[GardenDove]

We hear about the 'image' of nursing. We've seen attempts by nursing leadership to improve it's image. Some say that the whole NANDA thing was an attempt to make nursing seem more 'professional' in it's own right. I personally thought it was ridiculous, and the whole care plan thing is annoying and dumb, in my mind.

Then, I read in the latest poll regarding the most and the least trusted professions, and nurses came out on top again. Nurses are loved by the public, apparently. And, that's my personal experience. I am respected and loved by my community because I am a nurse.

So, what's your take on this?

[Psqrd]

I agree that nurses seem to be on top of the trusted professions. I tell people that I am a nursing student and people thank me for going into the profession. As far as the nanda's are concerned its hard to believe that something that includes Energy field disturbance can hardly be taken seriously...whats next disturbance in the force?
Just my thought.
P

[Natkat]

Originally Posted by Psqrd

I agree that nurses seem to be on top of the trusted professions. I tell people that I am a nursing student and people thank me for going into the profession. As far as the nanda's are concerned its hard to believe that something that includes Energy field disturbance can hardly be taken seriously...whats next disturbance in the force?
Just my thought.
P

Just what is a disturbance in an energy field anyway? What were they smoking when they made that one up?

I get the same response when I tell people I'm a nursing student. They talk to me like I'm some kind of angel who was born to serve. I do care and I love medicine, but I'm not all selfless and giving as the public seems to think. I don't plan to do bedside nursing very long; for me it's a means to an end while I pursue higher education. The public's perception is a funny thing though.

[SharonH, RN]

Originally Posted by GardenDove

the whole care plan thing is annoying and dumb, in my mind.

GardenDove, I don't know why you would think the nursing care plan is dumb, it's what we do isn't it? In fact, I have noticed over the years that the more and more we have moved away from the "dumb" care plan into strictly implementing physician's orders the worse outcomes patients have. Nursing care IMO is far more influential than physician care on patient outcomes and it can make the difference between life and death, I don't care how good the physician is.


As for the public's respect, that's nice but it's a hollow victory since most of the public has no idea what we really do and think we are lowly-educated pillow-fluffers and hand-holders who also are responsible for giving spongebaths and helping people to the bathroom.

[GardenDove]

I've never met a nurse yet who comes to work and consults the careplan. We fill them out because they are required by regulators, not to really plan care.

[mary23]

Gardendive what kind of facitity do you work in if you mind me asking??? We have a whole care plan team at bothe the facilities i work at that includes nursing...

[GardenDove]

I work in a small ICU at a small hospital

[GardenDove]

We all think careplans are a colossal waste of time and another example of regulations gone berzerk

[mary23]

I think care plans are a lot different in ICU and CCU. I am also a cardiac nurse and i think the whole care plan thing is #1 something nursing school does to make writing a paper make sense. #2 A tool facilities CHOOSE to adopt or not to adopt and #3 they are nothing like what school makes them out to be.
IN the acute care setting you do it without even thinking...Interventions that is and in some situations it is understood.

[TraumaICURN]

I get mixed reactions when I tell people that I am a nurse. Some people respect the nursing profession and others don't; but I think that is mainly due to people not knowing exactly what a nurse does. Some think that all we do is bathe patients, wipe their butts, and nothing else. They don't understand how much skill and knowledge is needed to be a nurse. I had one of my friends say to me, "You should have went to med school, you're too smart to be just a nurse." After she was admitted to the hospital for 2 weeks for renal failure, she realized how educated and skilled the nurses were and why nursing school was HELL for me!