More ignorance. Any wonder the public is confused!

[TakeTwoAspirin]

The ignorance evident in this article is just staggering to me. No wonder the general public is confused.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/your-skills-matter-more-than-your-degrees/2013/01/11/8480565a-4b93-11e2-a6a6-aabac85e8036_story.html?hpid=z5

[NurseDirtyBird]

Oh look. It's a nurse manager who REALLY has no idea what their subordinates' jobs entail. Awesome.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Responsible journalism....

Especially considering that if something happens to a pt based on a decision the employee made as "RN supervisor," or whatever it is that they call it. Sure, the company is going to be financially responsible; however, even if the employee claims that she told her employer, she can be on the hook for a criminal act. I doubt the government is going to buy the "I value my skills more than my degree" defense or the "just take a chill pill" defense.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

There is thread going on here at AN that basically wonders how nursing schools can continue pumping out grads when the market is saturated.

Well, I think journalism schools need to held responsible for the same offense! We have gotten to the point where "journalists" have to fill columns like the one in question here with falsehoods and outright dangerous information.

Maybe this columnist should talk to one of the "can't find a job as a new grad" lawyers (since law schools also have over-saturated the market) and this person can notify her that she shouldn't tell those who come to her for advice to keep doing something that could be illegal.

[trauma_lama, BSN]

This is me, throwing a big ol fat BS flag up in the air. I mean, why am I killing myself in my senior semester of nursing school if I could just interview super ultra mega great and impress them with the skills I've learned so far in school? Bc obviously I'm as skilled as an RN if THAT chick is. Maybe I'll drop out and start work now! Deurrr.

[Pudnluv, ASN, RN]

While looking up info about this so-called journalist, it seems that maybe she is not a "real" journalist. Apparently, the Washington Post held some kind of contest, and she won and got the columnist spot. My suggestion is to bombard the editors of the Washington Post with emails so they know what kind of person they have giving out this kind of advice.

Oh, and it was a typo that I did spot and catch, before sending out the email. It should read, crime of omission, not crime of admission.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

I will be very interested to see if this journalist responds to pudnluv's letter.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

While looking up info about this so-called journalist, it seems that maybe she is not a "real" journalist. Apparently, the Washington Post held some kind of contest, and she won and got the columnist spot. My suggestion is to bombard the editors of the Washington Post with emails so they know what kind of person they have giving out this kind of advice.

Oh, and it was a typo that I did spot and catch, before sending out the email. It should read, crime of omission, not crime of admission.

"Guest" journalist...pfffffft!!!!! The LEAST she could do is be KNOWLEDGABLE about WHAT she is talking about!!! I hope we can get enough complaints to the editor so that we can AT LEAST have a printed retraction or something...

Can you give me the contact Pudnluv???? Thanks!!

[sapphire18]

Hahahahahahaaaa

Oh, wow...

[Pudnluv, ASN, RN]

You can write to [email protected]. Or go to the Washington Post, click on Opinions and there should be a link to letters to the editors. I wrote to both.

[BonnieSc]

I got the feeling from the letter that the woman is an LPN, or possibly an MA or someone with a lot of medical office experience. She doesn't say she has the same skills as an RN--she says she has the skills to do the job. That is certainly possible! In fact, it is EVIDENT--she's doing a good job, based on her description of her current status. And she isn't managing RNs, though it sounds like other people in the same position may be managing RNs.

Sometimes jobs are "RN preferred" and they end up hiring someone else. Doesn't mean that person is trying to pass herself off as an RN.

In other words: simmer down.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

I got the feeling from the letter that the woman is an LPN, or possibly an MA or someone with a lot of medical office experience. She doesn't say she has the same skills as an RN--she says she has the skills to do the job. That is certainly possible! In fact, it is EVIDENT--she's doing a good job, based on her description of her current status. And she isn't managing RNs, though it sounds like other people in the same position may be managing RNs.Sometimes jobs are "RN preferred" and they end up hiring someone else. Doesn't mean that person is trying to pass herself off as an RN.In other words: simmer down.

But she said her employees refer to her as the "RN manager". That's fraud, no two ways about it. And I like how at the end of her "advice" Karla says they should change the job description to "RN or equivalent experience". The only people who have equivalent experience to a RN are.... RNs.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

You can write to [email protected]. Or go to the Washington Post click on Opinions and there should be a link to letters to the editors. I wrote to both.[/quote']

Thanks, Pudnluv!!