[agoodusername]

So, what is this fight about? Ensuring that we, nurses, get due credit for all of our accomplishments, ie, "tooting our own horn," or making sure that doctors don't?

I understand, and completely agree with the need for recognition and societal change in attitude towards nursing in general, but for the purpose of playing devil's advocate, which would you prefer: public attention, or patient gratification? When was the last time you saw a patient cry out of gratitude to one of their physicians? And now think about how often you see a similar experience occur with nurses. Perhaps we don't get international acclaim, but that has never been the goal of nursing -- from the very beginning, it was, and should remain, about the patients.

That's why, evertime I tell someone that I'm going to be a nurse, they break out in praise of good nursing experiences that they and their loved ones have been fortunate enough to receive during difficult times. Nobody says stuff like that about their surgeon.

Not discrediting the media acclaim and attention that is rightly due to nurses, but I'd much rather be recognized in a true, meaningful and personal way -- without trying to force compliments and attention to myself -- than to be known as proud, conceited and attention-seeking, like most physicians are.

[gonzo1]

Did you'all know that nurses are ranked the number 1 most trusted worker in the world. Doctor are number 7 on the list and police are I believe number 4. So although we don't get shows made about us and we appear to be the silent majority, we are making an impression on someone. I do wish it were a little more noticible though, but somehow we keep shooting ourselves in the foot. For example at the last staff meeting the floor nurses were ******** about us bringing them pts at shift change, and not in gowns or the IV isn't started, and the day shift was ******** that the night shift doesn't stock. As long as we are all so busy bringing each other down we are never going to move up the food chain. Maybe having more men come into the field will help change the status quo.

[decartes]

Hmmmmmmm...I'd like to think of it as a collaborative (team) effort. All those involved in caring for the pateint get the credit.

[SandySummers]

Infirmières Sans Frontières

December 3, 2006 -- Recently, the Nobel Prize-winning Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) launched a U.S. tour of an exhibit highlighting the global aid group's vital work in conflict zones. "A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City" features MSF aid workers guiding visitors through a model of actual relief facilities. The exhibit explains the challenges MSF faces in providing care, nutrition, and decent living conditions. This is a perfect time to thank the group for its admirable work--and to note that its continuing use of the name "Doctors Without Borders" sends an inaccurate message about who is doing that work. We understand nurses are the most numerous health professionals among MSF workers, and they play a central role in the group's efforts. Yet when journalist Suzanne Gordon suggested to a physician MSF leader that the group consider adopting a name that did not slight its nurses, the leader said that she hoped MSF would never be so "stupid" as to do so. The Center for Nursing Advocacy has tried to discuss the matter with MSF for two months, but we have gotten no real response. The group's name seems to reflect the undervaluation of nursing that is undermining health worldwide, particularly in the developing nations MSF tries to help. We doubt that MSF would suffer by phasing in a similar name, like "Soins Sans Frontières" ("Health Care Without Borders"). We urge MSF to give its own nurses the credit they deserve--and that nurses everywhere need to help their patients. Read more
http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/news/2006/dec/msf.html or go straight to our letter-writing campaign!
http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/actio...sf/m_form.html

[TrudyRN]

Hmmpf. Maybe if the nurses voted with their feet...

I sent my letter. I hope lots of others do, too.

Thanks for informing us.

[augigi]

Someone else posted a thread about this about 2 days ago which you may want to check out.

[sirI]

Posts #14, 15, and 16 merged with existing thread.

[talaxandra]

I've got an email back from MSF, and I'm sorry, EmerNurse - I think it's a form response because it included the section you quoted and didn't address the aspects I mentioned (including a recommendation that I check out the organisation through their website, despite my mentuioning that I'm already a sponsor). I still think they do good work, I will still support the group, and I don't really expect an individualised response. But if they think that people somehow magically know that MSF comprises other health care providers they should think again - a straw poll among frinds, family and colleagues revealed that more than half thought they were only or primarily physicians.

[SharonH, RN]

Fascinating. I honestly believed that MSF was mostly physicians. I'm embarrassed, I should have known better. I sent my letter.

[natrgrrl]

Why does everything have to be so PC! Why in the world would an organization change it's name to make sure nurses get credit? That just sounds ridiculous. An organization's name is not about honoring its workers. MSF does great things and I'm sure all the nurses who work for the organization will agree.