A real nurse

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I am working on my doctorate, working full-time as a nurse educator, and during summers and breaks I return to the ICU, my first love :) I was working in the ICU last weekend when a coworker asked me if I missed working as a "real" nurse. I found this surprising, although I probably shouldn't. Over time, including on this board, I've heard over and over the same misconception that if you're not a bedside hospital nurse, you're not a "real" nurse.

There are a thousand permutations on the theme: LTC nurses aren't real nurses, people who work outside of "unit x" aren't real nurses, people who are LPNs aren't "real" nurses, ad nauseum. I am so tired of this. A favored theme seems to be "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." I feel that despite working my butt off to stay current in my practice and bring relevant education to students, these contributions must have no value in my peers' eyes.

To me, a nurse comes in so many forms; different but equal, all with an important role. Why does nursing only respect the value of ONE type of nursing? It's like Pinocchio, worried about being a "real" boy. I wish more time was spent recognizing our peers unique skills and less spent trying to tear each other down. That's all, just a vent and a wish things would change.

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Specializes in ER.

When I didn't have hands on at the bedside I forgot what it was like. "Real" nursing is the base of our profession, and what every other type of nursing is based on. Calling it "real" gives some credit to the folks in the trenches, and they need as many props as they can get.

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Specializes in LTC.

OP well said. I agree 100 percent. I get a double whammy being a LPN and working in LTC. One of my patients that know I'm in RN school told me once I'm done I will be a REAL nurse. I had to really bite my tongue. I felt like telling her " What in the hell do you think I am now a pretend nurse?"

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Ya know people who drop that "real nurse" line, appear very weak to me.

Actually it allows me to see envy in their eyes. That is power, and if it were me on the receiving end of that comment, the giver would see a broad smile like a cheshire cat on my face.

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Besides, we all know that nursing aint that big of a thang these days. "Real nurse" is not something you can brag about to another nurse and be legit, I know I AM right about that!!!!!:lol2:

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Thank you so much for this.

I am a volunteer nurse in a free clinic and I sometimes have to tell myself that even though I don't have a W-2, I am still a "real" nurse. I pay for insurance and continuing education. I have an active license that says licensed to practice as an RN, what is more real than that!

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A "real nurse" is a nurse who has a license stating that they are either a licensed or registered nurse. THAT is the defining criteria of who is a nurse and who is not.

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Specializes in Home Health.

To me, a 'real nurse' is on who is hands on in client care. Too many nurses move into corporate management, teaching and other areas that does not involve hands on care and they may be in those positions for years and years - that is not a 'real nurse'. I have felt that the Boards of Nursing should require a minumum of 240 hours of hands on care to maintain a nursing license.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

I don't think your co-worker meant anything by it. Just asking how it was to be back at the bedside, the classic nursing job. Chill out, nurse education is not the same although you are still a nurse, its not typical nursing.

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Specializes in General Surgery, Orthopaedics, ICU, ER.

I see it as I am a "real nurse" because I am the one with the client, helping them at the bedside every way I can, watching them suffer. That's what makes me a real nurse.

The nurse who sits behind the desk with her degrees and writes about it all, to me, isn't a real nurse. A nurse but not like me.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.
To me, a 'real nurse' is on who is hands on in client care. Too many nurses move into corporate management, teaching and other areas that does not involve hands on care and they may be in those positions for years and years - that is not a 'real nurse'. I have felt that the Boards of Nursing should require a minumum of 240 hours of hands on care to maintain a nursing license.

Interesting. So, despite the fact that I still work actively in the ICU, the second I enter the doors of the school to teach, I cease to be a "real" nurse? I suppose that would make me roughly 25% real, since I teach full time and only work ICU w/e, holidays, and summer. I wonder who will teach students since nurse educators aren't real. It can't be a bedside nurse, since that bedside nurse will then also cease to be a real nurse. Sounds like quite the conundrum!

I have a close friend who just retired after 45 years as an RN. I'm sure she will be sad to learn that now that she's retired, she also has ceased to be "real" and her contributions to the field have now been invalidated.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
OP well said. I agree 100 percent. I get a double whammy being a LPN and working in LTC. One of my patients that know I'm in RN school told me once I'm done I will be a REAL nurse. I had to really bite my tongue. I felt like telling her " What in the hell do you think I am now a pretend nurse?"

You should have said, "Yeah. It's a shame you don't have a real nurse taking care of you now."

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