[Kate RN]

In the last month I have been reading Suzanne Gordon's Book- Nursing- Against the Odds. She says a lot of things that I had been feeling but did not know how to put into words- or why things are this way. She explains some things that are uncomfortable to recognize in ourselves. She both criticizes and applaudes nurses and nursing as a career and profession. She is wanting us to rally and speak up.
She is the daughter of a doctor. A journalist by trade. 13-20 years ago she was asked to explore the Nursing Shrotage that was going on then. She is still talking to nurses about Nursing and examining our difficulites and triumphs. She has a lot to say and also speaks to Nurses at conferences. I have not had this opportunity.
I am not done with the book yet and it is already making an impact of me.
I want to know what other nurses that have read her owrk or heard her speak are thinking. I want to talk with nurses about it. I have others reading the book at my hospital as well, but want this opportunity as well.
thanks

[lalaxton]

I have heard her speak. She is quite the speaker! She pushes nurses to be more vocal, speak up for yourselves (constructively0 and not just grumble about the problems in nursing. Certainly thought provoking. Devinitely recommended reading.

[Fire Wolf]

Looks like I will have to order that book from what you are saying. Sounds good.

[Kate RN]

Amazon has it the cheapest I know about- $13-14 for the paperback.

[bigmona]

She spoke at my school and I found her to be very inspiring and thought provoking. She talked a lot about nurses in the media, how often we are portrayed as having a "magic touch" or being a shoulder to lean on but our education and our part in saving people's lives is often underplayed or ignored.

[lindarn]

Originally Posted by bigmona

She spoke at my school and I found her to be very inspiring and thought provoking. She talked a lot about nurses in the media, how often we are portrayed as having a "magic touch" or being a shoulder to lean on but our education and our part in saving people's lives is often underplayed or ignored.

Every nurse in this country and every nursing student should make this a priority reading. Her advice and warnings shoud be taken seriously by nurses.


Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

[Plagueis]

I've read Nursing Against the Odds, and I enjoyed the book for the most part. She makes some great points about how nurses are often viewed as caregivers and not technicians, especially by nursing organizations. I also agree with her point about forms of address, and wonders why doctors are referred to as "Dr. Evans," while nurses are called by their first names only. The main that I didn't like was her quoting of a college dean who said that doctors are somehow justified in not taking nurses more seriously, since there is a large education gap between the two professions. Maybe someone read that part differently, but the dean seems to be saying that it's okay to treat people poorly simply because they have less education than you. (She supports the bachelor degree as the minimum requirement to become a nurse.) It seemed like Gordon agreed with the dean's point. Otherwise, the book is a good read.

[lindarn]

Originally Posted by Tommybabe

I've read Nursing Against the Odds, and I enjoyed the book for the most part. She makes some great points about how nurses are often viewed as caregivers and not technicians, especially by nursing organizations. I also agree with her point about forms of address, and wonders why doctors are referred to as "Dr. Evans," while nurses are called by their first names only. The main that I didn't like was her quoting of a college dean who said that doctors are somehow justified in not taking nurses more seriously, since there is a large education gap between the two professions. Maybe someone read that part differently, but the dean seems to be saying that it's okay to treat people poorly simply because they have less education than you. (She supports the bachelor degree as the minimum requirement to become a nurse.) It seemed like Gordon agreed with the dean's point. Otherwise, the book is a good read.

I am not ageeing that someone should be treated poorly because they less education, but I do agree that nurses are not taken more seriosly due to the low level of education that most nurses have. Just because it took you 31/2 years to complete a two year ADN program does not give you the credibility that actually having the BSN in hand. Jusy look at our mulitple entry into practice- two year ADN, 2- 3 year diploma, one year for an LPN/LVN, nursing assistants with a 4 week course and the rest OJT training.

PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS HAVE AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE AS ENTRY INTO PRACTICE. To work as a glorified exertise tech from a health club. Is there any wonder that nurses lack credibility in the workplace, and the public? And she did not say that doctors were justified in treating nurses badly- she said that doctors don't take nurses seriously, due to the low levels of education that most of us earn. I really does affect our credibility to other health care professionals, and to the public. The public may think that nurses are wonderful, but ask them if we should earn $100, 000 + a year, like doctors do, and the Physical Therapists that earn upwards of $80,000 a year. Their reaction would be, "well what do you expect- you only went to school for two years". So yes, it does affect our credibility, and it shows in the lack of repect, afforded us, and in our compenstion (or lack thereof).

Nurses are viewed as caregivers, but we are not technicians, we are medical professionals. But since most of us have only a two year technical degree from a community college, that does put us in the technician category. There is the basis for the attitude.

It will never change until nurses accept a BSN as entry into practice, unite under a common organization, such as the NNOC, and instead of just accepting poor working conditions, and pay, demand it in the form of job actions, and education of the public. Refuse unsafe patient assignments. If other unsafe assignments being given out, NO ONE GOES TO WORK UNTIL THEY BRING MORE NURSES IN TO WORK. If that means the Director of Nursing comes to the floors to take an assignment, so be it.

Become independant contractors, instead of employees. When we make ourselves a force to be reckoned with, like the California Nurses Association has done, we will be taken seriously. I doubt that Arnie is making fun of nurses anymore, after the debacle last year with the special election that he called. And everyone of the initiatives that he put on the ballot, lost. Thanks to the CNA, and other unions who know how to stick together. That is who nurses should be modeling ourselves after. JMHO,and $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

[catlady]

Originally Posted by lindarn

The public may think that nurses are wonderful, but ask them if we should earn $100, 000 + a year, like doctors do, and the Physical Therapists that earn upwards of $80,000 a year. Their reaction would be, "well what do you expect- you only went to school for two years". So yes, it does affect our credibility, and it shows in the lack of repect, afforded us, and in our compenstion (or lack thereof).

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

Way to start up the BSN debate one...more...time.

The average patient hasn't got a clue what a nurse's education level is, unless you make a point of telling them. They do want to know if you're a nurse, and sometimes they want to know if you're a registered nurse.

I've got 182 semester hours at the undergraduate and graduate level, in addition to two full years of nursing school. Patients see me as knowledgeable and articulate. Nursing sees me as an inferior diploma grad.

Catlady, RN, C, CCRN, M.A.

[jahra]

Originally Posted by catlady

Nursing sees me as an inferior diploma grad.

Catlady, RN, C, CCRN, M.A.

If it were not for hard working diploma graduates,
there would be no BSN The fact that the National organizations
have amnesia about where they came from is sad.

But then, they appear equally clueless on where they are going...........

Enbrace that diploma, my only regret is they stopped making
the blue cape with the red lining. Would have loved to have one of
those