[squeakykitty]

Society has changed, and the field of nursing has changed a lot over the years. Just before I was born in 1967, a nurse had the time to reassure my mom when she was in labor and very scared because the last one with my brother was so hard and painful. Now, I don't think any nurse would have that kind of time.

People used to have more respect for one another and for the nurses, but now we live in a Burger King society where people want what they want "right now" the way they want it, and to heck with anyone else. In other words, there is an epidemic of the Selfish Entitlement Syndrome, where people are getting more selfish and rude all the time.

People are not acting this way because of the way a nurse "presents themself". They act this way anyway, and the responsibility for this behavior should rest on them alone. The nurse is not responsible for anothers behavior.

Now, states are even enacting laws against assaults on healthcare staff, which I don't think were there the year I was born. I've seen an interesting thread along these line, here is the link. http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/does-...me-281221.html

I totally understand the venting here. If a nurse has to deal with being at the beck and call of people like this, it takes away from people who are really sick. It does scare me a little, the idea that one of my family members might come to harm because a self absorbed person has bullied a nurse to the point they couldn't even check on my family member.

There is a shortage of nurses willing to put up with abuse, and it will only get worse unless nurses can have a way to get respect and not be abused. Years ago, battered women had no resources. They do now, and nurses should have resources too.

[aeauooo]

Originally Posted by squeakykitty

we live in a Burger King society where people want what they want "right now" the way they want it, and to heck with anyone else.

Which is one of the reasons I can't wait to get out of this country and go back to work in Africa.

Twice in my life I have experienced severe culture shock - both times were when I had returned to the U.S. after having lived in another country for over a year: Iran in 1978 (yup), and Ethiopia in 2002.

You might think I'd experience culture shock moving to one of those countries, but I didn't. I expected that I would have to adjust. I was absolutely not prepared to see my own country and culture from a perspective I gained while living outside of it.

So God willing, I should be back in Africa next year, where I can make a difference, instead of the almost Sisyphean task of working as a nurse in this country, where the reward of feeling like I've made a real difference seem few and far between.

[ERbunny]

Although I don't go back quite as far as lamazeteacher, I have seen many changes in nursing, many good , some not so. The "hospital as business" mentality has seen the pendulum swing to an absurd degree, where the customer is always right and the nurse is always on the defensive. I don't want to go back to the days when patients were kept in the dark about their meds, etc. I can remember a hot seminar discussion about how much info patients should have !! However, our "customers" are NOT always right, especially about what an emergency is, about whether they should get the narcs they request, what is the best test to be run, etc. The media have served everyone poorly by giving unrealistic expectations of health care.

I believe the excessively demanding patient usually has another agenda than getting someone to open his sugar packet. There are probably a lot of needs in his life that are not being met. Unfortunately, the RN is not the one who is going to have the time to meet them, esp when someone is crashing next door.
"TLC" is an oft-used crossword answer for something RNs provide, but it is a sad comment that we so rarely get to provide it.

[lamazeteacher]

Originally Posted by BeachBayNurse

Why would one put themselves in some of the conditions you described in a society where one can sue at the drop of the hat? Yes, things were definitely different years ago, perhaps I would be more willing to take on too many patients, unsafe conditions etc., when the patients were not likely to sue and take away my family's livelihood.

You're right that in the past, especially in Canada people were less litigious. Nurses were more compliant then, too. An assignment was an assignment, especially while I was in nursing school and hadn't the luxury of refusing one.

At that time, we weren't allowed into hospital training programs if we were married, and or had children. We lived in Nurses' residences with curfews at 10 at night, when we sometimes had to sneak in when late.

People appreciated nurses' personal sacrifices and care more then, too. Lawsuits happen more frequently now, but unless actual harm occurred, there are no "damages", and the case is "thrown out of court" by the judge.

[AirforceRN]

Originally Posted by lamazeteacher

At that time, we weren't allowed into hospital training programs if we were married, and or had children. We lived in Nurses' residences with curfews at 10 at night, when we sometimes had to sneak in when late.

Wow! Seriously?
I graduated last year and can't imagine being told "no marriage...no kids and you have to be in by 10." That's dedication.

[jlsRN]

Those were different times. There was value in the old ways, that is for sure. Some things have been lost but other things have been gained. Every generation has it's own trials and challenges, but also it's own blessings.

Good night.

[lamazeteacher]

Originally Posted by AirforceRN

Wow! Seriously?
I graduated last year and can't imagine being told "no marriage...no kids and you have to be in by 10." That's dedication.

The late '50s, when I did that, in Quebec was a whole other world from the one today. Imagine it as a 3 year boot camp......with pay of $250./month at the end, for which we were very appreciative. Our tuition, room and board, meals at the hospital, books, etc. were not our responsibility to pay. Uniforms - starched white aprons, grey pintucked front, grey dresses (3" below the knee), and 4 mortor board round caps cost $250. for the entire time.

The most amazing thing, I think, is that the 3 years plus a year at University of Toronto getting my degree were the foundation of 48 years of work (better paid as time and costs went on). And as you read, my memory of the things I was taught is intact. However, I do get those "senior" moments when more recent recall is elusive. The "files" in my head do show up, but timing is an issue.

I've just started a new job with a huge company, and have been asked to supply some weird things, for them to get multistate R.N. licensure for me. At this time, I am hunting for my first marriage license, to validate my name change (even though it's clear that for 44 years. the name I have is my married name - I offered wedding pictures.....). I have to equivocate my Canadian high school courses with those in the United States, and when I said to the "licensure" person that Canadian schools had a much more difficult curriculum, she said "prove it". They also want all the licenses from every province and state in which I've been licensed (4).

The reason I mention the latter, is that we must never lose or throw away papers that it may be necessary to have, in the future! Who knows, 48 years later, we may need them......

[lamazeteacher]

Originally Posted by jlsRN

Those were different times. There was value in the old ways, that is for sure. Some things have been lost but other things have been gained. Every generation has it's own trials and challenges, but also it's own blessings.

Good night.

The training in "the old days" was stringent, and living in Nurse's Residence restrictive, but the comraderie and bonding experienced is priceless. I still get surprised when I meet a nurse who is overtly hostile, for no apparent reason. I've seen that a lot in the USA, with snitching, backbiting, etc. that wasn't present in Canada when I was there. However, it may be now...........

[november551]

Originally Posted by sample24

I asked her just what she intended to do at home with no one to wipe her butt for her. Her reply? "Don't you guys have any salad tongs?? That's what I use at home to wipe with....." GROSS, and would you really want to put them in the dishwasher after that??

Welp, I can only guess as to why her weight-loss plan by eating more green leafy vegetables failed.

[Diary/Dairy]

Ewwww - I don't want to think about salad tongs that way....