Nursing Stereotypes and a Dumb Society

[abbaking]

I have noticed a few nursing stereotypes lately from patients, visitors and even my own friends (some of then are also nurses). Its very annoying

Stereotypes include:

1. A nurse is a nurse is a nurse

2. Angel's of mercy

3. Naughty Nurse (Please, my fellow sisters - FIGHT THIS ONE - This is the worst, in my opinion)

4. Un-educated, misinformed handmaiden

5. All purpose hospital slave

6. Men in nursing are all gay

Perhaps I never paid much attention, but recently I have noticed alot of this. We, as a profession, need some realistic PR.

I went out for coffee with a friend of mine. I was describing my hectic shift with post-op's, documentation and new admits. In all a very busy and routine shift. My friend works in retail. No matter how much I told her of the hard physical, mental and emotional labor involved - she seemed to downplay my job. "It can't be that hard - You work night shift, all the patients are asleep", "Two patients in ICU is easy- what are you complaining for", or "All you have to do is follow what the doctor says and it will be fine".

Makes me mad!!!

Just my

[Guest219794]

I like that idea; my current position is RN night shift lead w/ 2 Lpn's under me in "corrections", not the clinical exposure I'd have liked but upon graduation last May I was ecstatic to have gotten ANY offer, much less such a secure f/t spot.

What bothers me greatly is that we're all referred to as "nurses" there! Since Lpn's are paid less (and less qualified) than Rn's the ratio is like 4:1, and I've argued loudly and clearly several times that titles matter- that accomplishments matter- and that we're actually Rn's and Lpn's here.

Naturally their comeback was "we're all nurses" just different levels.... my response to this Lpn who is currently working his orifice off to do the Lpn-Rn transistion was "you may like that catchall phrase now b/c it includes you in the upper tier of Rn's, but you will Not feel that way when you've finally earned your Rn lic, and suddenly the phrase includes you in the Lpn crowd from which you just graduated."

I call Dr's Dr, I have no problem recognizing and giving credit to those who have earned their titles; no we are not "all nurses" ...... we are Rn's, Lpn's, Cna's...... so yes let us move forward w/ a new job title that does not lump us all together into a messy blob of sameness!

Any Rn recognizes the immense sacrifices and effort that it took to finish that last semester, successfully complete all clinicals, maneuver the politics of school/hosp, apply for jobs and network, and prepare for and pass Nclex! Lpn's do not have these accomplishments under their title.

Just curious: Were you a new grad put in the position of supervising more experienced nurses? if so, that must be very challenging. You come off as a bit defensive. (I've argued loudly and clearly several times that titles matter) Of course titles and degrees matter, they help define the scope of practice of the nurse. I just worked with two other nurse. I am an RN, one was an LPN, one was an NP. We are all nurses, and have different jobs.

Good luck.

Regarding stereotypes. I am a man, working in the ER. I also worked in ICU. Not an issue I have ever had to deal with. As far as the gay male nurse thing- I happen to be straight, and really couldn't care less if somebody thought I was gay because I am a nurse.

[FLmomof5]

Hey I feel the same way but none of us who made it this far should think much about what the typical (uninformed) American believes an RN does. We're surrounded w/ idiots who fight AGAINST insurance reform and who blindly believe what corporate paid entertainers say on Faux News.

I started overnites as team lead RN in corrections right off of passing Nclex and I do far more, independently and properly, than the large group of "experienced" Rns and Lpns on dayshift do. I have to, I'm alone!

Unfortunately there is no glory in this niche either, I'm barely even recognized by my mgmt; due to the lousy work environment in hospitals I'm in no rush to work there, even tho it would be more rewarding and challenging.

I like to dazzle the simpletons w/ just rushing some medical speak past them quickly, makes their heads spin!

Please be cautious. Not all nurses or nursing students agree with your political opinions....nor will we "try to fix stupid".

I am highly offended by your post.

[nursel56]

QUOTE=kf15;4213110] Unfortunately there is no glory in this niche either, I'm barely even recognized by my mgmt; due to the lousy work environment in hospitals I'm in no rush to work there, even tho it would be more rewarding and challenging.

I like to dazzle the simpletons w/ just rushing some medical speak past them quickly, makes their heads spin!

Who are the simpletons? Management? The inmates? All those experienced RNs and LPNs on the day shift that you run circles around in your first job as an RN? My head is spinning-- but it isn't from dazzlement.

[smartnurse1982]

Looking at these posts and thinking wow! How about we as nurses get rid of the titles and demand "nurse" be put on a name tag instead?

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I cracked up at that post where he/she wrote that the lousy conditions at a hospital keep them from working there - and they're working at a CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

[SandraCVRN]

i like that idea; my current position is rn night shift lead w/ 2 lpn's under me in "corrections", not the clinical exposure i'd have liked but upon graduation last may i was ecstatic to have gotten any offer, much less such a secure f/t spot.

what bothers me greatly is that we're all referred to as "nurses" there! since lpn's are paid less (and less qualified) than rn's the ratio is like 4:1, and i've argued loudly and clearly several times that titles matter- that accomplishments matter- and that we're actually rn's and lpn's here.

naturally their comeback was "we're all nurses" just different levels.... my response to this lpn who is currently working his orifice off to do the lpn-rn transistion was "you may like that catchall phrase now b/c it includes you in the upper tier of rn's, but you will not feel that way when you've finally earned your rn lic, and suddenly the phrase includes you in the lpn crowd from which you just graduated."

i call dr's dr, i have no problem recognizing and giving credit to those who have earned their titles; no we are not "all nurses" ...... we are rn's, lpn's, cna's...... so yes let us move forward w/ a new job title that does not lump us all together into a messy blob of sameness!

any rn recognizes the immense sacrifices and effort that it took to finish that last semester, successfully complete all clinicals, maneuver the politics of school/hosp, apply for jobs and network, and prepare for and pass nclex! lpn's do not have these accomplishments under their title.

wow, that's really all i can say to this!!! i blame this attitude (mostly) on her program, i think some programs really cut down others. i know many bsn students think they will be better nurses than adn's. i think once we are finished with school we realize we just want more nurses with us we really don't care what their degree is or if they are rn's or lpn's, just get us some help!! a good friend of mine kept telling me what a better nurse she would be, well now that she couldn't make it in the bsn program is now going to be "just" and adn.

not trying to add a bsn/adn battle here, but the first thing i wondered was what this poster was taught in school. i have the highest reguard for all nurse and healthcare workers. also, started my first online class for my bsn today!!

[MassED, BSN, RN]

well, getting that BSN did take an additional two more years, on top of my three year ADN program.... and I learned so much. You are still a nurse, but you have more education. Definitely geared with research, writing, and leadership in mind, though.

I think those with advanced education that choose to have a holier than thou attitude speaks to their own insecurities.

[smartnurse1982]

I hope you're not referring to Prem Singh - it would appear this person practices in another country, perhaps not speaking English. Let's not be judgmental.

I know I don't type the best,esp on allnurses. However,have you seen any charts lately? Spelling errors and run on sentences galore. The worst part? They were all born and raised int he usa.

[countryboy]

Prem, there is a bit of a barrier with translation, I think, but from what I can gather, India has the same issues with nurses and doctors there as it does in the United States. Doctors are seen as superior and nurses are inferior. I don't know that that will ever change, realistically. From working with some Indian physicians, I know that women (and nurses) are treated much differently within the Indian culture. I'm sure that makes working as a nurse very difficult there - or it would be for an American, I should say.

My mother, who is a nurse since 1964, had a nursing school textbook - ONE. I lost count of all of my textbooks, which would prepare someone for medical school. Nurses are gradually gaining respect - one patient at a time.

Thanks you think so great for nurses, but you better know that in the health system the above defenetion is not implemented fully. the duties of nurses are not recoganised yet as credit geiven to doctors. in country like india the role of nurse are limited to medications in most setups.

Due to it Peoples are also not give respect to her. the domnanciy of doctor of is so high that any other lines are unable to cross it health system

These types of issues are not specific to medicine and nursing. Society views people who are more educated and more powerful in a better light. This phenomena can be seen cross-culturally as demonstrated above regarding indian physicians. It is the same reason why dentist>dental hygeinist, NP>RN, Lawyer>paralegal, optometrist>optician, ad nauseam....