Nurse with Disdain

Nurses Relations

Published

Hi. I've got to vent here, since I have no "friends" that are nurses, and I want the input of some perhaps unbiased individuals.

I'm a mid-30s male career changer. I left a career I had for a decade (not sure why actually) and got a second bachelor's to be a nurse. My previous employment involved traits remarkably different than those that the profession of nursing wants to embody involving command, pointed direction, and disregard for feelings of others. Sure, I've cranked out many reports, position papers, and documents pertaining to administration so the paperwork end of nursing isn't the issue. I'm ok with that.

I actually deleted three paragraphs stating specifically what don't like, but I decided to filter it for all of you as after reading it most of you would probably be up in arms against me.

Without revealing any other information about myself I am actually in a practitioner program to become a NP. I thought perhaps I might find fulfillment there since patient interaction is short and to the point, and the purpose is to provide treatment which I thought I was going to do when I went for that second degree in nursing. I still may like it. I'm halfway there at this point so I'm going to press forward, and I understand that many of you might object to this.

I need to find other work for now though. I am absolutely on the edge, dread going to work, and even more so I hate actually doing the work. The neediness of patients infuriates me. I can't go back to where I was, and I hate myself for thinking I could feign an interest in this field.

The shift was hellish because I was surrounded by staff who will find ANY excuse to not answer a call light. Basically, they just don't like to attend to the sick needy people.

Sorry you had to deal with that. However, I guess my point still stands. It seems like staff didn't like dealing with the sick needy people. It also seems like you didn't like dealing with extra sick needy people (I'm sure there are several legitimate reasons why you didn't).

I just don't think his issue is worth the OP being berated. Especially when down deep I'm sure most of us can relate, even if it is just a little.

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Susie2310, I don't know what kind of role you have, but I seriously don't know of ANY nurse that fits this warm and fuzzy doormat description you made?! Most nurses I know are highly educated and came into this field to use this education and ability to make things happen for their patients. We don't play the game you speak of - in fact I don't know any NPs that do or physicians that do either. If nursing was as you described, I'd cut the pay for all nurses at least in half. Nursing is definitely not as you describe in action or in theory?!

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Specializes in Emergency Department/Radiology.

Oh right, send him to administration...so we can have yet one more, disconnected, disinterested beauracratic administrator to oversee the care of sick people, from whom they are totally detached.

I think....NO

Linda

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Specializes in Emergency Department/Radiology.

Not ED either, think again. As an ED nurse for 28 years I assure you that though it is easy to become jaded and disgusted by the abuse and misuse of the system by patients and their irresponsible behavior, however, those who are critically ill, injured and mentally ill deserve care and compassion too.

I think ED would also be a NO.

Linda

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Susie2310, I don't know what kind of role you have, but I seriously don't know of ANY nurse that fits this warm and fuzzy doormat description you made?! Most nurses I know are highly educated and came into this field to use this education and ability to make things happen for their patients. We don't play the game you speak of - in fact I don't know any NPs that do or physicians that do either. If nursing was as you described, I'd cut the pay for all nurses at least in half. Nursing is definitely not as you describe in action or in theory?!

netglow, please see my previous post on this thread where I said that being warm and fuzzy is not the same as being empathic and caring. I also stated that reason and analysis are not incompatible with empathy and caring. I'm not sure what game you are referring to me speaking of; I haven't mentioned any that I know of.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

What's the difference between "warm and fuzzy" and "empathic and caring"? I would think that, to a patient, they are perceived as the same thing.

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What's the difference between "warm and fuzzy" and "empathic and caring"? I would think that, to a patient, they are perceived as the same thing.
You can be empathetic on the inside while setting boundaries. But when you set boundaries, some patients might just think you're "mean" because you are not acting "warm and fuzzy."
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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Warm & fuzzy: "Honey, are you hurting today? Awwww, I am SO sorry. I'm going to run right now and get you some pain medicine."

Empathetic & caring: "I'm sorry that your pain has returned. That's not unusual with your condition. Let me get your pain meds so that you can start feeling better."

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Warm & fuzzy: "Honey, are you hurting today? Awwww, I am SO sorry. I'm going to run right now and get you some pain medicine."

Empathetic & caring: "I'm sorry that your pain has returned. That's not unusual with your condition. Let me get your pain meds so that you can start feeling better."

^^Exactly...like the empathetic and caring....wonder if I go to the warm and fuzzy side...

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.
BlueDevil, did you not say on a previous thread that "Compassion is the difference between your board being full or empty" or words to that effect?

I don't remember and I have no idea in what context I was speaking at the time. My point in this thread is that the posters suggesting the OP, whom appears to be long gone LOL, will not be successful in his NP role is silliness and those posters don't know what they are talking about; the OP should not allow himself to be discouraged by those comments.

My panel is full unless I fire someone for being a PITA, which I do about once a week. ;) I don't suffer fools gladly either.

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The first thought that comes to my mind is sociopath. Just a thought, because of your inability to have empathy.

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HOW did you make it all the way through nursing school without at least 1 person you consider a close friend??? That's too bad. As for the rest of your post, I'm at a loss for words...

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