Pushing drugs for the Man bother anyone?

[somebody]

Hello All.

I'm a newbie taking prereqs for a BSN.

I just have one big nagging concern keeping me from fully committing to the program. I want to help people, but I feel that the western allopathic way of surgery/drugs is often very harmful (although sometimes needed in cases of trauma etc).

Does pushing drugs for the giant pharmaceuticals bother anyone out there in the nurse world? I just don't know if I could live with myself doing it all day when I know that many problems could be solved simply by diet change etc.

Please enlighten me!

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I didn't say he wasn't allowed on the boards to express his opinion....Where did I say that?

I was mearly meaking a joke about the title of his OP.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

Haven't you, a nurse, ever heard of medical marajuana? In California, Oregon, and other states the voters passed propositions to legalize it for medical use. Are you actually unaware of the medical benefits? I am amazed. Or are you just trying to stir things up by implying that I condone its recreational use by working nurses?

Nope, I'm aware of its medical purposes. I have no problem if it's used for cancer or glaucoma. I do think that some people "self-medicate" for things that don't really require it. One of my patients in the OR for example..told me he self-medicated for "anxiety". And I had no clue if you were condoning it for recreational use..your post did not go into specifics. You merely said "Tobacco-good, Marijuana-bad"(I assume you were quoting the MAN here) and made no mention of medical uses. Maybe if you actually tried getting down off of the high horse and made some posts that were more about having a decent argument than accusing people of being ignorant(ie we're all being played), such miscommunication wouldn't occur.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I didn't say he wasn't allowed on the boards to express his opinion....Where did I say that?

I was mearly meaking a joke about the title of his OP.

And a very funny joke it was! I found it amusing.

[jlcole45]

Looks like somebody is just checking us out...

It sounds like something more holistic, homopathic, eastern and/or new age would be more in line with his interests. Though most of those professions don't have steady pay checks .....

My advice is decide what is more important to you.

I also agree that I've never felt like I was working for anyone else but the patient. If you have issues with medications then don't go into nursing - you will not able to change the current system and you will be frustrated.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

FYI- "Somebody" isn't a nurse, and isn't in nursing school either. "Somebody's" occupation = handyman (check the profile...)

I'm aware of that.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

Who said "less likely" means never or even unlikely? When I said less likely, I meant less likely.

I was referring to straight up statistics on who gets cardiovascular disease. I didn't even mention certain cancers which are less likely to occur in those who eat a healthy diet and exercise.

Obviously, patients need their drugs. I'm not quite sure what you are saying to my last post, especially about emotions of the nurse?

Sorry about this snarky reply a few days ago. I was having a very bad day and taking out my frustration on the Internet.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I got a ....

calculator!

woot!

I got a 15 pack of golf balls

[somebody]

HA! This is so true. I heard a comic who said, "I quit smoking because I wanted to live. Then after I quit, I wanted to die." People pick their poisons. Taking care of oneself improves the odds but doesn't eliminate that pesky problem of mortality, does it?

Diahni

We all have free will to do whatever we choose, even hurting ourselves. But what about the endless repercussions: The example you set for kids, your loved ones who will have to watch helplessly as you suffer as a result, the devastating financial loss due to medical bills, the overburdening of the medical system, etc, etc, etc. It is not just yourself you hurt, but everyone else in one way or another. Why? Because WE ARE ALL CONNECTED.

I will save you all some typing now, "You are very condescending, arrogant, etc...." Well, I certainly understand why you think so, but somebody has to challange the status quo.

[somebody]

Ooooh, so he does small jobs...for the man...

You are obviously mean spirited and antagonistic. You have no intention of helping.

[somebody]

We do know, from your OP, that you haven't been to nursing school, so I think it's fair enough to suppose you don't know as much about nursing as we do. And while some of the responses have been a bit facetious, I think there have been some legitimate attempts to "enlighten" you that a.)nursing is much more than passing meds and b.)meds have an important role to play in restoring/maintaining health.

Nursing is holistic, and we are all aware of the value of a healthy lifestyle. We don't all practice a healthy lifestyle, but we preach it, and I think a lot of us adopt the attitude that even if you can't do everything right, do something right. It's better to be an active, non-smoking diabetic on meds than a sedentary, smoking diabetic untreated.

Personally, I'm pretty skeptical about a lot of alternative medicine. For a person with chronic pain, for example, there is some evidence that accupuncture may help, but I haven't seen a lot to support magnets. As far as I can see, most herbal remedies are sold for a profit. A lot of remedies--herbal and otherwise--are sold as "dietary supplements" because they can't be sold as medications. They aren't FDA approved as medications because they haven't undergone the appropriate trials.

I've had a little success with ginger for mild nausea. I've tried chamomile for insomnia. I'd have no problem suggesting either to a patient in general good health as home remedies that are cheap and generally harmless in normal dosages. But I'm not about to promote the latest snake-oil cure for obesity or impotence, nor would I endorse "dietary supplements" for serious illnesses, in lieu of medications that have been proven effective. If St. John's wort were safe and effective in the treatment of clinical depression, somebody would have gotten FDA approval, by now, and would be selling it for a lot of money. Taking saw palmetto for "prostate health" may or may not be a waste of money. Taking it as a cure for prostate cancer is probably not wise.

Getting back to your original post, there is a lot about nursing that is traditional and non-pharmacological. I think even the busiest of us practice therapeutic touch pretty regularly. Nurse midwifes do a lot of holistic medicine. At my facility, I can treat pain or anxiety by calling for music therapy, and a harpist will come treat the patient and entertain the rest of us. Some of my most important interventions are just pulling up a chair and listening. But I'm also pretty committed to getting my meds passed, safely and in a timely fashion. To me, it isn't a question of whether I can live in two worlds--holistic and allopathic. As a nurse, I have to. A healthy lifestyle will improve the recovery of a patient post brain surgery--after the tumor is cut out.

But, as others have suggested, if you can't get behind getting the tumor cut out, and taking dexamethasone afterward (plus, possibly, chemo and radiation), nursing might not be the most appropriate field for you. Because we do have to live in both worlds.

I appreciate your sincere encouraging advice. Thanks. Sounds like you work at a great place. I have to say again (4th time now) that, as in my OP, "I feel that the western allopathic way of surgery/drugs is ........................sometimes needed in cases of trauma etc.)"

Also I am not touting herbal remedies either (although I think they are generally safer). I'm just concerned about the over and misuse of pharm drugs and surgery mainly for profit. And FDA approval means nothing! The FDA is controlled by pharm corps! If the FDA cared about our health they would not approve of aspertame, MSG, flouride in municipal water supplies, and thousands of "drugs". Nor would they try to take over and/or eliminate herbs, vit and min suppliments, etc.. Many of you will flame me now, no doubt, because you don't believe me, but someday you will know the truth.

[ERRNTraveler, RN]

someday you will know the truth.

This just sounds waaaaay out there.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Ooooh, so he does small jobs...for the man...

Uhhhh...my husband is working as a handyman while finishing up his 5 year Master's in Engineering program. Nothing wrong at all with being a handyman. He makes as much money as I do, and he's working part time. Just a thought.