Blue or white collar? - Page 4

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  1. May 22, '12 by
    My non-official thought is that blue collar workers are paid by the hour, while white collar are salaried. Hence, most nurses are blue collar in my eyes. There's also the education factor--I don't see how a one year or two year degree can be on the same level as a bachelor's or beyond. If the HVAC and automotive students at my school had the same number of years in education, and they're considered blue collar workers, why wouldn't we nurses be blue collar as well?

    But then, I don't buy into the caste system that seems to have developed in the U.S. lately that puts white collar workers above blue collar. Both areas are essential to our economy. I am a very proud blue collar bedside nurse that doesn't understand why being called blue collar is a bad thing.
  2. May 22, '12 by
    I honestly don't have a strong opinion either way, but I have to say that this site has just provided me a new favorite word...manglement. Move over, fomite!
    Miss Lizzie, amoLucia, MinnieMomRN, and 4 others like this.
  3. May 22, '12 by
    Quote from Been there,done that
    However, we do have the authority to DELEGATE the code brown response.
    hehe so true, however in my very limited experience and stories I've been told, if you aren't willing to get a little "mud" on your boots so to speak, you won't have the respect from your techs/CNA's that they will jump in and help with that, and I've seen a few nurses who when they need a tech/CNA, they all "mysteriously" disappear about the same time, usually to another patient's room to do something else.
    Dunno during my preceptorship whether i swam and sank depending on the PCT's and how well I could get along with them, thankfully they were very nice
  4. Guide
    May 22, '12 by
    Green collar. That's what color my scrubs are, so I consider myself green collar.

    And heck yeah I wear protective clothing! AND I am paid hourly because there is no way on earth I would agree to be salaried, because things would turn brown real quick with manglement.
  5. May 22, '12 by
    Quote from knighton201
    hehe so true, however in my very limited experience and stories I've been told, if you aren't willing to get a little "mud" on your boots so to speak, you won't have the respect from your techs/CNA's that they will jump in and help with that, and I've seen a few nurses who when they need a tech/CNA, they all "mysteriously" disappear about the same time, usually to another patient's room to do something else.
    Dunno during my preceptorship whether i swam and sank depending on the PCT's and how well I could get along with them, thankfully they were very nice
    Now we are entering a whole other realm.

    I have absolutely NO problem directing a code brown... or assisting in one. I recently "lost" my badge in a pile of the brown stuff.

    The bottom line(no pun intended ) is.. I have the AUTHORITY to direct assistants to handle that problem. If I am too busy in my professional duties(again, no pun intended).. they simply MUST handle the Code Brown on their own!
  6. May 22, '12 by
    Quote from Aurora77
    My non-official thought is that blue collar workers are paid by the hour, while white collar are salaried. Hence, most nurses are blue collar in my eyes. There's also the education factor--I don't see how a one year or two year degree can be on the same level as a bachelor's or beyond. If the HVAC and automotive students at my school had the same number of years in education, and they're considered blue collar workers, why wouldn't we nurses be blue collar as well?

    But then, I don't buy into the caste system that seems to have developed in the U.S. lately that puts white collar workers above blue collar. Both areas are essential to our economy. I am a very proud blue collar bedside nurse that doesn't understand why being called blue collar is a bad thing.
    The difference is... drum roll..Even if they have the same NUMBER of years in their education.. they do not have the same RESPONSIBILITY!!.

    LIFE and DEATH!
    prettymica and digitiminimi like this.
  7. May 22, '12 by
    mmm good points, sorry for going off topic
  8. May 22, '12 by
    grey-collar refers to the balance of employed people not classified as white- or blue collar. although grey-collar is sometimes used to describe those who work beyond the age of retirement,[1][2] it is also used to refer to occupations that incorporate some of the elements of both blue- and white-collar, or are completely different from both categories.
    examples of grey collar industries:
    • farming, fishing, forestry, and other forms of agribusiness
    • health care, aged care, child care, and the personal service sector
    • protective services and security
    • food preparation and the catering industry
    • high-tech technicians[3]
    • skilled trades, technicians, etc.
    • typists, stenographers
    grey-collar workers often have associate degrees from a community college in a particular field. they are unlike blue-collar workers in that blue-collar workers can often be trained on the job within several weeks whereas grey-collar workers already have a specific skill set.
  9. May 22, '12 by
    Name any white-collar professional that punches a time clock.
    TakeTwoAspirin, whichone'spink, justami, and 2 others like this.
  10. May 22, '12 by
    This color code was developed long ago when nurses were truly blue. Now the profession of nursing has advanced I would say we are more white then blue. Blue literally referring to the blue denim worn by the workers and white referring to the white shirts worn with suits. Lab coats are white and many nurses are paid with a salary. Also the education level is higher now for nurses and the white collar worker is traditionally considered more educated.

    With BSN RNs, APNs and nurses with doctorates I can't see how the nurses profession can be viewed as blue anymore. I myself have been salaried for half my career and have ended up in administative positons.

    I believe whether one believes the nursing profession is white or blue will be determined on that individuals current position in nursing and their education level. I also like the grey definiton but why doesn't nursing create it's own color...eggplant is a vibrant color; mahogany...reds are nice.

    Advance, go forth, change the status quo
    Been there,done that likes this.