guilty of it before going into nursing, people tend to think of all the "gross" things that nurses and CNA's have to do. in fact, i became a CNA before nursing school just to see how much "butt wiping" was involved and if i could stomach it. NOW, that seems silly to me. did i have to clean up poop? yes. i still do. however, that was a very small part of my job - surprisingly. that being said, my own husband made jokes about me "cleaning up poop." i don't think they realize that it's disrespectful. it's simply ignorance. furthermore, lots of people think that CNA's make a lot of money (and nurses). yeah, that CAN be true, but i think they have a lot of misconceptions about the pay scale and a lot of jealousy. someone who couldn't handle "cleaning up poop" wouldn't be thrilled at the thought of a "butt wiper" making more money than them. i even used to say, "i wish i could be a nurse. they make good money. i just couldn't deal with the blood, poop, etc." only your friend knows why she feels this way or why she says the things she does, but time and karma are your friend. let it go and know that you are important to the people whose butts you wipe.

Specializes in STNA.

Great poem! Thanks for sharing that; what a gem. :)

I'll just add: Some of the most important jobs in society are often not held in high esteem and offer little to no monetary rewards. Judge your value as a person on your contributions to humanity, not by your paycheck or the esteem of the label placed upon you.

To all the "just a ____" out there....just a mom, just an aid, just a nurse, just a whatever......kudos to you for making a difference in the world one person at a time!:redbeathe

Edit to add: Just came across a great quote...

"To laugh often, to win the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch... to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded..." - Emerson

Specializes in Critical Care (ICU/CVICU).

LOVE. The Emerson quote! I was a CNA before I started NS and I had a friend make a comment 'wow you make 15 an hour, just to wipe butts?!' I was ****** at this, and to this day, I regret not going off on her LOL. Me and her are still friends, but my respect for her went down quite a few notches. I just thought it was always *common sense* to not down talk someone's profession, especially in their face. She eventually wants to do medicine (for purely monetary reasons...she doesn't like to do "dirty" work...but obviously she doesn't know what med students have to do lol). 3 years later, I'm in a great career and hearing all the cool avenues nursing has to offer, and she is still stuck in her same low paying sales job 'trying to get into med school'(God don't like ugly!). Now that I'm an RN I plan to make the aide's job easier by helping when I can, since I know how it feels to be on the other end. I would definately either stop hanging around her, or confront her by asking "what is your reason for always degrading my occupation?" Asking her a direct question and actually waiting for her response will probably shut her up.

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