Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
General Nursing Discussion /

Lack of respect for nurses




Did You Know?
allnurses.com is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 363,202 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Mar 13, 2007 10:06 PM

Lack of respect for nurses


Hi everyone. I'm very frustrated with the lack of knowledge of the general public of what being a nurse means. My own mother doesn't even seem to get it. When I told my father that I had been accepted into the nursing program he seemed excited, but before getting off the phone he asked, "So do you think you'll become a doctor some day?" If I wanted to be a doctor, I would go to med school. Being a doctor and being a nurse are two totally different things. A nurse is not a step-down from a doctor. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that doctor's aren't necessary or that they don't deserve respect for their knowledge because they absolutely are necessary, and they do deserve every bit of respect they've earned. I just think that nurses deserve respect too, so much more than they get. People just have no idea what being a nurse is all about. I hate the perception that all nurses do is change bedpans, bring patients something to drink ,and follow doctor's orders. I mean, yes, these things are part of the job and I don't mind doing them, but there is so much more to it. The problem is, I don't even know how to put into words the job of a nurse. How can I explain to people what nurses do and the amount of knowledge required to perform their jobs? Any suggestions? Is anyone else frustrated by this, or is it just me and should I just not care about what everyone else thinks? Thanks for letting me vent.


Share: Submit Thread to Facebook Submit Thread to Twitter Submit Thread to Digg Submit Thread to Technorati Submit Thread to Myspace Submit Thread to del.icio.us Submit Thread to StumbleUpon Submit Thread to Google Submit Thread to Reddit Submit Thread to Spurl Submit Thread to Furl

Search Tags
None
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos

 


Members left 2 comments...

No. 1
from VegRN
Old Mar 13, 2007, 10:17 PM

Default Re: Lack of respect for nurses
I recommend Suzanne Gordon's books, she speaks to the frustrations that you feel. She isn't even a nurse but she is a journalist who is a big advocate of nursing and realizes the importance of it.
It is hard to describe what nurses do. I am having trouble myself. I think there is another thread on this, describing what nurses do and they put it better than I can. Nurses are pt advocates, nurses assess and monitor interventions, nurses also care. And doctors do end up getting a lot of credit for things we do like suggesting changes in the care plan, saving a pts life when the take a turn for the worse, catching errors etc.
I am sorry that you feel this way. I get frustrated at this too.
Top
 
No. 2
from nicuRN2007
Old Mar 13, 2007, 10:30 PM

Default Re: Lack of respect for nurses
I will definitely check out those books. Thanks for your reply and letting me know I'm not the only one frustrated by this.
Top
 
Reply


Thread Tools


Sponsored Links
allnurses Central
Off-topic discussions for nurses - Already an allnurses.com member? Log in with same username/password. One account gives you access to both sites.
RN to BSN Degrees Online
Accredited universities and colleges offering RN to BSN online degrees
LPN to RN Degrees Online
Find accredited online nursing schools including LPN to RN

Who's Online
306 members
2,255 guests
2,561

3

Everest Nursing school issues

16

Addicted hospital worker exposed hundreds of patients to...

4

Nursing board investigates Reno hospital Nurse Managers

5

Ireland: Nursing Home Inspections Set to Begin

10

Bringing the Nurses Back

34

Propofol Abuse Growing Problem for Anesthesiologists

7

Ban on mandatory OT for nurses becomes Pa. law

5

Why Nurse Stereotypes Are Bad for Health

6

Quebec's nursing bonus

13

Infant Blood Samples Raise Questions of Privacy



5

The patient I loved

3

Compassionate Support, for your patients and yourself.

4

How to Write to Your Legislator

93

Confessions of a 30-something RN grad

7

A fascination become a dream

44

Do I Love Nursing? What Day is it?

39

Real Nursing

16

Driven

18

The Extent That You Will Go For Your Pt

12

An Honor

6

The caregivers taking care of ourselves

27

Waiting has a magnificent purpose.

21

Being a Team Player

7

For Patrick...

19

For those who had lost a child in a hospital bed; still...




Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)


Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: