i'll probably get flamed to the moon and back for this but..

[elijahvegas]

does anyone else get tired of hearing (from other SNAs/hopefuls/vets) what we nurses are "suppose" to be like ?

i read through thread after thread of how if you're not "compassionate to the core" and "really into nursing" and all this other stuff, you won't do well in the program or as a nurse in general.

is it really that big of a deal that some use the profession as a fallback option, or as a way to get by while trying to pursue something they'd really wanna be doing, without having to work something that provides just above minimum wage to make ends meet ?

i often hear people being scolded because their "heart" isn't in nursing, and for taking a seat away from others who "really" want to be there. Are any of us less deserving because we went through the same prereqs as everyone else but were competitive enough to actually secure a seat ? Is this something i should apologize for ? Should we be barred from applying simply because we have different prospects for the horizon ? Say med school ? or a field outside of healthcare altogether ?

Is it wrong to consider this profession a job ? one in which i will do my best to do well as i would with any other endeavor ? I go in with an attitude to make sure all of my duties are done, everyone is accounted for, and everything is the way it should be from the time i arrive until the time i clock out. Does it make me a bad nurse that i don't cry with a patient when they're going through a hard time ? Please dont take this as an implication as me directing negative or rude comments towards the patient. I'm attentive, and consoling, but i'd rather not have my emotions tie me up in knots to the point where i start to make clinical errors, which in the end is truly the most important thing to me.

Don't mind me, just my Tuesday morning rant for the day. I'm curious to see who else feels like this. I know im the minority but i can't be the only one

[TraumaSurfer]

Except I just got presented with a patient satisfaction award and have never had a problem with coworkers we all help each-other. Nice attempt at a jab though.../yawn. Lol at people thinking just because you don't have a passion for something you can't be good at.

I bet you are one of those people that employees dread to with (especially after reading your presumptive jump to conclusion).

Don't know anything about you except your words here. You might be as good as you think you are only in your own mind to justify your behavior. Dont know and dont care as long as you are not in my area. A lot of us enjoy the perks of the profession but still have time to show a little compassion and even be a patient advocate while earning our wage on the clock.

[Dranger]

Don't know anything about you except your words here. You might be as good as you think you are only in your own mind to justify your behavior. Dont know and dont care as long as you are not in my area. A lot of us enjoy the perks of the profession but still have time to show a little compassion and even be a patient advocate while earning our wage on the clock.

Lol right and you don't come near my area either, I don't want any of that negativity around me or my co-workers

[Mr. Murse]

I think some people are just good employees, and relatively good at what they do, no matter what they do. This is probably because they take pride in their work, and although nursing may not be their field of choice, they can still be good at it because they're just that kind of person. I think I was one of those people too. I used to work at a tire retread manufacturing plant for 6 years before nursing, operating huge, hot machines for 12 hours a day to put myself through nursing school (what an odd contrast). The thing is, I did my best at that job and I did it well, became a supervisor and because I had proven myself, my employers bent over backwards to help me get through school and work around my often complicated schedules. Making tires wasn't my calling, but I excelled because I take pride in whatever it is I spend my time doing. I think there are many good nurses out there that are good at it because they're just bright, driven, hard working people and not because they're the most "compassionate". By the same token, there are many "compassionate" nurses out there who want to save the world but they just really struggle with the theory and science also required to be a good nurse. They may be able to console a patient who just found out they have cancer, but will they be able to act appropriately when that patient codes? or keep a level head while juggling the many tasks nursing involves?

I also went into nursing for practical reasons, and now I love it.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Nursing is a profession and to be successful at any profession you need to have a balance between IQ intelligent quotient and EQ

emotional quotient. Its about having empathy (which requires engagement) not sympathy which denotes a degree of superiority over another. Its the difference between being "cared for" and "cared about" According to press ganey the pollsters patients want to

be cared about.

Nursing is also a science. If you havent read up of Florence Nightengale please do so. She set about establishing nursing as a science and speaks of the rightious with disdain. She also felt women were too emotional to be effective in medicine (too much EQ!)

Here's a great example of the problem with healthcare: On my unit people are asked to come up with WOW moments with patients

and they are posted on a white board to share with staff. The other day the night nurse asked a patient what would really make him happy, he asked for one of those disgusting pancake egg sanwhiches from mickey ds which we have at our hospital. The nurse

bought him 2 of the sandwiches so she would be extra special and of course he enjoyed both. The day nurse who is telling me this

story explains that this pt is a IDDM and while the night nurse got mention for the deed she was left with the chore/task of managing

his BS which was 459 in addition to some patient education.

Ugh, sorry, but "EQ" sounds like a load of bull.

It's precisely silly clap-trap like this that leads to nursing being viewed to be not as professional as medicine. Why don't we just take Redbook's or Reader's Digest's "Test your EQ" quiz as part of our curriculum?

[smartnurse1982]

Well,I'm not sure what to say.

My heart is in Private Duty Nursing,yet many nurses(even on Allnurses) tell me "You need to work in another specialty)

Why? Because some nurses think my skills aren't fresh,or that I don't know how to be a "real nurse".

My heart is in Pdn,so that's all that really matters.

For what its worth,we get paid the lowest.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Nurses are idealized in our society, even by other nurses.

We are usually female, nurturers, and DO care about our patients. Just call me mom. Moms do it for free, why shouldn't nurses?

I got over that about the same time I became a slave for the corporation that makes money off the sweat of my back.

Now, it's all about ME!

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Should we be barred from applying simply because we have different prospects for the horizon ? Say med school ?

I wouldn't bar you, but I have to admit I would be very tempted to make fun of anyone who went to nursing school as a stepping stone to nuring school since it is not only NOT a stepping stone to med school, it's a derailment.

Sure some nurses realize they want to go to med school after they get into health care and some do go on to med school. But to plan to go to nursing school when the real goal is med school, well I would probably make fun of you, at least in my mind.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I didn't have a calling. I wasn't inspired by nurses who had a calling.

I chose nursing after weighing pros and cons. Very cold blooded and practical.

That's how I try to make most major decisions.

Emotion just clouds the issue.

If I did have a calling for any profession, and it didn't feed the family, I wouldn't do it anyway. I'm all for personal fulfillment and satisfaction, as long as it pays for what you want'

[ceccia]

What about the experienced RNs who may be unforunate enough to be your co-workers? I hate patient and co-worker complaints stemming from someone who is just there for a paycheck and only does the minimum to keep their job. It makes for a very long shift for the rest of us.

I hate my job and I don't get complaints. idk. i actually get compliments pretty often, and i know for a fact i'm first on the PRN call list because people actually like working with me. hating my job doesn't mean i take short-cuts or take my frustration out by being rude to patients and/or co-workers.

i know how much i hate when patients take their frustrations out on me so why would i do it to them?

[ceccia]

Nurses are idealized in our society, even by other nurses.

We are usually female, nurturers, and DO care about our patients. Just call me mom. Moms do it for free, why shouldn't nurses?

I got over that about the same time I became a slave for the corporation that makes money off the sweat of my back.

Now, it's all about ME!

ok, but who's going to fix the carpal tunnel that i'm going to get from clicking the 'like' button on all your posts? stop making so much sense!

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

When did Florence Nightingale ever state that she felt women were ill-equipped to work in the field of medicine? You do realize that she was in fact a woman herself?

Nursing is a profession and to be successful at any profession you need to have a balance between IQ intelligent quotient and EQemotional quotient. Its about having empathy (which requires engagement) not sympathy which denotes a degree of superiority over another. Its the difference between being "cared for" and "cared about" According to press ganey the pollsters patients want tobe cared about.Nursing is also a science. If you havent read up of Florence Nightengale please do so. She set about establishing nursing as a science and speaks of the rightious with disdain. She also felt women were too emotional to be effective in medicine (too much EQ!) Here's a great example of the problem with healthcare: On my unit people are asked to come up with WOW moments with patientsand they are posted on a white board to share with staff. The other day the night nurse asked a patient what would really make him happy, he asked for one of those disgusting pancake egg sanwhiches from mickey ds which we have at our hospital. The nursebought him 2 of the sandwiches so she would be extra special and of course he enjoyed both. The day nurse who is telling me thisstory explains that this pt is a IDDM and while the night nurse got mention for the deed she was left with the chore/task of managinghis BS which was 459 in addition to some patient education.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I don't look down on ppl who want to make sure they have a secure career. I think its smart. The only time I have a problem with it is when they hate doing it or just in it for the money. There has to be a certain level of professionalism, compassion for others. A good nurse has to be compassionate no matter what. You have to care about your patients. To me it doesn't matter if nursing wasn't your "first choice" its just how you do your job. Thats just mr at least.

What's a "ppl"?